Backcheck noise

[DCrpt at comcast.net]

 David,
   I used the backchecks sent to me form Steinway since this is a warranty issue.I had tried brushing the buckskin and even sprinkling teflon powder on them.I did find (like you did) that causeing the hammer to check lower minimised the noise, but it was still there.I am thinking that it me be a loose solder joint on one of the action rails.The noise seems to come after string impact,but can't be duplicated outside of the piano,so the hammer has to be moving pretty fast and hitting the back check hard.I am thinking that the shock when the back check stops the hammer is enough to make a loose rail click,although it is curious that the rail doesn't make a click on the attack.(Unless you can't hear it over the sound of the note,since it is a little "tick" sound anyway).I will be letting the list know what Eric Schandall comes up with when he sees the piano on the 8th.    Robin Olson
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> 

I have gone through the same routine on these two pianos.  Did you try another manufacturer’s backchecks by chance?  Or even just drape the backcheck with some bushing cloth or something to change the contact noise?  I’ll be interested to hear what you find.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net
www.davidlovepianos.com 
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of DCrpt at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 5:34 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: Backcheck noise

       I have encountered a similar problem on two new Steinways here in the Washington DC area.I talked to Kent Webb initially about this and we thought it was bad backcheck buckskin.He sent me a new set of backchecks,and I replaced one and checked it in the piano and the noise was still there.I have already checked all the other causes for that kind sound(i.e. loose knucle cores,loose hammer heads,even loose drop screws) Eric Schandall with be visiting next week and we plan to take a look at one of these pianos,and see if he can determine the cause of the problem.I will report back to the list our findings.
                                                                               Robin Olson RPT
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> 

> Tails aren't rough (in fact I tried sanding them even smoother to no avail) 
> and the radius seems correct in terms of the amount of tail in contact with 
> the backcheck. This is not a hard checking problem, it's more an issue of 
> noise. 
> 
> David Love 
> davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
> www.davidlovepianos.com 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf 
> Of A440A at aol.com 
> Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 4:12 PM 
> To: pianotech at ptg.org 
> Subject: Re: Backcheck noise 
> 
> 
> << new Steinways recently with very loud hammer 
> tail to backcheck leather contact noise--especially audibl! e on a soft blow. 
> The leather looks and feels relatively normal but the noise is definitely 
> bothersome. What is the likely cause and remedy. >> 
> 
> Tails too rough. I can get good checking when I leave them pretty smooth on 
> 
> a radius is about 3" but it seems that factory hammers are often much 
> steeper 
> than that and depend on rough tails for checking security. 
> Sometimes, the new hammers don't have enough material left on the tail 
> to 
> correct the radius, . 
> Regards, 
> 
> Ed Foote RPT 
> http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html 
> www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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