damper release bar

[FanOfTheFunk]

i just started to notice something weird going on. when i use the sustain pedal on my 1973 mark I some of the notes in the mid range arent sustaining right. if i press the pedal to the floor the dampers move away from the tines, but a few not far enough though. from there, if i release the pedal just a hair they move further away from the tines and sustain right. since this only happens in the mid range i assume the rod is flexing, and pushing the damper release bar too far up in the middle letting the dampers stay close to the tines. then when i take pressure off, it comes down enough to push them away. how can i solve this. new damper bar? maybe find i stainless rod that spans the whole damper release bar instead of the two small pins?

anybody ever have this problem?

[Rob A]

My best guess is that the pins in the ends are not seated squarely in the holes in the support blocks.  That's kind of common after moving the piano. Reseat the pins in the ends of the damper release bar into those holes, and I bet this cures itself.

[Ben Bove]

Check Rob's suggestion above, my thoughts are the middle screw is missing on the sustain bar.

The earlier models used a "T" screw to hold the bar down in the middle to counteract the rod's force.  Later models did away with this.  They have a tendency to break, and when they break the extreme low and high ends are the only sections that sustain as the rod will flex the bar in the middle but the pins at the end will still rotate.

Remove the harp out of the way, and you'll probably see a hole in the middle of the sustain bar with 2 pieces of felt where a dowel should be.  Look down into the hole with a flashlight and you'll see a screw hole between 2 damper arms.  Hopefully you don't see a broken-off screw in there, that's a worst case scenario and is difficult to get out.

Below is the part that's missing, a screw through a metal pin.  It's tough to locate, so you may have to make your own from home depot.  You might get lucky through a musicpartsguru.com or vintagevibe.com if they happen to have one.  

[FanOfTheFunk]

the pins are set right. but it is missing the center screw. its not broken off so ill try to find one. if not i think i can make something up that will work. thanks for the help!!!

[Ben Bove]

great.  You can test the pedal's function by holding the center rail down with your hand and operating the pedal to make sure it works.

[Ben Bove]

Just letting everyone know, Vintage Vibe now sells replacements for this difficult part.  Thanks!

http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-596-fender-rhodes-center-damper-pin.aspx

[FanOfTheFunk]

thanks for the heads up bjammerz!!!

[alexdecker]

Sorry for reviving this thread, but my center screw is broken off and a piece of it is stuck in the wood. Any suggestions how I would get it out?

– Alex

[Ben Bove]

You may have to drill it out, but you can get away with piloting another hole either in front or behind of it.

[nrichmond]

Sorry for reviving this thread, but my center screw is broken off and a piece of it is stuck in the wood. Any suggestions how I would get it out?

– Alex

Hi Alex,

I know this is a super old thread, but I ran into the same issue with the center pin screw snapping. Did you try Ben's suggestion with success?

I'd really like not to disassemble my piano further or pay for a tech to fix it, and a week without my rhodes working is driving me up the wall

Thanks,
Nick

[jimmymio]

If that screw is broken, you can safely leave it there. Get a replacement and drill another hole.