[CAUT] balancier/wippens report

[rwest1 at unl.edu]

Wim, have you been keeping track of the list of suggested remedies  
for getting good checking?  It would be helpful to have that list and  
it would make a good Journal article.

Richard West

PS  For raising backchecks I like the ring pliers best.  It makes the  
job quick and easy and accurate.

On Dec 19, 2006, at 9:19 AM, David Skolnik wrote:

> 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
>