<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1>     -----Original = Message----- From: = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Stuart & Aimee Balsillie Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 5:32 = AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: ACTION = WEIGHTS   <div> To all, </div> <div> I would be most = appreciative if anybody would be able to help  me understand problems with = touch weight in actions. </div> <div>   </div> <div> I was recently talking to a = friend who is a piano technician and he was showing me a Schimmel grand action = he just got in for repair ( not sure what size grand as he only had the action = but apparently  the piano is 30 years old,  and has not been = touched by anyone)  He said the touch was very heavy, and when he put = weights on it the keys would not budge under 60 grams although this varied from key = to key.I asked if it was only due to heavy hammers? surely there must be = friction problems as well (as I am sure Schimmel would not regulate their = actions to 60 grams (is this assumption right?)   He said yes there = was friction problems an he proceeded to quickly lubricate the roller on middle C, = when he put the weights on this key it then moved at around 50 grams. I thought = surely this would prove that there were friction problems and not hammer weight problems, he explained to me that although the weight had dropped the = hammers were too heavy and that it will not play properly. I seem to have an = uneasy feeling about this explanation and would be most grateful for anyone = able to help explain what may be happening in this action. </div> <div>   </div> <div> sincerely,= </div> <div>   </div> <div> Stuart = Balsillie </div> <div> Piano = Technician </div> <div> Kyneton </div> <div> Australia </div> <div> <a href="mailto:sabalsillie@bigpond.com">sabalsillie@bigpond.com</a></span= >       =             =       Stuart,       =       Sounds like a guy who  wants to put new hammers on this thing. . If they = are not worn, IMHO he should continue with the cleaning, polishing, lube = routine. Key pins, capstans, knuckles, rep. levers, jacks, key easing at the bushings = and balance rail hole.possible action centers if too tight. Action = regulation, damper timing etc.       =       How accurate are the weights?  60 grams isn’t that heavy . = Sometimes the jack position under the knuckle will give you excessive resistance at = letoff and make the action feel heavy during pianissimo play. =       =       Just my opinion, but I doubt it is a hammer weight issue.       =       Tom Driscoll </div> <div>   </div> </div> </body> </html>