[pianotech] repinning damper flanges

[David Nereson]

    Re: this month's Journal article on replacing upright damper 
flanges -- Mr. Dornfeld didn't mention the pinning part of the 
job.  I know new damper levers have the flanges already on them, 
but in the article, he's replacing only the flanges.
    I have the darndest time repinning them.  It seems no matter 
what you do with the spring, it forces the flange to sit out of 
align with the hole in the birdseye, and you have to hold the 
lever and flange in a guessed-at position where you hope the 
holes are aligned, then push the center pin in 1/32" at a time 
until you see the point of it appear in the center of the flange 
bushing before you push it "home."    If you don't, it's too 
late -- the pin has already damaged the bushing or pushed it out 
altogether and now ya gotta re-bush the flange.  It's so "iffy" 
compared to repinning most other action parts.
    Whattaya do?
    --David Nereson, RPT