<HTML><BODY> <div><SPAN contentEditable=false style="DISPLAY: inline-block"></SPAN>Michelle,</div> <div> </div> <div>Make sure there is clearance between the trap levers.  I've seen them rubbing together causing hideous noises!  Don't remember if it was on a Steinway or not.</div> <div> </div> <div style="CLEAR: both">Dave Stahl, RPT<br> <br> Dave Stahl Piano Service<br> 650-224-3560<br> dstahlpiano@sbcglobal.net<br> http://dstahlpiano.net/<br> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: paulrevenkojones@aol.com<br> To: pianotech@ptg.org<br> Sent: Tue, 1 May 2007 1:10 PM<br> Subject: Re: Damper lift rod grinding<br> <br> <STYLE> .AOLPlainTextBody { margin: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; color: #000; background-color: #fff; } .AOLPlainTextBody pre { font-size: 9pt; } .AOLInlineAttachment { margin: 10px; } .AOLAttachmentHeader { font: 11px arial; border: 1px solid #7DA8D4; background: #F9F9F9; } .AOLAttachmentHeader .Title { font: 11px arial; background: #B5DDFA; padding: 3px 3px 3px 3px; } .AOLAttachmentHeader .FieldLabel { font: 11px arial; color: #000000; padding: 1px 10px 1px 9px; background: #F9F9F9; } .AOLAttachmentHeader .FieldValue { font: 11px arial; color: #000000; background: #F9F9F9; } .AOLAttachmentHeader a, .AOLImage a { color: #2864B4; text-decoration: none; } .AOLAttachmentHeader a:hover, .AOLImage a:hover { color: #2864B4; text-decoration: underline; } .AOLWebSuiteCompose .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink, .AOLWebSuite .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink { height: 1px; width: 1px; overflow: hidden; } body { background-color: white; font-family: "Verdana"; font-size: 10pt; border: 0px; } .AOLWebSuiteCompose p { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; } img.managedImg { width: 0px; height: 0px; } img.placeholder { width: 275px; height: 206px; background: #F4F4F4 center center no-repeat; border: 1px solid #DADAD6 !important; } </STYLE> </div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c> <div>Michelle:</div> <div> </div> <div>If you're entirely certain that it's the Pitman (the metal rod) through the keybed, then there are several dimensions you have to examine. The rod is bushed through the keybed and may be overlubricated with some greasy gunk that has hardened over the years, or the bushinig itself may be worn and need to be replaced at the same time that you polish the Pitman to a gleam and only lubricate with TFL-50 Dry. Then there are the two ends of the rod one of which contacts the damper tray on a piece of buckskin which may also be suffering from the same lubrication abuse, or worn through from use; certainly it's indented from constant use and could use replacement; it would help in regulating the damper tray lift. At the other end, the Pitman contacts the trapwork in an small hole in the topside of the lever which you will have to drop down by turning the stop out of the way (or does this model have a stop screw?), exposing the topside of the lever. My bet, really, is that the trap spring is what is causing the noise; it is either broken and grinding into the wood, or so worn into the bushing leather that has been lubrication abused and become hard that a groan or grind is coming from it. If it really is the Pitman, there are some nifty fixes that completely isolate the dowel from the sides of the hole through the keybed. If you interested.....? But confirm your diagnosis first. I have never experienced a "grind" from the Pitman: certainly binding, some forms of groans and squawks, etc.</div> <div> </div> <div>Paul</div> <div> </div> <div> <div><STRONG>"If you want to know the truth, stop having opinions" (Chinese fortune cookie)</STRONG></div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>In a message dated 05/01/07 13:09:55 Central Daylight Time, <A href='javascript:parent.ComposeTo("michelle%40smithpianoservice.com", "");'>michelle@smithpianoservice.com</A> writes:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <div> <STYLE type=text/css>#AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c .aolmailheader {font-size:8pt; color:black; font-family:Arial}#AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}#AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}#AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}#AOLMsgPart_2_4b1ca23a-2b8f-48a8-9706-75d7f2dfa22c a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}</STYLE> <STYLE></STYLE> <div class=Section1> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi all.  I have a 1951 Steinway S here at the house that has started making a grinding noise when the damper pedal is pushed.  I’ve isolated it to the metal rod that comes through the keybed and lifts the dampers.  Being a newbie, I want to get some suggestions from y’all before I begin.  </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks for your help.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Michelle Smith</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Smith Piano Service</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Bastrop</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">, Texas</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">(512) 466-0238</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"><A href='javascript:parent.ComposeTo("michelle%40smithpianoservice.com", "");'>michelle@smithpianoservice.com</A></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </div> </BLOCKQUOTE> <div> </div> </div>  <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> AOL now offers free email to everyone. 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