Pianotech

  • 1.  Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-10-2014 14:53
    I have been servicing a Samick grand piano in a church that apparently had a squeaky pedal. Before I was called in the first time, someone in the congregation helpfully applied some kind of lubricant to the pedal rod nuts so that now every time that I see the piano the pedals don't engage until they reach the floor. I am think of just removing all of the rods, cleaning them with soapy water, and then re-lubricating. Any other suggestions? ------------------------------------------- Peter Stevenson RPT P.S. Piano Service Prince George BC 250-562-5358 ps@pspianoservice.com -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-10-2014 15:11
    Peter,

    The problem of the squeaky Samick pedal is likely deeper in the Pedal Box and caused by loose screws. However, beware breaking into a Samick pedal box is sometimes harder than getting into Fort-Knox. The screws are over tightened into an aluminum frame and often "stuck". They tend to need a lot of help, but they all strip out easily. Not a fun combo.

    Ed Sutton, displayed at one of our last meetings a sledge/ratchet/Breaker tool from Home Depot or Lowes that you hit with a hammer and it helps to break free the screws while forcing the bit downward which helps to prevent the heads from stripping out. Inside you will find a screw or two that need to be tightened to solve the squeaky pedal issue.

    As far as cleaning the lubricant off, just a dry micro fiber cloth with elbow grease will probably suffice.

    Tim
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    Timothy Barnes
    Barnes String Covers
    Charlotte NC
    704-960-4129
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Posted 10-10-2014 20:23
    Before you start tearing things apart, pull the rod out from the back of the pedal. I had one that had a pointed end which wore through the rubber cap and was rubbing metal to metal. I filed/sanded it round and inserted suede punchings (hand cut) on either side of the cap, a cap sandwich.

    As for the adjusting nuts, tighten them to each other (locked) with two wrenches. Finger tight is not tight enough. WIpe excess lube off the rod and nuts, no ned to disassemble.
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    Regards,

    Jon Page


  • 4.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-10-2014 23:16
    Peter

    The problem might not be with the pedals at all. I've had this happen to me in the past, and what is causing the squeak is the end of the lyre braces rubbing in the polyester filled holes, either/or both, on the lyre or the underside of the piano. Check that out first, before attempting to unscrew the bottom of the lyre box.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Member
    Posted 10-15-2014 12:45
    Any time two surfaces touch you want something in between. I would isolate the squeaks outside the pedal box and stuff some buckskin or a small felt punching or bushing cloth into the lyre support rod holes on the pedal box. The rod tips could also be a source of squeaks and that is a good thing to fix making a cup linear. finally tightening the rod nuts against one another is the way to go. you can use some thread tightened if you want. I purchased some open ended ratchet wrenches which work great when trying to tighten/loosen these nuts You can hold one nut with a small wrench or vise grip and use the open end ratchet to tighten up. ------------------------------------------- James Kelly Pawleys Island SC 843-325-4357 -------------------------------------------
    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-29-2014 18:00
    Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I was back in the church this afternoon and checked on the pedals. In less than a month the damper pedal was almost sitting on the ground! I tried the two-wrench method, which hopefully will work better than just tightening the nuts by hand. I also noticed that there is a rubber grommet between the two nuts that is missing on the damper pedal, which I am sure is aggravating the problem.

    And just to clarify, the squeaking was gone by the time that I first serviced this piano. The only thing that was left was lubricant all over the trapwork.

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    Peter Stevenson RPT
    P.S. Piano Service
    Prince George BC
    250-562-5358
    ps@pspianoservice.com
    -------------------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Tightening pedal rod nuts

    Posted 10-30-2014 21:58
    > I also noticed that there is a rubber grommet between the two nuts
    > that is missing on the damper pedal, which I am sure is aggravating
    > the problem.

    I guarantee you'll keep the jam nut tight for a lot longer with nothing
    between the nuts. Not rubber, not leather - nothing. Wrench tightened,
    not finger tight.

    Ron N


    Original Message