In a message dated 98-06-13 03:41:46 EDT, you write: << James, Is it the butt plates that are breaking or the rail itself? If it is chronic you may just have a case where the brass has "crystallized". I don't know if this is a legitimate technical term for it but I don't know any other way to explain it except that the brass has changed it's molecular structure and has weakened. Or somewhere another tech has over-tightened the screws weakening the brass. If it is the rail you may have to have the brass rail duplicated. I don't know who does this anymore-anyone else??? You might also be able to get by with the brass rail flange/plate repair clips sold by Apsco or Schaff. They have proven indispensable for me many times. I keep a couple dozen of the different types in my parts bin at all times. Good Luck. BTW, maybe someone can explain why stainless steel has not been used in this type of application (I haven't seen it used anyways) besides being more costly than brass, perhaps??? Del?? any others?? Regards, Greg Torres I have had poor luck in using the repair clips. Having the rail duplicated is a possibility, but I have seen good and bad results. Besides, how do you travel the shanks? The best method is to convert to wood, but you would have to replace the butts, shanks, and hammers, and in the case of Kimball upright, the damper lever and flanges as well. It is a more spendy method, but not very hard to do. I have done one and it came out remarkably well. Dave Peake, RPT Portland, OR
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