pesky pitman problem (was Horrble Example)

[DICK BEATON]

Jeannie....
Here is a possible answer...I found this on a Steinway, so not my idea. 
Replace the pitman (dowel) with a piece of hammer shank... same length. 
Drill a small hole in each end of the stick and insert a center pin far
enough so that about 1/4 inch stricks out each end.  Assuming there is
leather on the underside of the tray, push the stick up thru the center of
the hole into the bottom of the tray.  Same for the other end into the
leather on top of the lever.  Now you have no friction and the stick stays
where you inserted it in each end.  (Wonder if anyone else has seen this
use)
Dick Helena MT

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> From: Jeannie Grassi <jgrassi@silverlink.net>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech-digest@ptg.org>
> Subject: pesky pitman problem (was Horrble Example)
> Date: Sunday, November 23, 1997 12:46 PM
> 
> On Nov. 22 Bill Bremer wrote:
>     >> To this day, I still gladly accept work on any Kimball.  I know
what
> I'm
> doing with them.  I understand the nature of their typical defects and
what
> to do about them.  I sure make a lot more money practicing basic piano
> technology than all the negative talking people who don't know what to do
> with a vacuum cleaner and a screwdriver.
>      ATTENTION KIMBALL OWNERS!!!  CALL ME!!!<<
> 
> Hi Bill & list,
>     I just read your post this morning and have been scratching my head
over
> a particular Kimbal Grand 5105 built in 1978, that I can't figure out. 
It
> sounds like maybe you could be the person to help me with my dilemma.
>     I have made repeated visits to this piano to fix the sustain pedal. 
For
> reasons that I have not been able to figure out, the pitman refuses to
stay
> in place and every few weeks, after playing, I get a call that it is
jammed
> again and the dampers are all locked either partially, or all the way off
> the strings.
>     The first time I was called was after the movers had left and I
assumed
> it was the usual misplacement of the pitman in the move.  But since then,
> I've thought that maybe something was damaged in the move that I am not
> seeing.  For instance the arc of movement of the parts.  How should they
> look. Or any other ideas that might occur to anyone.  To me, everything
> looks normal, and yet something is not right.
>      I've tried everything I know, but can't figure out what is causing
this
> to happen.  Before leaving each time, I sit and play the pedal 100-200
> times, trying to force it to malfunction, and I leave, assured that it is
> finally going to work. I've lubricated all the obvious places, removed
any
> excess lost motion, retightened the brass collar around the top of the
pedal
> rod........
>     Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I don't know of any more
ways
> to look at this. And both my client and I are running out of patience.  I
> hope her's holds out a little longer.
> 
> Jeannie Grassi, RPT
> Bainbridge Island, WA
> jgrassi@silverlink.net
> 
> 
>