Pianotech

Hi all,

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Scott

The only repair that looks different are the felt bushings on the pins.  If the pedal is moving from left to right, first replace the felt bushings with leather ones, like on Steinway. If they are still moving from side to side, then the holes in the dowels are too big, and you'll need to make new ones.

------------------------------
Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I doubt it was designed this way you should be able to order the proper dowels from Yamaha that are drilled properly from side to side and keep the pedals in a straight line the dowels look like what you would get in a dowel kit at Home Depot the middle pedal also is skewed to one side obviously someone drilled a hole on the round stock without centering it  dowels I have seen are smooth and have a slight taper if the pedal pins are bent you may need new pedal horns I had a Young Chang at a school on which someone stood on the damper/sustain pedal and bent it down 


------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Yamaha has (nylon?) dowel inserts available that might work. Incidentally these can wear out and cause an audible clicking that I sometimes find in high-use Yamaha grands, so it pays to order extra sets.



------------------------------
Mark Dierauf
Concord NH
603-225-4652
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Mark: They wear out? Ouch. I've used vinyl bushings from Lowe's, held in wood, to replace old plastic pedal brackets that have crumbled. These were in low use pianos, though, & it only works with a specific type of bracket. I didn't share earlier because they'd be too big for Scott's bracket. Good to know they might not last. Thanks.

Jim: What's the deal with students bending/breaking pedals?!? Have had to deal with that 3 times!!!

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 07:18
From: Mark Dierauf
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Yamaha has (nylon?) dowel inserts available that might work. Incidentally these can wear out and cause an audible clicking that I sometimes find in high-use Yamaha grands, so it pays to order extra sets.

------------------------------
Mark Dierauf
Concord NH
603-225-4652

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Hi Scott,

I service dozens of heavy use C3s on the cruise ships here in the Port of Tampa. I've had to repair a number of pedal boxes on the C3s. All the C3s that I've seen look much like the one in your pictures. If memory serves me correctly, I've see all three types of dowels - plastic, smooth wood and fluted wood. Also the felt bushing are like the original type. However, the angled pedal is not as intended - the holes in the dowels should be drilled straight through the middle of the dowels so that the pedal is centered in the pedal box opening. Either buy or make new dowels that are drilled correctly and you are back in business. If the pivot axle in the pedal is bent, either straighten it out, replace it or replace the entire pedal. A very nice, easily repaired and generally durable design, IMHO.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Thanks for the input everyone. Yamaha has put the correct plastic dowels in the mail. The tech said only the concert grands still use wood, by the way.
The piano was purchased and lived in Italy for a while--maybe the tech couldn't get the parts?

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 09:05
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi Scott,

I service dozens of heavy use C3s on the cruise ships here in the Port of Tampa. I've had to repair a number of pedal boxes on the C3s. All the C3s that I've seen look much like the one in your pictures. If memory serves me correctly, I've see all three types of dowels - plastic, smooth wood and fluted wood. Also the felt bushing are like the original type. However, the angled pedal is not as intended - the holes in the dowels should be drilled straight through the middle of the dowels so that the pedal is centered in the pedal box opening. Either buy or make new dowels that are drilled correctly and you are back in business. If the pivot axle in the pedal is bent, either straighten it out, replace it or replace the entire pedal. A very nice, easily repaired and generally durable design, IMHO.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2019 16:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Hi Scott,
You can definitely order the parts from Yamaha. C3s use a nylon or some type of pedal pin dowel, unless your clients piano is an older model. Current CF models use a wooden dowel, with a felted bushing for the pin (I just ordered both from Yamaha.)

If you choose to make your own from a dowel, the point about drilling straight (from James Kelley) is something of keen interest to me.

Perhaps someone may submit a Journal tip about how to drill a straight hole through a round dowel. I’d also love to know how to drill a hole dead center in a dowel lengthwise. Both of these skills have eluded me thus far, and would be quite useful in piano work.

Joe Wiencek.


Original Message------

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

There are ways to use center finders and drill through the middle of a dowel from top to bottom or across through the sides. With the correct bits and jigs it is possible to do it without a drill press although a drill press can make life easier. I will get some details together in the next few days and think about submitting them to the journal. Its interesting that they are using plastic dowels to hold the pedal pins. i would think it would create creaks and groans after a time . I would rather create my own out of wood properly drilled side to side. Regarding bent pedals apparently some band members where standing on the pedals as they played the keys rock band style. Installing a performance lock on the fallboard fixed the problem

------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 15:00
From: Joe Wiencek
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi Scott,
You can definitely order the parts from Yamaha. C3s use a nylon or some type of pedal pin dowel, unless your clients piano is an older model. Current CF models use a wooden dowel, with a felted bushing for the pin (I just ordered both from Yamaha.)

