Pianotech

  • 1.  Steinway D replacement casters

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-30-2023 08:55

    I'm looking into replacing the 2" double rubber wheels on a 60 year old D. I bought a new set from Schaff but the stems are a larger diameter than the originals and the new sockets are square rather than round which would require removing some material from the underside of the legs. Is there a better solution available from another supplier that wouldn't require modifying the legs? Alternatively, I could replace the casters on the venue's older grand truck and use that. As it is the piano is difficult to move and it must traverse a very small threshold at the stage exit. 



    ------------------------------
    Mark Dierauf RPT
    Concord NH
    (603) 225-4652
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Steinway D replacement casters

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-03-2023 00:02

    I would be surprised if Schaff does not have what you need. They have casters with different stem diameters and both round and square sockets. Know the measurements of what you need when you speak with them. 



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



  • 3.  RE: Steinway D replacement casters

    Member
    Posted 12-03-2023 10:03

    Fuhgetabout it. Buy a new spiderdolly/truck that will fit a D. New production parts are very likely to differ from the old parts requiring some tricky woodworking with routers, forstner bits etc You might want to check the condition of the interlocking butterfly plates where the leg is attached to the piano. All of the moving around on the casters/wheels could have compromised the screws/screw holes and cracked the plates. Make sure you have plenty of jacks, metal saw horses, jack stands to support the weight of this beast. btw I have never seen rubber wheels on grand pianos-only on studios and full uprights. 



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

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Steinway D replacement casters

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-04-2023 18:41

    Mr. Dierauf,

    This week I put a new set of wheels from Schaff on an older Colson truck. The old truck had a 3" by 3" bolt pattern and the new wheels and plates went on without issue. The new double rubber casters you got are the Darnell caster with a 1/2" shank instead of the 7/16" shank of the original casters. You can get a round cast iron socket from Schaff but it will also require modification of the legs.. The last price I got on the Darnell casters was $50 a piece and that was 5 years ago. The new wheels for the Colson truck were $50 apiece last week. I can tell you from personal experience that the grand truck wheels will last far longer and are probably safer in the circumstance you describe.



    ------------------------------
    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
    ------------------------------