<html> At 09:12 PM 08/15/2001 -0400, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>There are many causes for a heavy touch. One of the main reasons on an older grand is that the knuckles over the years of use have become flattened, thus the jack, instead of smoothly releasing, gets hung up on the flat surface, and it takes a little extra pressure with the finger, which gives it a heavy feel. You can check this out by slowly depressing any key, and if the jack seems to get hung up, and not smoothly releasing before the key is fully depressed, that is your problem. Reshaping the knuckles and adding a little graphite, or replacing them should make a big difference. </blockquote> Graphite does not belong on knuckles. A better powder to place on them is Teflon. Graphite in suspension is suitable to apply to the repetition lever but it then needs to be burnished after it has dried. Graphite is NOT to be used on knuckles.  I can't think of a single place where powdered graphite could be used in a piano. Other areas for friction are key bushings and the balance rail hole. The Key Bushing Iron available from Pianotek is the best tool for sizing the bushings and the Yamaha tool for easing the hole down through the key button. Teflon powder can be brushed into the bushings for lubrication, Protek on the key pins. Hammer flange friction is another primary source for high touchweight. Wippen flanges are secondary. Then  there's always reducing the weight of the hammers by filing and/or tapering to lower touchweight.  Beyond that you need to replace parts for a better action geometry. Regards, Jon Page,   piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <a href="mailto:jon.page@verizon.net" eudora="autourl">mailto:jon.page@</a>verizon<a href="mailto:jon.page@verizon.net" eudora="autourl">.net</a> <a href="http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.stanwoodpiano.com</a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</html>