CAUT

  • 1.  old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-25-2022 23:01
      |   view attached
    Would someone please let me know how to remove this? It is extremely tight both front and back. Thank you.

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    Ted Kidwell, RPT
    California State University, Sacramento
    Capistrano Hall, rm. 153
    6000 J Street
    Sacramento, CA 95819-6015
    916.278.6737
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  • 2.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-25-2022 23:55
    First I would heat the nut and put some oil on it to loosen it.

    There are some techs who took a BIG screwdriver and going a slot in the middle.

    I took a big screwdriver and used a hammer to tap one side of the nut. Or, to keep from damaging the nut, I would use piece of hard maple on one side. But sometimes the nut is so tight that only a hard metal rod would loosen it.

    Wim


    Sent from my iPhone




  • 3.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2022 00:30

    Ted,

                    From the pic, I can only imagine the diameter to be a ½"? Do you have any large screwdrivers that reach that width that are particularly old and you would not mind modifying one? If so, a Dremel and a cutting disk chucked in could create the notch at the center of the blade, start out narrow as you can always widen it, test it, grind a bit more, test again until it just fits. I have taken a tool used on older cars, a "drag link bit" used on a 3/8" drive ratchet and thinned the blade until it fit the slot. Later, I did another bit and ground the slot up the center for the nose bolt's threaded end to fit into as the blade engages the nut's slots. Based on your pic, you might need to grind a bit of the sides an equal amount to avoid interference with the plate. Congratulations! You now have a unique, special-purpose tool to use yet again. Someday! Good luck!

    Alan Hoeckelman, RPT

    St. Charles Comm. College

    4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive

    Cottleville, MO 63376-2865

     






  • 4.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2022 10:54
    If you can recruit a helper, each of you might be able to hammer a punch on one of the slots simultaneously in rhythm to coax it loose.
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "Since everything is in our heads, we had better not lose them." Coco Chanel






  • 5.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Member
    Posted 07-26-2022 16:17
    Greetings all -

    I sent Ted a photo of the tool that I made for my rebuild of an 1893 Steinway upright with the same kind of nose bolt. I started with a 1/2" drive snap-one flat bit and then ground it out to look like this:

    image.png

    Works perfectly and one can get substantial leverage using the socket drive.

    Dave Hankin
    Redwood Chapter





  • 6.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2022 22:53

    Bingo! That's what a drag link bit looks like after the Dremel modification I described. Available in ½" & 3/8" drive from some auto parts stores, Snap-On, & other tool suppliers.

     

    Alan Hoeckelman, RPT

    4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr.

    Cottleville, MO 63376-2865






  • 7.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2022 22:59
    Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions. 24hrs of repeated soaking with Liquid Wrench, modified needle nosed pliers, and a 16" channelock brought me home. It was still very tough.

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    Ted Kidwell, RPT
    California State University, Sacramento
    Capistrano Hall, rm. 153
    6000 J Street
    Sacramento, CA 95819-6015
    916.278.6737
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-26-2022 11:52
    The last one I did I used a big pair of needle nose pliers held by a big pair of vise grips. Came out fairly easily.

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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  • 9.  RE: old steinway upright nosebolt

    Posted 08-02-2022 03:08
    Thanks for suggestion

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    Jasm Charl
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