Ah. My bad, I presumed everybody knew they are bolted in the back of the piano. I'm sorry I don't currently have pictures to illustrate.
My procedure for installing heavy duty dollies:
1. Using piano tilter, raise piano up onto its back.
2. Remove old casters. Sometimes they are in the way, sometimes they will rattle.
3. Check positioning of the dollies. They should be:
a. As close to the sides of the piano as possible, to avoid bending the bottom of the piano upwards towards the keybed.
b. If there are "toes" on the piano, the side of the front of the dolly comes up against the toe.
b. Flat to the bottom of the piano, and to the back of the piano. Modifying the back of the piano may be necessary to allow proper fit.
c. Check the back structure. It may allow all four screw holes to be used, or three, or only two. Determine how long of a screw will fit without interfering with soundboard, etc.
4. Attach dolly with two short screws to the bottom of the piano.
5. Pre-drill for the lag screws in the back of the piano.
6. Install back lag screws.
7. Hold the dolly caster out of the way, and pre-drill through the side of the dolly into the toe.
8. Install a lag screw into the toe.
I have a kit with an assortment of lag screws of different lengths, lock washers, flat washers, drill bits and sockets.
With lag screws installed into the back, some pianos are stable. I have found many will still rock front to back. Screwing the front of the dolly into the toe eliminates this extra (annoying) movement.
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David Stocker
Olympia WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2017 12:38
From: Willem Blees
Subject: Upright stage dolly question
Geoff
Yes, the dollies are in the right place. As far as where the screws go in, that will become very evident once you've got the piano on its back. You will need to drill holes in the back and on the bottom for the screws to go into.
The reasons I like lag bolts is because the they are bigger, and the heads allow them to be flush with the metal brackets.
One more thing. You said the piano rocks back and forth. It could be that the previous tech did attach the dolly with screws on the bottom, but if the piano still rocks then the whole bottom plank must be loose. So when you've got the piano on its back, make sure all the bottom plank screws are tight.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2017 12:14
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Upright stage dolly question
Thank you all for your responses. Excuse me if I sound like an idiot for these follow-up questions.
Is the dolly, in fact, placed correctly?
I don't understand about the screws. I understand why screws would be important, but I don't understand the where. Is there a diagram some place that I could look up and see locations of these screws?
Thanks --
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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2017 23:04
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Upright stage dolly question
New customer. Church. Their U1 is installed on this stage dolly. (See pic) Rocks back and forth and squeaks loudly with every movement. Pianist doesn't seem to mind but it made tuning extremely difficult. My first thought is that the piano has been installed on the dolly incorrectly leaving no support for the front. My second thought is that if the piano is installed correctly then there must be something missing that would help lock the front of this piano solidly in place.
Your thoughts/suggestions?
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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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