<html> David, This is common misguidance on the part of man'f'rs. Contact David Stanwood for the proper approach to helper springs. They_do_work when properly utilized. David S. has the key . . . Open your horizons  :-) Regards, Jon Page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At 03:47 PM 01/25/2000 -0800, you wrote: >List, > >I tuned a D.H. Baldwin 5'10" grand today.  The action felt >terrible and while servicing I noticed it had helper springs on >the wippens.  Then I noticed only one key lead in the bass up >to tenor then none.  Obviously the helper springs are a big >savings in manufacturing over weighing off the keys.  I didn't >take down/up weight but it was heavy with lots of up weight.  >Can this be made to play with just the helper springs?  Of >course the hammers are big and heavy with little weight >removal done in the factory.  > >David I. >David Ilvedson, RPT >Pacifica, CA >ilvey@jps.net > <div>Jon Page,   piano technician</div> <div>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.</div> <div><a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" EUDORA=AUTOURL>mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</a></div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </html>