<HTML><HEAD> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Unless critters have eaten the center punchings or they have rotted away--and assuming these keys were once level and haven't been messed with--the problem lies elsewhere. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Think about the system in the grand: If the front of the key is too low, the back has to be too high and vis versa. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Look for foreign objects under the keys, front or back. Look for torn up or worn away damper lift felts on the backend of each key. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>It's possible that the key needs "easing" at the front rail, but not likely the cause of your problem. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>Does the whippen sit down solidly on the capstan, or is something holding it up? You can test this last one by pressing gently on keysticks near the capstans and seeing what moves, what is level, what is not. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>If I were a betting man, I'd lay 10 to 1 odds on foreign objects amongst the keys, e.g., dirt, mouse nesting or grain storage (yep, it happens), Barbie Doll shoes, hairpins, paper clips (common), <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>1933 Double Eagle gold coin (somewhat less common).</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Hope it helps..</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Alan Barnard</DIV> <DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=toddpianoworks@yahoo.com href="mailto:toddpianoworks@yahoo.com">Matthew Todd</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 08/22/2005 10:20:13 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Keys not level</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV>I noticed on someone's grand piano today that a few (2 or 3) of their keys were not level with the others.  Could this be a balance rail punching problem or could other things contribute to this as well?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am just paying real close attention to pianos I come in contact with as I am still learning.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks for all your help,<BR>Matthew</DIV> <P> <HR SIZE=1> <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=34442/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs">Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page </A></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>