<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>@page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in = 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } OL { MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in } UL { MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>I find it hard to believe that David Kirkland never = heard of this problem before (not that I don't believe you).  Permafree 2 = has had problems for years with tight centers.  The problem often manifests = itself in the damper flanges as well.  The traditional Steinway fix has = been to use methanol.  But it can be unpredictable and the centers can = become too loose.  Alcohol and water will work to ease the bushings, but don't = use heat.  Apply and let dry overnight.  The pinning is not likely = to be even and after treating the centers it would be wise (though possibly = not covered by the warranty) to check the flange pinning and repin as necessary.  Unfortunately, Steinway prepping prior to sale is hit = or miss as it depends on the motivation of the dealer.  Steinway's are not = well prepped out of the factory and a thorough going over needs to be done on = all of them.  On a Steinway out of the factory I would figure 12-15 hours including regulation and voicing to get the piano ready.  If they = haven't done that at the dealer, then you shouldn't be surprised to have to put = in some time.  In answer to your questions:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Protek will lubricate until it = evaporates.  Then, if the centers are too tight, it will again become evident.  = Protek will have no effect on sizing overtight bushings.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Alcohol/water will be effective but unpredictable.  Don't use heat and be prepared to check and repin = if necessary.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Tight centers on new Steinways are common.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  If there is graphite in the spring slots = (the underside of the balancier where the rep springs slides) I wouldn't = worry about it.  That area is usually lubricated with something similar.  = The top of the balancier, on the other hand, should have no black stuff.  = Out of the factory, the lubricant that appears on the top of the balancier is = greenish in color and is quite dry.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>David Love  </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A title=tomtuner@attbi.com href="mailto:tomtuner@attbi.com">Tom = Driscoll</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: October 20, 2002 9:52 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: New Steinway -Tight = action centers</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> List,            = I’m servicing a Steinway M. “Sapelle “Veneer. Very pretty. This = piano is two years old and my client was complaining about playability. Lettoff and = drop was all over the place, tight balance rail holes, jacks needing = alignment to knuckles. All this corrected with the usual procedures, including = Mclube on key pins, Teflon powder on knuckles. Also noticed what looked like = Graphite grease in the balancier (rep-lever)spring seats.            = I found the hammer shank action centers to be very tight. Two- Three = swings only. I had no luck with protek on a sample.            = I consulted with Steinway N.Y. and = spoke with David Kirkland in Tech services. He was very supportive but had never heard = of this problem before. He mentioned that these centers were treated with = liquid Teflon and shouldn’t be tight---“ permafree two” I think he = called them. When I mentioned protek David suggested that it generally is a short term = fix and suggested alcohol –water treatment to resize the = bushings            = So--- My questions trusted colleagues:            = 1.      If treated with liquid = Teflon at the factory, why would Protek CPL (Teflon) be short-term in the field?            2.      Will the alc-water = treatment be effective on a center so treated?     3.      Have you seen tight = centers on other new Steinways?   4.      Could that black stuff = on the reps really be graphite and is it factory applied?       As I mentioned the = gentleman was supportive and authorized the aforementioned warranty service, but I = think I might have to ream and repin at least a portion of = these. Opinions?            =            = Tom Driscoll RPT            = </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>