M&H console/damper spoon problem

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

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In a message dated 5/2/01 1:15:47 PM Central Daylight Time, Tvak@AOL.COM
 writes:


> Is there a way to regulate the damper spoons with the action out of the 
> piano?  (We tried this and failed miserably.) Any other suggestions?  

I'd only recommend the "quick & dirty" method for an occasional adjustment 
but you can use it with what I'm going to tell you later in this post.  
First, however, how are the dampers lifting with the pedal?  Are they 
uniform?  If not, adjusting the wires will change when the spoons lift.

How short is the blow distance?  Did you *arbitrarily* set a blow distance 
with a ruler because you found a measurement in a book?  Did you have to 
crank the capstans way up to take up the lost motion?  Whether you did or 
not, is there too much aftertouch?  If so, remove some material from the rest 
rail supports to increase the blow distance, then lower the capstans.  This 
will cause the damper spoons to engage later, possibly solving your problem.

If it comes down to having to adjust the spoons, *carefully* use the "quick & 
dirty" method to adjust just one spoon, say for the note at the end of the 
middle section.  Now remove the action and place it in a cradle if you have 
one.  Get a wedge of wood, about the same size as a tuning mute (but use hard 
material like wood, not a soft mute).  Lift the damper rod and place the 
wedge under it.  Find the point on the note you have already adjusted where 
the damper lever and the hammer move at exactly the same time as you lift the 
wippen with your fingers.  Put the wedge in more or pull it out to find this 
exact spot.

Now, the wedge will hold the damper rod at the place where you can adjust all 
of the other spoons similarly.  It should take just a slight bend inwards.  
Unfortunately, I can't visualize the Sostenuto mechanism arrangement which is 
complicating matters.  Hopefully, you will be able to slip in a damper wire 
bending tool onto the spoon and with a careful bend of the spoon inwards, you 
should be able to make the difference you need without too much bending back 
and forth.

These kinds of skills are just as difficult to develop as tuning skills are.  
It takes only a slight tweak of the spoon to make a significant difference in 
when it will engage the damper lever.  That is why the "quick & dirty" method 
can work in many instances to make a slight adjustment on a few early lifting 
dampers.

Another variation of the "quick & dirty" method is to take a screwdriver 
blade, reach through the rest of the action to the damper lever.  Put the tip 
of the screwdriver into the cup where the damper lever spring fits.  Press 
firmly so that the lever will not move and press the key very hard and firmly 
all the way to the bottom of the range of motion of the key.  This will cause 
the spoon to bend itself in slightly, thus causing it to engage the damper 
lever at a later point of key travel the next time.  Caution, however, this 
is also risky and can cause parts to break from the improper stress you are 
placing on them, especially in an older, more fragile piano action.

Good luck.  If you need any clarification on the procedure, post again.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin

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