[pianotech] sluggish jacks

[David Weiss]

List,  

I received a call to look at a Baldwin baby grand with sluggish action.  The
piano was rebuilt about 10 years ago, with Renner parts.  A Dampp Chaser
system was installed at the time of the rebuild.  

About 6 months ago the owner noticed about one octave of sluggish notes.  He
called another technician who came out and lubricated the jack flanges.  It
didn't help and more notes started getting sluggish.  He called the other
tech back, who lubricated again.  The owner said after the second round of
lubricating the problem was even worse.  I don't know what the other tech
used to lubricate, but I'm assuming it was Protec.  

I looked at the action today and the jack flanges are really tight.  Some
notes will play once, other notes will not even play one time, the jack
being stuck in the forward position.  All the other flanges in the action
are fine.  

I'm trying to figure out why this happened.  The house is modern with
reasonably good climate control.  They heat and cool like most people in my
area.  They don't leave windows open a lot.  There have been no unusual
events, such as burst pipes, broken air conditioners, etc.  The piano has
been in the same spot for 10 years, and seems to have been fine for the
first 9 years.    

I gave the owner a quote for re-pinning the jack flanges.  But two questions
linger.  If I re-pin, will the problem re-occur; and why did this happen in
the first place.

Thanks for your input,

David Weiss