PianoTech Archive

From "C. Mike Swendsen" <swendsec@cadvision.com>

At 04:06 PM 2/2/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Speaking of Petrofs and Samicks, I have encountered several Petrofs with
>a pedal squeak coming from where the damper rod is attached to the pivot
>behind the damper levers.  On one such piano, I tried spraying teflon
>lubricant into the felt bushing of the offending part, but it didn't
>last.  I suspect I'm looking at a big job to remove the three or four
>pivot points, rebush them, and then reinstall them.  I'm not even sure if
>that will cure the problem.  Any ideas?
>
>Laurence Beach
>Vancouver BC
>Canada

Laurence:
The problem on the Petrof upright sustain pedal is usually not the pivot
bushings or the damper lifting rod.  Usually it is the contact point between
the damper lift rod and the verticle pedal actuation rod.  The damper lift
lever arm needs polishing and the felt pad should be replaced with better
felt that has no sizing in it.   And when gluing the felt on, don't use too
much glue.  Otherwise the glue will creep through the felt and cause the
squeak again.

Squeaks in the damper pivots are usually due to someone trying to lubricate
them, with a lubricant that allows dirt to enter and stay in the bushing.
The same can be said for the damper lift rod and lift lever interface.  In
which, case a good cleaning with something like dry cleaning fluid usually
corrects the problem.

Mike Swendsen
Calgary, Alberta
Canada>
>
>



From pianotech@ptg.org Fri, 02 Feb 1996 21:59:31 -0500 (EST)
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 1996 21:59:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Ken Strick <STRICK@UConnVM.UConn.Edu>
To: pianotech@byu.edu
Subject: Steinway pitman

Greetings:

Can anyone help with a troublesome squeak I'm getting from the brass pitman
& the pads it contacts.  I've tried polishing the pitman with brass polish....
squeak stops for a day...then I try a lubricant (McLube 1725) stops squeaking
initially but once again returns.  Any help will be appreciated.  Thanks.

Ken Strick
e-mail:  Strick@UConnVM.UConn.Edu

From Gilreath@aol.com

In a message dated 96-02-02 18:21:10 EST, you write:

>I suspect I'm looking at a big job to remove the three or four
>pivot points, rebush them, and then reinstall them.  I'm not even sure if
>that will cure the problem.  Any ideas?
>
>

Laurence,

You might want to check with Alan Vincent, the Petrof technical service rep.
 His number is 800-533-2388.  If anyone can answer a question about one of
these instruments it would be Alan.  I imagine thart most people on the list
are familiar with him from his work at both Young Chang and Baldwin.

Avery,

As far as the quality of the Petrof, I had the opportunity to work on a
Petrof fresh from the crate in Albuquerque this past summer.  The quality of
materials and construction were quite superior and merely required the
tweeking that any fime instrument requires.  All in all I was quite impressed
with the construction when compared with the new Steinways, Baldwins,
Yamahas, Kawais and Young Changs that I typically work on.  Personally I
think they have an extremely good piano at an impressive price point based on
the few that I have seen.

Regards,

Allan Gilreath
Gilreath Piano & Organ Co.
Berry College
Gilreath@aol.com