<HTML>List, I sent the following response to billpillmore, a= nd later noticed that the reply went only to him, not the list. I am copying= it to the list, in case anyone else wants to help out. In a message dated 5/7/2003 4:47:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, billpillmore@e= arthlink.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">C2 up 28 grams down 64+3 quarte= rs C3 up 16 grams down 64+3 quarters C4 up 24 grams down 64+1 quarter C5 up 22 grams down 64 grams C6 up 32 grams down 64+3 quarters </BLOCKQUOTE> Bill, you've got a SERIOUS friction problem, among other things. You need to= locate this first, then go after the weight problem. No wonder no one wants= to play it. Maybe the shank centers are seized. What kind of shanks are the= y? I'm guessing this is an older Steinway. Perhaps original dimension shanks= were used, with modern weight hammers. Perhaps the repetitions were not rep= laced, and have verdigris in the support flange center. Were the keys rebush= ed? Have you checked them for friction? Have you check the capstan/heel junc= tion for burrs, goo, or indentation? Were your measurements made with the da= mpers up? What model is this piano, and what age or serial #? Do NOT file the hammers yet, although it is probable that they will need it.= They may also have been prepared incorrectly (not tapered and coved suffici= ently). Are these Steinway factory hammers? Do the keys have the original le= ading? You might also consider consulting in person with a more experienced technic= ian on this one. Where are you located? It sounds from the nature of your qu= estions that you are not yet facile with action assessment; you can do your = reputation more harm than good working on a piano of this caliber without su= fficient experience. I mean no offense by this - we have all jumped in over = our heads on occasion; we learn many lessons that way, but they can sometime= s be painful ones. Best regards, Bob Davis </HTML>