[CAUT] balancier/wippens report

[David Skolnik]

TwoTims -
Great cheering job!  A picture in uniforms is all that was 
missing.  Speaking of pictures, any chance of supplying one of the 
snap ring pliers.  I know what they are, but I can't picture how you 
use them in this application.

The groove is definitely one of the things I have experienced and had 
forgotten in my earlier list.  For that matter, I've had the 
occasional burr on the spring, and three different jack-side spring 
issues: 1) cut end of spring catches on wood fibres in the spring 
hole; 2) bent length too long, contacting far side of spring viewing 
hole (I don't know what else to call it);  3) angle of bend 
incorrect, inhibiting free movement of jack.  I'm not sure any of 
these would have a direct effect on checking, but they wouldn't fell right.

Also, one minor correction, which if uncorrected becomes major.

>The shank at rest should dissect the backcheck at the line,,,

I would say that definitely comes under the heading of "what 
not".  If the shank can do that at rest, just think what it can do 
when it's moving!!   Witness the birth of a whole new piano based horror genre.

Keep up the pressure!!

David Skolnik


At 08:13 AM 12/19/2006, you wrote:
>Wim,
>
>Tim Coates and Tim Geinert here in the sunny Dakotas.  We are 
>spending a day together talking pianos and what not (mostly what not).
>
>We are here to cheer you on!
>
>TimG has had experience at University of Minnesota at Morris with 
>the very problem you describe.  The culprit was the groove for the 
>butterfly spring in the balancier lever.  The groove was worn so 
>deep that the spring couldn't slide the proper length and locked the 
>balancier up.  TimG took a sharp tool and smoothed out the groove.
>These pianos were new in the 1970's and hadn't been touched since.
>They are under heavy use.  The problem is solved.
>
>Another culprit on other Steinway pianos is the backcheck.  They 
>have been installed incorrectly (imagine that).  There is a line 
>that must be adhered to concerning the hammer shank and the 
>backcheck.   The backcheck should be divided into three 
>sections.  The shank at rest should dissect the backcheck at the 
>line that separates the top third from the middle third.  If the 
>backcheck is too low,  a pair of snap ring pliers are used to raise 
>the backchecks.   Several pianos have had the problem which created 
>checking and repetition problems.  It sure beats changing the backchecks.
>
>Goooooh Wim!
>
>Tim Coates and Tim Geinert