Pianotech

  • 1.  Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-01-2026 15:24
      |   view attached

    The Charles Walter grand in a busy choir room has a nagging problem.  The sustain pedal keeps going out of adjustment.  It is not the lyre parts coming unglued, it is just the rod adjustment.  This uses the simple rod with a collar tightened by a single screw.  It is Schaff part 972.  A photo is attached.  I have to remove, adjust, and retighten every other month.  Short of using epoxy and not having adjustments possible, what solutions have worked for you?

    Happy New Year!

    Thanks,

    Bruce

     

    Bruce Dornfeld, RPT

    North Shore Chapter

    bdornfeld@earthlink.net



  • 2.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-01-2026 17:32

    How about filing a flat surface on the rod where the screw point contacts? And perhaps flatten the tip of the screw if it isn't flat? Quick & dirty, I'm sure someone else will suggest a more elegant, and longer lasting, approach. 



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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  • 3.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-01-2026 20:41

    In a pinch, I do what Patrick suggests. 

    It turns out that thingee is called a 'shaft collar' McMaster-Carr has them and of course Amazon. Besides getting the right core diameter, I'd look for one that has more than one set screw. If not a 'shaft collar', then a 'shaft coupler'. 

    Another option is to drill and tap another hole for a second screw, also I'd switch to steel hex socket set screws that you can really tighten with a hex key. (I wouldn't worry about electrolysis it will still outlast the set up you have now)



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-01-2026 22:35

    Bruce,

    Is there enough thread available to add a counter locking nut underneath? A thin one maybe? Hard for me to determine this from the photo. 

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-01-2026 22:57

    I've not had this problem, but I would suggest the following:

    Mark the rod where the collar is in the proper position so if it slips you can know where it's supposed to be.  Remove the rod and collar.  Put the rod and collar in a vise so that the collar is in the right place.  Remove the set screw and use the hole in the collar to center a small drill bit.  Drill a small hole into the rod, just a dimple, not all the way through.  Put some red threadlock on the set screw and tighten the screw.  Reinstall the rod.



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    Paul McCloud, RPT
    Accutone Piano Service
    www.AccutonePianoService.com
    pavadasa@gmail.com
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  • 6.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-02-2026 00:46

    If the problem is the set screw working itself loose, perhaps Loctite Blue 242 would help. It's not my first choice but it is reversible with basic hand tools. 

    However, I'm wondering if the problem has to do with the set screw not going in far enough to grip the rod. I've seen that happen a few times before on poorly machined parts. 



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    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    (256) 947-9999
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    www.FromZeroToSixFiguresBook.com
    www.PianoCraftTechnicalSchool.com
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  • 7.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-02-2026 09:14

    Looks like you could also add an additional collar as a possibility.



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    Tremaine Parsons RPT
    Georgetown CA
    (530) 333-9299
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-02-2026 12:22

    I'm unsure of what the screw on the collar is like but maybe substitute a cup point set screw of like size.  Thinking more about it, a half dog point set screw is an option, too but be careful of overtightening against the brass.

    Mark Ultsch, RPT

    Madison 



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    Mark Ultsch RPT
    Beloit WI
    (608) 362-9572
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  • 9.  RE: Sustain rod collar slipping

    Member
    Posted 01-05-2026 18:03

    Interesting discussion because I have a Behr Brothers grand where the trapworks are mounted inside the piano under the key frame and in a sunken keybed. There are 3 stop collars at the top of each pedal rod above the pedal guide bushings at the top of the lyre . Of course the sustain pedal has no stop screw in it and the internal trap levers are noisy . I made some quick repairs on short notice but plan on getting some shaft collars/couplers with new set screws to fix all 3 pedalss



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