heavy action..

[Newton Hunt]

>..Dear List:
>
>..i have in my posession a DH Baldwin action..customer is correct when she

Check to see if the capstan line is parrallel with the key fronts and that
the contact point of the capstans on the wippen felt is consistant from end
to end.

If there are three or four leads in the keys already you have a leverage
problem which needs to be corrected.

Check the up and down weights.  Lubricate everything carefully with dry lubs
and recheck touch weights.   Check pinning, key bushings, wippen pinning.  

Shim one wippen out about a half or whole mm to see if you get an
improvement of touch weight.  The object is to find a shim distance that
provides the smallest difference between up and down weights.  If there is
an improvement you can change the spread action measurement for improvemt.
If the distance does not improve the spread action is not the source of the
problem which may very well be capstan location.

Make a small block of wood with a capstan in it and remove the capstan from
one key.  Place the block under the wippen and use it to determine if an
improvement can be had by moving the block fore and aft.  

At this point it gets complex.  Relocating capstans is a very precision
operation requiring familiarity with action leverages, mach, and machines to
do the work.  At this time it would be well to contact David Stanwood for
procedures since this is one of his areas of expertise.

     Newton
     nhunt@jagat.com