[pianotech] singing sustain, what to do?

[David Ilvedson]

If you lift just the underlevers with a stick or such do you still get the sound?  That would eliminate or narrow towards the tray...?   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Mike Spalding" <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net>
To: Pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 1/30/2009 3:14:50 PM
Subject: [pianotech] singing sustain, what to do?


>Relatively new small Essex grand.  When the sustain pedal is operated 
>very slowly, it makes a moaning noise.  Removed the action, removed the 
>pitman, and raised the tray by hand, heard the noise.  Here's what I 
>think is causing it:  the lift tray is aluminum, the felt is soft and 
>thick, and the tray pivot is nowhere near the underlever centers.  So 
>when the tray is lifted, the underlevers slide on the felt, playing the 
>aluminum tray like a violin.  What to do?  My inclination would be to 
>replace the tray felt with something harder/smoother, and polish the 
>undersides of all the underlevers with 400 grit sandpaper or finer.  But 
>before going to all that trouble, I thought I would toss the question 
>out to the list, and see if anyone else has encountered this, and what 
>you did to fix it.  Any thoughts?

>thanks

>Mike Spalding