Loose damper lever weights

[Norman Barrett]

Hello Clyde,

My fix for this situation is to raise the damper upstop rail, lift the
dampers on each side of the one with a loose lead weight, push the weight
back into place and then squeeze it with the pliers called shank knurling
pliers. They will spread the lead weight without touching the wood of the
damper underlever. These pliers are on page 22 of the Schaff tool catalog
part # 291. It is a quick and permanent fix.

Norm Barrett
Memphis chapter

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 5:52 AM
Subject: Loose damper lever weights


> Friends,
>
> I ran into a problem this week that I haven't encountered before.  The
> piano is a 1988 Wurlitzer grand model G-552.  In the process of tuning I
> noticed that for three keys two dampers would lift at the same time.  I
> pulled the action out, and the lead (?) weights closest to the keyboard
> were loose in those three damper levers and had fallen against their
> next-door neighbors, which caused the problem.
>
> What is the most efficient fix?  There has been some discussion of
> pliers recently, and at first I thought maybe it was about this exact
> problem, but I think there's not enough room to get a pliers in there.
>
> What I will do unless someone has a better idea:  Remove the sostenuto
> rod, then for each problem key loosen the damper wire and pull it out,
> remove the damper lever assembly and glue in the weight, then
> replace/regulate as needed.  I'm not eager to do this, since getting the
> flange screw back in has been a source of frustration for me in the
> past, but I can do it if that's the best way.
>
> Help?  Comments?
>
> Regards,
> Clyde Hollinger
>
>
>
>