[pianotech] Backcheck height: how high is too high?

[Malinda Dobrins]

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kurt Baxter 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 10:12 PM
  Subject: [pianotech] Backcheck height: how high is too high?


  This sounds very similar to my experience.

  The only effective way of increasing check distance with the WNG backchecks seems to be deeper insertion, not bending away from the tail. This is fine, so long as you got your calculations right the first time. 

  What is the offical WNG target check distance?

  Can anyone think of a reason that checking at 1/4" (or even closer) would be a bad thing?

  At some point you have to start running into a tradeoff, right?


  -kurt






  On Saturday, February 5, 2011, Gene Nelson <nelsong at intune88.com> wrote:
  > I installed a set on my piano using the kit and following their instructions to the letter.
  > After installation, checking was close to 1/8 inch. This close, the hammers go into check when playing piano or maybe slightly softer. The rep spring can be stronger and virtually no chance of double bounce with superior repetition.
  > Now I have them at 1/4" and will likely keep it there.
  > Seems to me that the surface area on the hammer tail that engages the back check is relatively small (about 3/8" by the hammer width - same with the back check surface area that catches the hammer tail -  if checking is initially at 1/8" before any adjustment is made and the hammer tail surface is relatively centered on the back check - checking efficiency will be reduced if you set checking height lower than 1/2" - so I never did try 5/8".
  > As checking at 1/8" is not possible (in my experience) with the traditional back checks and arcing of the tails, who is to say what is ideal? This is something new.
  > Gene
  > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kurt Baxter" <fortefile at gmail.com>
  > To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
  > Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 4:50 PM
  > Subject: [pianotech] Backcheck height: how high is too high?
  >
  >
  >
  > So if anyone has installed a set of WNG backchecks (when using their
  > jig system at least), you know how easy it is to get the hammers to
  > check literally as high as you want.
  >
  > This raises the question: what *is* the ideal checking height? What
  > happens when it get too high, and how high is that?
  >
  > I have heard "as high as possible without binding" as often as I have
  > heard 5/8", so that make me wonder if 5/8" is actually ideal, or
  > somewhat arbitrary.
  >
  >
  >
  > -kurt
  >
  >
  >
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