New Stein A loose hammer flanges

[David Love]

Whatever the manual says, the .1 – 4 grams acceptable range came straight
from the horses mouth (David Kirkland) after I queried about zero gram
resistance throughout the piano on a new B.  With respect to your other
message about parts quality, I have not found anyone approaching Renner in
terms of quality on a consistent basis--that in spite of claims of
improvement.  I frequently run into loose drop screws, tight pinning on
jacks, loose pinning on hammer flanges, noisy repetition springs.  I don't
see these problems with Renner.  I’ve not found fit or weigh-off to be a
problem with Renner given the various options to accommodate the randomness
with which various manufacturers, especially Steinway have produced actions
with respect to leverage.  Often, the availability of those various
configurations is simply essential.  Neither Tokiwa nor Abel, in my view,
are quite there yet.  However, the one thing that Tokiwa does that I wish
Renner would do is produce a wippen with a screw adjustable assist spring.
When using that style part, I think that is an essential feature.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net
www.davidlovepianos.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mark Dierauf
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 2:50 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: New Stein. A loose hammer flanges
 
You were misinformed. The current Service manual states:

Within 1–4 grams rotating friction with minimal side play on all action
centers. The use of a gram
gauge applied to the flange is a preferred method for taking friction
measurements. Steinway makes
no recommendation as to the number of times a hammer is supposed to swing.

Steinway treats their center cloth with teflon and claims thereby to allow
for lower friction while retaining the requisite firmness. Still, 20 swings
is probably way too loose. That being said I have encountered pinning
problems in all brands of parts from time to time, and have come o the
conclusion that even the best manufacturers struggle with this issue, and
always have. In fact, I think that there's a good argument to be made for
treating all action center friction in new parts as suspect unless checked
and proven to be otherwise. Careful repinning of new (or relatively new)
centers has become something I do more and more as part of my normal parts
replacement procedure.


- Mark

David Love wrote: 
It should be a warranty issue.  Unfortunately, I have been advised that the
acceptable pinning friction on a new Steinway is .1 - 4 grams.  Whether or
not they will cover it is another issue.  Twenty swings is too loose.
 
David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com