Damper Lift Problem

[A440A@aol.com]

Avery writes: 
<<I did all the usual stuff. I took up the excess play but that
made the arm under the keybed so high that there was not enough
space before it hit the felt stop.<<

     You may need a longer pitman...

>>The only thing left is for the damper underlevers to
be too high off the tray. Which is exactly what I finally figured
out is the problem. Now, the lift with the keys is way too late,
which would account for the problem of the strings not getting
high enough off the strings. But it's the underlever position,
not the key end felt.>>

   The underlevers have to be set so that the key contact is at the proper 
time, (usually hammer is midway to string),  and on the Steinways, make sure 
that the tray adjustment is close when you do this!   At this point you will 
be able to tell is there is enough trapwork travel to lift the hammers via 
the tray to the height that the sharps lift them.  The upstop rail will act 
as a fulcrum if there isn't enough free-play between it and the underlevers 
when both the key AND the pedal are depressed. 
   Don't be afraid to add another felt pad to the tray, (which effectively 
lengthens the pitman), or to cut the block of felt that stops the trapwork 
lever's upward motion, but start with the underlevers set to the key end felt 
with minimal lost motion from the tray. 
Good luck, 
Ed Foote