<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html>   Mark Cramer wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>I'm currently 'r&r'-ing the wips for an August-Forster action. The spring slots have an amber-colored, paste-like friction treatment which has left a greenish coating on the springs.  </blockquote> Never did figure out what that stuff was. But you see it a lot on Eastern European pianos. I dont know how many Forster uprights I've had to repin. Zimmermans also but to a lesser degree. I have even seen this stuff show up in Tzech pianos. Not much to do if it gets sticky but to either re-flange (use wood instead of that plastic stuff they come with) or clean and repin the bushings.   <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  Wait, it's not as bad as you think. The green stuff wipes off easily, the springs are shiny and smooth, and slip freely within the groove. This action is eighty-years old, though it looks brand new.  </blockquote> I think the green you see is standard green gunk... on springs lubricated with vasiline or some such creative solution. Clean and use a better lubricant me thinks. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  I see no reason to remove the gunk and attempt to replace it with something else. I'd just like to know what it is, and if indeed there are any concerns leaving it behind.</blockquote> That amber stuff usually ends up causing the action to frezze up.  My only guess is that it is left over lubricant of some sort. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  I'm sure those of you working with European instruments will have an answer, especially Richard or Isaac.   <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives"></a> </blockquote> Cheers RicB -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. UiB, Bergen, Norway <A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> <A HREF="http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html">http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html</A>  </html>