Pianotech

  • 1.  Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 20 days ago

    Hi gang,

    I'm trying to find an article that I'm pretty sure appeared in the Journal in the past 10 years about modifying old Steinway damper trapwork systems to the newer sort, with a  trapped pitman that goes through a large hole in the keybed and thus eliminates the pitman squeaking in the bushing.  Any suggestions?  I've tried searching for various combinations of the words trapwork, damper, modify, pitman.  What am I missing here?

    Thanks,

    Zeno



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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 2.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago

    "David Hughes" maybe?

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago

    That's a good idea, and I was also hipped to a great article he wrote in the June 2017 issue.

    But I realize I wasn't very specific about what I'm specifically looking for.  I want to drill a larger hole in the key bed for the pitman!

    Thanks,

    Zeno



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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 4.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago

    Modernizing the Damper Lift Dowel by Doug Wood, September 2000 (article mentioned in a different article in May 2023)



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    Daniel DeBiasio
    Technical Education & Support
    ddebiasio@steinway.com
    718-267-3229
    Steinway & Sons
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  • 5.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago

    This will be a mod I'll be needing to do on an old Model A in the near future. I recall David emphasizing to me (the last time I did it) to make sure I bush both pin holes with cloth (tray and lever) to avoid inevitable squeaks. 

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 6.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 18 days ago
    I don’t think the extra step to add pins and bushings is worth the effort or risk of future squeaks.

    The modified pitman without pins works quite well, and the pedal action is vastly smoother than the original bushed pitman, which seems to be the cause of squeaks and slow damper return.


    Joe Wiencek
    NYC




  • 7.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 17 days ago

    This is the outline I follow to do this job:

     

    Steinway grand sustain pitman update

    1        Put drop cloth under piano

    2        Remove action

    3        Remove leather from damper tray (screwdriver)

    4        Hold sustain tray down with wedges

    5        Arrange tools around piano for access while under

    6        Remove damper lever stop hook completely

    7        Remove pedal lever with spring and old pitman, pull pin

    8        Attach 1" hole guide over old pitman hole (not spring hole)

    (The una corda lever block may need to be removed)

    9        Wear facemask

    10      Drill out pitman hole, remove hole guide part way through

    11      Use 1" drill to dimple the center of the damper tray

    12      Drill ¾" hole in lever, centered on old position, leather removed first

    13      Drill ¾" hole in damper tray though the keybed, leather removed first

    14      Clean up holes with sandpaper

    15      Clean drop cloth, replace under piano

    16      Remove wedges from damper tray

    17      Adjust pedal rod to middle, if adjustable

    18      Polish lever pin (looks like a hinge pin)

    19      Reattach lever with spring, using dummy pin (1/6" rod)

    20      Select correct size new pitman

    21      Reinstall damper lever stoop hook

    22      Make final pedal adjustments and reinstall action

    23      Clean up                 Total time about 1 ½ hours

     

    On occasion I will also swap out the spring with a weaker one if the pedal is still too hard to push down.

    Bruce

     

    Bruce Dornfeld, RPT

    Dornfeld Piano Tuning

    Phone: (847) 498-0379

    Cell: (847) 997-4266 (text)

    bdornfeld@earthlink.net

    www.Dpianotuning.com

    2134 Walters Ave

    Northbrook, IL 60062-4528

    Making Pianos Sound Beautiful Since 1979

     

     






  • 8.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 19 days ago
    If you Mario Igrec’s book, there’s some info, don’t recall if there are stepped instructions though.

    You can message me privately if you want, I have some experience with that conversion.
    Joe




  • 9.  RE: Search terms in Journal index - modifying damper trapwork

    Posted 19 days ago

    I just drill a hole in the tray. Make a hardwood dowel that won't touch the sides of the hole in the keybed. Put a pin on each side of the dowel. Add a balance rail felt punching. Boom done. 

    -chris



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    Chernobieff Piano Restorations
    chrisppff@gmail.com
    Youtube@chernobieffpiano
    865-986-7720 (text only please)
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