CAUT

I am trying to improve the heavy touch on an 1877 C Bechstein that was rebuilt some time in early 2000's. Leather bushings where used in both key mortices and the ones on the balance pin are snug I brushed Teflon powder into the gap but not sure it had any effect. My second problem is the way the action is attached. You cant lift the top stack off because the whippens are attached to the keys. I suspect the whippens could all have tight pins but also want to get the keys off to clean, polish and lube keypins, ease the balance key pin hole if needed and perhaps compress and lube the leather. ANY help is sincerely appreciated. I have never seen an action like this nor have many of my go to mentors.  

Its possible that the action geometry is messed up and I may need to consult with some others or at least take measurements. Perhaps I/We have to adapt to the existing heavier touch  

Many pianos of this vintage had linked actions: Bechstein,  Knabe, and others. Not a bad design just hard to service. First, get yourself a good digital gram scale, available from Woodcraft ($60).  I suspect that the hammers are way too heavy.  You will need to disassemble the action to assess the keyset. Examine the plating of the pins and replace as needed. Go over all action centers, measuring with gram scale.  You may want to confer with Ken Walkup at Cornell who has experience with early Bechsteins. If the leather bushings are hard,  replace. Sounds like a poor rebuild.

Thanks for the information and tips. Linked actions is a good description although I like kluge , insane and a few other descriptors. I will pull a few hammers and weigh them on my gram scale as well as pop a few center pins and examine under a microscope. Repinning after reaming will likely improve things both on the hammers and the whippens. I will followup with Ken at Cornell since he sounds like an expert. If the leather bushings are an issue I will likely recommend sending the keys out for rebushing with high quality felt. The piano was rebuilt here by a local shop but he had some strange legacy. No telling what effort was put in or not .

The intention is for this piano to be used for services and special concerts and to preserve it as much as possible. If felt is better than leather for bushings and in our humid environment it likely is so be it. The church will be investing in a woolen string cover, full dampp chaser system and padded piano cover

I have a client with an 1870s Bechstein.  It's all original and I have only brought it up to A435.  Does anyone know what pitch they were built for, and have you brought one up to A440 with the original strings?  Appreciate any advice.

Bill Ryder