Hi all..

A potential customer has asked me to carry out some fairly simple
repairs to his rather nice c.1930s Steck Duo-Art pedal grand. He cannot
afford full restoration, and anyway the instrument did play OK up to a
few months ago. He is willing to pay for a week of my time.  There are
three things needing attention: A loss of power - probably due to a
very audible leak in the main pipework; some notes that play
unnecessarily due to rotted tracker tubing, and worn hammer felts.
I believe the problem areas to be reasonably easy to address, but as
I have not restored a grand before I would appreciate some advice on
the following:

The piano action needs examination and attention as described.
As all of the upper player action is attached to the upper
front of the piano case, and the tracker bar tubing is routed
between the keys, this means some serious disassembly in order to
get the action out. The upper tubing (tracker bar to between-key
junction pipe) is in fair condition. The lower tubing (junction to
stack) is either original lead (80%) or is the dreaded red rubber
in poor condition (20%). I would plan to replace the rotten tubing
only. My main question is this - how easy is it to take the necessary
player action parts out to get the piano action out?. More than a
day's work? How easily does the under keybed tubing assembly come
out?  Are there any pitfalls that I should avoid?
Similarly - how difficult to get everything back in?

I am OK on uprights and make a drawing of all tubing, connections,
etc. before I start. I am also aware of the need to be careful when
withdrawing the piano action so as to avoid damage to the end hammers.
I want the job but don't want to let myself in for 4 weeks work when I
am only going to quote for one!  All advice appreciated and acknowledged.

Roger Waring
Solihull UK

roger.waring@dial.pipex.com