Hi everyone. I am following Reblitz to learn some about piano technician work on a piano I don't mind using for this purpose. I am on step four of regulating an upright and have a simple question I hope. I have sevral hammers that need a slight alignment to their strings. I have a regulating tool kit but I can't figure out which tool to use to get at the screw to allow me to align the hammer to the strings. The travel on them is fine. This piano is actually in pretty good shape but I want to bring it even better as a learning process. Can you help me out? The screw is directly behind the jack. Thanks.

Ummmm... a screwdriver?

No really, just a narrow one with a blade wide enough to fit the screw. Depending on your piano, be real careful about getting the screw lined up when putting it back so you don't cross-thread it. Turning it backwards a little helps it to fall into place.

Thanks Ron but the problem seems to be that the screws are directly behind the jack and I can't see how I can actually get at it without going at an angle. Is that the way to go?

Unhook the bridle strap and remove the key. With your left forefinger, press the front of the jack to bring it forward. The jack can spring slightly to the left without a problem. Schaff Piano Supply and others sell a "jack holding tool" that holds the jack to the left or right, but I didn't have much use for it. They also sell a long screw holder which I assume has a double blade. This will help set the screw in place. Of course the problem may be the hammer shank which is another story. Be sure to remove the string grooves from the hammer if you move it.
Steve

Use a cabinet screwdriver: one with a tip no wider than the shank. I just push the jack slightly to the side to get at the screw head, and I do go in at a slight angle. You do not need to loosen the screw much to adjust the side to side positioning of the jack. You can adjust it by putting the screwdriver blade between the flange and the adjacent flange and twisting. By varying where you put the screwdriver, you can control which flange moves and by how much.

Well thanks guys. I completed the whole process without incident. I actually had quite a few to do. All I had to realize was that I had to be a bit more aggressive and go in at the proper angle. It worked fine.