If you choose to make your own from a dowel, the point about drilling straight (from James Kelley) is something of keen interest to me.

Perhaps someone may submit a Journal tip about how to drill a straight hole through a round dowel. I'd also love to know how to drill a hole dead center in a dowel lengthwise. Both of these skills have eluded me thus far, and would be quite useful in piano work.

Joe Wiencek.


Original Message------

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I look forward to James' article. But the first thing that came to me for this pedal problem, with a drill press, would be to take a dimensional block of wood and drill a hole that the dowel fits in snugly and a pilot hole in the perpendicular face for the pin hole. All plotted out ahead of drilling. Insert the dowel and drill the pin hole. Then cut to size.
Only other thing to remember is to orient the grain of the dowel to maximize strength bearing the pin.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 22:57
From: James Kelly
Subject: C3 pedal repair

There are ways to use center finders and drill through the middle of a dowel from top to bottom or across through the sides. With the correct bits and jigs it is possible to do it without a drill press although a drill press can make life easier. I will get some details together in the next few days and think about submitting them to the journal. Its interesting that they are using plastic dowels to hold the pedal pins. i would think it would create creaks and groans after a time . I would rather create my own out of wood properly drilled side to side. Regarding bent pedals apparently some band members where standing on the pedals as they played the keys rock band style. Installing a performance lock on the fallboard fixed the problem

------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 15:00
From: Joe Wiencek
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi Scott,
You can definitely order the parts from Yamaha. C3s use a nylon or some type of pedal pin dowel, unless your clients piano is an older model. Current CF models use a wooden dowel, with a felted bushing for the pin (I just ordered both from Yamaha.)

If you choose to make your own from a dowel, the point about drilling straight (from James Kelley) is something of keen interest to me.

Perhaps someone may submit a Journal tip about how to drill a straight hole through a round dowel. I'd also love to know how to drill a hole dead center in a dowel lengthwise. Both of these skills have eluded me thus far, and would be quite useful in piano work.

Joe Wiencek.


Original Message------

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Steve R. made a good point to orient the dowel grain well. I should think you'd want to drill into the face of the grain - drill into the flat-sawn face of the dowel so that the hole transverses the annular rings of the dowel - that'll give you maximum strength. Regarding aligning the hole, I wouldn't even attempt it without a drill press (as Clint Eastwood has said, "A man got's to know his limitations). Just set the dowel flat into a metal-worker's vice, mark the center with a center punch either by eye, rule or some sort of centering jig (I really think one can hit the center pretty easy just by eye - I've done it that way many times), and drill away - a brad point would be helpful if your bit has any tendency to wander.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2019 01:52
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: C3 pedal repair

I look forward to James' article. But the first thing that came to me for this pedal problem, with a drill press, would be to take a dimensional block of wood and drill a hole that the dowel fits in snugly and a pilot hole in the perpendicular face for the pin hole. All plotted out ahead of drilling. Insert the dowel and drill the pin hole. Then cut to size.
Only other thing to remember is to orient the grain of the dowel to maximize strength bearing the pin.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 22:57
From: James Kelly
Subject: C3 pedal repair

There are ways to use center finders and drill through the middle of a dowel from top to bottom or across through the sides. With the correct bits and jigs it is possible to do it without a drill press although a drill press can make life easier. I will get some details together in the next few days and think about submitting them to the journal. Its interesting that they are using plastic dowels to hold the pedal pins. i would think it would create creaks and groans after a time . I would rather create my own out of wood properly drilled side to side. Regarding bent pedals apparently some band members where standing on the pedals as they played the keys rock band style. Installing a performance lock on the fallboard fixed the problem

------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2019 15:00
From: Joe Wiencek
Subject: C3 pedal repair

Hi Scott,
You can definitely order the parts from Yamaha. C3s use a nylon or some type of pedal pin dowel, unless your clients piano is an older model. Current CF models use a wooden dowel, with a felted bushing for the pin (I just ordered both from Yamaha.)

If you choose to make your own from a dowel, the point about drilling straight (from James Kelley) is something of keen interest to me.

Perhaps someone may submit a Journal tip about how to drill a straight hole through a round dowel. I'd also love to know how to drill a hole dead center in a dowel lengthwise. Both of these skills have eluded me thus far, and would be quite useful in piano work.

Joe Wiencek.


Original Message------

Hi all,

I've brought home the lyre from a customer's Yamaha C3 due to sloppiness and noise in the pedals.

This is the first time I've worked on this particular pedal, but it looks like a homemade solution to a past problem. Is this a known repair technique? The pedal axel terminates in a dowel on either side, and the holes for the dowels are cut so that the outside pedals angle in slightly. I can simply cut new dowels with tighter holes and add a little felt to the bushings to snug things up. Anything else I should keep in mind? Yamaha didn't design it this way, did they?

thanks,

Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------