<HTML><HTML> In a message dated 9/12/06 6:38:57 AM, ricbrek@broadpark.no writes: Ric writes: <BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE"> It would seem (on the surface) that the most consistent key leverage would result from having the capstan/whippen heel arcs meet at the midpoint of the key stroke. I dont know if I would say that would be an ideal mind you... might be better for the key to actually be more on one side of this <<middle>> then the other.<< </BLOCKQUOTE> Greetings, I had posted last month that I felt actions were more responsive if the the capstan/heel contact point was located on the line between whippen and shank centers at let-off.  When this is the case, the leverage is constantly changing from high to low throughout the downward keystroke, giving  maximum speed to the hammer at the point of let-off.  I believe that the rising rate of hammer movement to key movement produces a more sensitive action than one where the contact point shares the common line at the half-way mark, which causes the ratio to accelerate for the first half of the stroke, then begin to "slow down" for the second half of the stroke. Any increase in friction doesn't seem to be detectable between the two set-ups. Regards. </HTML>