<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Philip,<div>I don't believe the dark flange is because of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; ">lubricant applications. I think it's because of the moisture the flange has been exposed to. For example; look at an original Steinway action. The hammer shanks are usually dark and discolored, while the other wood (wippens) can be as light colored as new. AND Fenton is correct. Take and strip the rails ( you can also lightly spray clear the rails after cleaning) and rebuild.</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma">Randy Chastain</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma">San Francisco Bay Area</font></div></body></html>