<html> <body> At 07:36 PM 8/4/2008, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I have a customer with a B. (Nice to know isn't it...........) The first damper after the first break is constantly clacking. I managed a temporary fix which lasted about six months, but it's back to noise making.  I'm of limited experience with such things, don't have any double-layered felt, and would appreciate means by which others have solved this little problem. thanks much les bartlett</blockquote> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Actually I think it's clacking is mainly from the fact that the bushing cloth in the damper guide rail wears very quickly from the uneven pressure of the offset damper head and wire. les</blockquote> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Thanks for info.  I would plug and redrill with trepidation, but that seems the logical choice. les</blockquote> Les - With all due respect, things aren't adding up.  First, some additional information.  What vintage B?  What was your temporary solution?  Even if your assessment of bushing cloth wear is accurate, what is source of the clacking?  Wire against glue, or damper block against plate?  Did you extract the bushing cloth to determine where the wear <s>were</s>, was?   And, most importantly, why did your subject title begin with ' / '? It makes no sense to me to plug and redrill, just because you think you don't have the correct material. Someone on the list must have had to do this and would have the measurements for the required cloth thickness.  You could shim with some kind of material.  I think it unlikely that the offset-ness of the damper would be the cause of wear, without the accompanying conditions Jon Page suggested.  However, while not relishing the thought of challenging Mr. Page, <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Clean and polish the wire and adjust the bends so that the wire travels straight in the bushing and not bearing on a side.</blockquote> Steinway does instruct that those dampers should be bearing slightly towards the bass.  Check for this by pulling the head towards the treble and noting whether it springs back towards the bass side of the hole and, if so, with what force.  While not entirely correct, if the damper head IS hitting the plate, you could adjust the 'pressure bend' to bear against the treble side of the hole, and then adjust the top bends to reseat the damper felt.  Otherwise,  you can't start bending wires unless you do as Wim suggested: regluing felt. If, on the other hand, the noise is due to a loose damper head or lead, please disregard the above. David Skolnik Hastings on Hudson, NY and then, of course, there's grinding the plate. </body> </html>