Hi James:
I'd first make sure that the pitman is assembled correctly. I think there's a wire loop that is attached to the sostenuto rod, and that loop is captured by the monkey. Take a good look at that arrangement and see if it makes sense. The wire should be in the proper place in the pitman for it to rotate.
The pedal rod adjustment should be such that it allows the sostenuto mechanism to work properly. It the pedal rod is not set correctly, or the lyre is loose (check the joints), the sostenuto won't adjust or work properly. The sostenuto blade shouldn't be straight up and down, but at an angle, like you suggested. Otherwise it has to travel too far to do its job effectively. The blade edge should not interfere with the normal up and down of the underlevers, but with minimal movement should pick up the individual damper block tabs. The tabs should be just above the blade edge at rest.
Without pics, it's hard to really know what's wrong, but the above could give you some hints.
Good luck.
Paul McCloud
San DIego
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James Kelly
Trying to get the sostenuto bar/rod to turn freely and to catch the tabs on the dampers when pedal is pressed while playing notes . If you really stomp on both the sustain pedal and the middle sos pedal the rod rotates and catches all of the dampers and a slow release of the pedal allows dampers to randomly drop which is generally a good test . There is a spring steel used inside the cavity to help reset the pedal dowel that comes through the keybed. This pitman sits on the trap work lever under the piano. Everything appears to be connected properly so I am thinking the binding may be due to a tight dowel fit. Another thought is to re-position the rotating rods so the fin is at a 45 degree angle at rest. It is mostly straight up and down. I have some diagrams from the S&S technical manual but maybe there is something unique to a Young Chang. I replaced the action brackets at the end of last year and checked the action spread following the specs that came with the bracket The piano plays well and I have done some basic action regulation improving power . Owner's son is an advanced student and taking lessons from an excellent teacher who may be starting him on pedalling exercises and shading so it is important to get the pedal system regulated. I may just end up taking off the trap lever and concentrate on the mechanical connections for now . The problem is that mom constantly wants to know the cost saying she does not want to put a lot into the piano. I am not sure how to take that since the young man has great ability, she got the piano at a fair price and dad is a successful home builder...
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
Original Message------
Trying to get the sostenuto bar/rod to turn freely and to catch the tabs on the dampers when pedal is pressed while playing notes . If you really stomp on both the sustain pedal and the middle sos pedal the rod rotates and catches all of the dampers and a slow release of the pedal allows dampers to randomly drop which is generally a good test . There is a spring steel used inside the cavity to help reset the pedal dowel that comes through the keybed. This pitman sits on the trap work lever under the piano. Everything appears to be connected properly so I am thinking the binding may be due to a tight dowel fit. Another thought is to re-position the rotating rods so the fin is at a 45 degree angle at rest. It is mostly straight up and down. I have some diagrams from the S&S technical manual but maybe there is something unique to a Young Chang. I replaced the action brackets at the end of last year and checked the action spread following the specs that came with the bracket The piano plays well and I have done some basic action regulation improving power . Owner's son is an advanced student and taking lessons from an excellent teacher who may be starting him on pedalling exercises and shading so it is important to get the pedal system regulated. I may just end up taking off the trap lever and concentrate on the mechanical connections for now . The problem is that mom constantly wants to know the cost saying she does not want to put a lot into the piano. I am not sure how to take that since the young man has great ability, she got the piano at a fair price and dad is a successful home builder...
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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