This doesn't really change my suggestions. The friction is a bit uneven, but the leverage seems to high and a move of the knuckle or capstan would seem in order to me. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Davidson To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: 6/1/2003 3:19:37 PM Subject: Re: 1999 Steinway L with heavy action Below are all the numbers I currently have for this piano. I will check out everyone's suggestions when I get a chance. Thanks for your input. -Mark Davidson gory details: DW, UW, FRICT,BW, FW, SW 59, 33, 13, 46, 27.3 62, 30, 16, 46, 33.8 58, 35, 11.5, 46.5, 35.3 C1 56, 36, 10, 46, 36.1, 10.9 55, 31, 12, 43, 33.6, 11.2 54, 37, 8.5, 45.5, 34.7 54, 30, 12, 42, 34 52, 34, 9, 43, 36.6 55, 35, 10, 45, 36.2 59, 36, 11.5, 47.5, 28 55, 35, 10, 45, 30.9 55, 32, 11.5, 43.5, 33.7 58, 36, 11, 47, 32.3 53, 28, 12.5, 40.5, 34.2 54, 35, 9.5, 44.5, 33.5 C2 60, 30, 15, 45, 34.5, 11.0 52, 30, 11, 41, 34.6, 11.0 52, 28, 12, 40, 36.1 60, 23, 18.5, 41.5, 33.8 53, 29, 12, 41, 37.9 55, 32, 11.5, 43.5, 33.5 54, 25, 14.5, 39.5, 33.9 57, 32, 12.5, 44.5, 32 53, 28, 12.5, 40.5, 33 56, 33, 11.5, 44.5, 34.2 60, 24, 18, 42, 32.2 58, 34, 12, 46, 28.3 C3 59, 29, 15, 44, 29.4, 10.2 55, 34, 10.5, 44.5, 25.6, 10.4 58, 29, 14.5, 43.5, 27.9 54, 30, 12, 42, 26.7 56, 31, 12.5, 43.5, 24.5 58, 36, 11, 47, 22.5 60, 30, 15, 45, 23.9 51, 37, 7, 44, 23.2 55, 31, 12, 43, 24.5 51, 34, 8.5, 42.5, 27.3 51, 28, 11.5, 39.5, 26 50, 32, 9, 41, 26.2 C4 51, 31, 10, 41, 31.1, 10.5 57, 26, 15.5, 41.5, 27.6, 10.4 50, 32, 9, 41, 31.2 51, 25, 13, 38, 31.2 50, 27, 11.5, 38.5, 32.2 53, 27, 13, 40, 29.3 51, 28, 11.5, 39.5, 27.6 51, 33, 9, 42, 24.8 51, 33, 9, 42, 25.1 52, 34, 9, 43, 25.2 49, 30, 9.5, 39.5, 24.9 47, 30, 8.5, 38.5, 28.7 C5 48, 36, 6, 42, 26.1, 9.9 55, 23, 16, 39, 27.5, 9.8 48, 30, 9, 39, 25.2 51, 29, 11, 40, 24.2 51, 27, 12, 39, 27.3 47, 34, 6.5, 40.5, 23.9 51, 32, 9.5, 41.5, 20.2 49, 32, 8.5, 40.5, 24 54, 31, 11.5, 42.5, 23.9 49, 32, 8.5, 40.5, 26.1 49, 24, 12.5, 36.5, 24.8 53, 29, 12, 41, 24.7 C6 46, 30, 8, 38, 23.7, 9.0 59, 25, 17, 42, 20, 8.8 51, 33, 9, 42, 18.8 52, 33, 9.5, 42.5, 15.2 56, 36, 10, 46, 17.5 53, 33, 10, 43, 17.6 53, 34, 9.5, 43.5, 16.9 58, 31, 13.5, 44.5, 17.1 53, 36, 8.5, 44.5, 11 52, 34, 9, 43, 16.8 49, 31, 9, 40, 15.7 55, 29, 13, 42, 16.4 C7 50, 36, 7, 43, 12.4, 7.7 54, 30, 12, 42, 11.1, 7.6 47, 34, 6.5, 40.5, 13.9 51, 32, 9.5, 41.5, 11.4 49, 35, 7, 42, 9.9 50, 37, 6.5, 43.5, 7.6 54, 37, 8.5, 45.5, 6.7 50, 37, 6.5, 43.5, 7.7 52, 33, 9.5, 42.5, 6.1 49, 37, 6, 43, 6.4 50, 33, 8.5, 41.5, 6.6 50, 35, 7.5, 42.5, 6.3 C8 47, 33, 7, 40, 6.5, 6.0 ----- Original Message ----- From: David Love To: pianotech@ptg.org ; Mark Davidson Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 10:00 AM Subject: RE: 1999 Steinway L with heavy action It appears that the SBR (leverage) is a bit high in this piano. You need to provide a bit more information but it seems to average approximately 6.2. My guess is that the knuckle position is 16mm and it should be 17 mm. That would lower the ratio to approximately 5.8 (average) and would be sufficient to lift the existing hammer weight without excessive front weighting. Depending on the situation I would consider moving the knuckle. Since you didn't provide upweight and downweight information, I don't know what the friction component is. But moving from a 16 - 17mm knuckle will also lower the friction a bit. You might also check the capstan line. Measure the key ratio in the bass as well as the treble to see if the key ratio changes through the piano. Another possibility is to move the capstan line forward in order to achieve a uniform key ratio and reduce the leverage to the necessary level at the same time. I wouldn't take any weight off the hammers, they are not that heavy to begin with. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Davidson To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: 6/1/2003 6:10:44 AM Subject: 1999 Steinway L with heavy action I have a 1999 Steinway L with rather heavy action I am looking to correct. Friction has been taken care of (was originally 20-30 grams - now 10-15). Action has been fully regulated which also improved it considerably. Here are some numbers: Balance weight ranges from 38-51g, average about 44. Strike weights are medium in the bass crossing over to heavy in the tenor. note BW FW SW C1 46 36 10.9 C2 45 34 11 C3 44 29 10.3 C4 41 32 10.5 C5 42 26 9.8 C6 38 24 9 C7 43 12 7.6 C8 40 7 6 So I am considering the following: 1. relead keys to bring balance weight to 38g 2. (1) plus move lead closer to balance rail to prevent slower repetition 3. lighten hammers from tenor up (remove felt? drill mouldings? maybe some of each - could use filing anyway) (piano is in a 10X13 room with hardwood floors so a smaller sound would not be an issue) 4. turbo wippen (either leave leads alone or remove some to make unsprung BW around 50 - how much are these things $$). 5. some combination of above Recommendations? -Mark Davidson
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