Pianotech

  • 1.  Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-20-2023 00:31

    I tuned a 1932 Samick Upright WG-5 today.  The trapwork just howled when the sustain pedal was put in motion.

    I added a leather washer to the interface between the pedal and the rod that goes upward to the trap lever, but that was of no help.  Near the center of the trap lever is a pivot with a coil spring to one side of it.  There was obviously metal-to-metal contact there, and the wear at the pivot point was such that everything moved in a pretty sloppy manner.  I ran out of time and was not able to come to a firm diagnosis as to where the sound was generated, but it seemed probable that it was in that joint.

    If I had the piano in a shop, I could easily fabricate an old-school wooden assembly with a steel spring (Schaff 584) but that is not a particularly workable option on location.  I'll contact Samick in the morning to see what is available in replacement parts, but its a 40 year old product.

    But I'm sure many of you have run into this scenario on these pianos time and again.  What has been your go-to fix?



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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  • 2.  RE: Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-20-2023 01:28

    I recently ran into this in a Kawai Upright and there was some play in the pivot mount. I ran some thin cut strips of plastic electricians tape through the pivot hole and down the sides of the pivot block until there was no play in the pin/screw in the pivot. Perhaps flange bushing cloth might be better if there is enough wear in the hole.



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    Tremaine Parsons RPT
    Georgetown CA
    (530) 333-9299
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  • 3.  RE: Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Member
    Posted 04-20-2023 09:57

    It would be useful to have some pictures since it is hard to visualize. I have had issues with trapwork noises in uprights that have coils, tubular pedal rods, plastic caps and spring coils . I like to troubleshoot pedal noises from the ground up starting with the pedal brackets, pedal pivot pins, pedal rods Coil springs are a challenge depending where they are



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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  • 4.  RE: Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-20-2023 20:22

    James, you are describing the kind of system I am looking at.  Your words suggest that there might be plastic bushings in the pivot that have crumbled.  That would explain the wild amount of play in the joint that I am observing.  I am awaiting a return call from Samick in Nashville.



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-20-2023 20:23

    And I see my typo above.  A 1982 Samick.



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Noisy Samick Upright Trapwork

    Member
    Posted 04-20-2023 22:12

    Putting some bushing cloth between the windings of any coils may tame the sound. If Samick can send you any parts get a half dozen of each for the next time. If I am not mistaken there may be some broken plastic/teflon bushings on the pedal pins causing all sorts of play. 
    Given the amount of side forces and torsion that comes from playing the damper I think these pedal linkages/trap works are poor designs. The tubular pedal rods also amplify noises because they are hollow . I am not sure where I got parts from perhaps my local ace hardware that all sorts of plastic/teflon bushings 



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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    Original Message