S&S: key-frame return spring

[Mark Cramer]

Hello all,

Today I managed to find the elusive source of shift-pedal squeeks and groans
in a B, and with careful effort and attention actually made it worse!

Once I had determined the cause (spring against (wooden) key frame), I
carefully sanded the side smooth, applied a generous coat of DAG, and
burnished with a cloth.

It worked instantly, and lasted about 3 minutes!  Once the DAG was well
burnished, it began to groan as before, but louder!  And now, in addition to
the fundamental, there were additional squeeks a major 3rd above and major
2nd below!?

At a loss, I worked teflon powder into the graphite and with vigorous use,
the noise has not returned. Tefloning and testing the two contact points of
the spring seperately helped verify the source, as one "note" of the
non-musical "interval" disappeared with the first treatment, then the
remaining two.

I fear this remedy will not last though, so what is your favourite tried &
true, long-lasting, never-fail, method?

Thanks for your suggestions,

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University