[pianotech] heavy damper pedal complaint

[Mike Spalding]

Barb,

I should have included how to verify that the tray spring is doing its 
job:  with the action removed, operate the sustain pedal and observe the 
back action.  As you release the pedal, the tray and underlevers come 
down together until the dampers rest on the strings.  If the tray 
continues to move downward, separating from the underlevers, all is 
well.  If the tray stops when the underlevers stop, and remains in 
contact with the underlevers, you will need to either a)weaken the 
underlever springs, or b) strengthen the tray spring.  Clear as mud??

Mike

On 11/11/2010 10:05 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:
> Thanks, Mike.
>
> Maybe I'll take the tray spring out of my Steinway and take it to the 
> hardware store for comparison.  And maybe I'll pre-stomp a tray 
> spring, too.  :-)
>
> br
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Spalding" <mike.spalding1 at frontier.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 8:04:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] heavy damper pedal complaint
>
> Barb,
>
> It's safer to remove the trap spring than to remove the tray spring.
> All you can do is try it, and see if that particular piano still works.
> The tray spring is there to overcome the combined force of all the
> individual underlever springs - if it's not strong enough, you will not
> get good damping.  You may be able to substitute a weaker tray spring -
> my local hardware store carries a coil spring the same length and
> diameter as the S&S, but with smaller wire diameter, which I have used.
>
> Mike
>
> On 11/11/2010 1:21 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:
> > Hi..
> >
> > The elderly gentleman with the rebuilt S&S M called to say he thinks
> > the damper pedal is too hard to push down.  I haven't had a look yet.
> > I'll check the pedal timing and take the trap lever spring and stomp
> > on it if I have to.  Did I read on a list that sometimes techs just
> > remove the trap lever spring (if the system will work without it)?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Barbara Richmond, RPT
> > near Peoria, Illinois
>