Steinway hammer alignment

[David Ilvedson]

David/List

On a 100 year old Knabe I service, the keyframe stop block?(Merle's book
doesn't name or show it) does not have any cloth attached to it.  I was
under the impression this typically had cloth and was shimmed on the case
side for gross adjustment of the keyframe in the action cavity.  It isn't
particularly noisy but it is thin on one end...I would have to reduce it
thickness if I added cloth...

David I.

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 10/16/01 at 5:31 PM David Love wrote:

>Shim out the stop inside the action cavity on the bass end (after making
>sure that it doesn't screw up the damper lever alignment on the key end
>felt).  Sometimes on an older piano the action will move left as the cloth
>compacts and wears.  I would probably replace the cloth first if it is
>worn.
>You will then have to screw in the stop on the treble side as the una
corda
>movement will be restricted if you don't.
>
>David Love
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <bases-loaded@juno.com>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: October 16, 2001 12:09 PM
>Subject: Steinway hammer alignment
>
>
>> Greetings -
>>
>> First service call to a new customer.  1976 vintage Steinway S.  More
>> than 2/3 of the hammers are striking left of center, although they ARE
>> square to the string plane.  It is clear they have been this way since
>> day one.
>>
>> The Steinway rail does not allow enough play to simply loosen the hammer
>> flange screws so that the hammers can be moved over to the right enough
>> to be centered.  I had to use the soft pedal constantly in order to
sound
>> the majority of the right hand strings for tuning.
>>
>> What have some of you found to be the best solution for this problem?  I
>> must say I have never run into such rampant misalignment, and find it
>> hard to believe it has not been noticed and dealt with by now.
>>
>> Thanks for any input!
>>
>> Mark Potter
>> bases-loaded@juno.com