<HTML>In a message dated 11/1/01 5:35:58 PM Central Standard Time, draine@mediaone.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">What is the optimal approach to easing/resizing tight damper guide bushings? I've got a call-back on a rebuilt Steinway tomorrow. It was rebuilt 10 years ago, and the tuning I did last month was its *first* since then. A few drops of Protek got the stuck damper wires moving during the pitch raise/tuning, but they have since seized up again. While I'm familiar with *various* methods, I'd like to hear what works best, in the least amount of time ( i.e. sticking bridge pins in while soaking the felt with alcohol isn't *fast*). Patrick </BLOCKQUOTE> Patrick The last thing I would want to put on a guide rail bushing is any kind of lubricant, even Protec. Short from wiggling the damper wire back and forth, the next best thing is to remove the damper and run a rod just slightly thicker than the damper wire through the hole. A tool that works is the grand capstan tool, the one with the bend at the end of it. My dad told me he used an umbrella stay. He said you can push it through the hole with the damper wire still in place. I tried it once and pushed the bushing out. Wim </HTML>