Pianotech

  • 1.  Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Member
    Posted 05-02-2022 10:57

      I posted more details on the In The Shop thread -  I finally got replacement casters for a G2 that had the wheels and lyre used as a fire hydrant by household pets. The new wheels are in a casting that drops down inside the leg bottom . The casting is tapered and made to fit snug in the leg which has a tapered hole as well. The best solution I can think of is to use a set of progressive Forstner bits to gradually enlarge the hole from top to bottom. Forstner bits come in Imperial sizes as well as Metric and some can be used with hand drills . Since I do not have a tall drill press I could use my ShopSmith as a horizontal boring machine. Perhaps someone has faced this challenge and has some tips ? I plan to call Yamaha Tech Support today to see what they suggest but I believe these may be the only part I can use.

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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 2.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Posted 05-02-2022 14:25
    Any chance the old socket can be made to work with the new caster?

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    Floyd Gadd
    Regina SK
    306-502-9103
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  • 3.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Member
    Posted 05-02-2022 14:36
    The stem on the old caster is shorter and the casting it sits in is totally enclosed. The stem on the new caster is longer and is secured to the casting with a c clip. I will load up some pictures from my i-phone that will help to show what I am talking about.

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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 4.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Posted 05-03-2022 05:51
    Yes, pictures would be of great help. I did a search on "In the shop" and got nowhere....

    From what you state, it would appear that indeed, your ShopSmith will come in real handy here. My ShopSmith was on of the very first large(ish) tools I ever bought for shop work. I don't use it for much, but one of its finest uses is for horizontal boring. Just take the time to level the leg accurately - I usually go my measuring from the platform to the middle of the bottom of the leg and the middle of the top of the leg. Being that your casting is tapered, you could either do it the way you've described, or, perhaps a good bit easier, would be to simple drill out the leg at the maximum diameter, mix up some thickened epoxy, place enough of the epoxy into the hole, wrap the caster casting in aluminum foil or plastic and squish the casting into the hole so that the displaced epoxy forms the perfect fit for the casting.

    I use the ShopSmith mostly for horizontal boring and buffing - I like the adjustable speed for the buffing - the once-in-a-while that I buff plastic keytops, it saves me from melting the tops!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 5.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Member
    Posted 05-03-2022 10:18
    Photos of G2 leg mortise and old/smaller caster. Will post a picture later of the caster and casting that shows the taper on the casting and how the wheel stem is attached to it.

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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 6.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-03-2022 11:07
    James,
    If you have a drill press, can you swing the table, or the head away and create a lower rest for the leg to give you room to work?

    Joe Wiencek
    NYC




  • 7.  RE: Yamaha G2 Caster Wheels

    Member
    Posted 05-03-2022 16:58
    Actually the Shopsmith has a drill press mode as well as horizontal boring mode. The one major issue is the fact this has to be done on all 3 legs . One approach would be to put the piano on its side on a skidboard, bring the 3 legs to the workshop, do the drilling and fitting etc

    I am looking at the possibility of using a drill mounted in a portable drill guide and clamping it to do the drilling on site. There are sets of Forstner bits that can be used in drills and which come in MM sizes. Gradual drilling going from the largest to smallest Forstner in the set may work out. Of course before doing this I would practice on scrap wood so I can set depth stop collars. I think I have seen special bits for use in making fence rails and posts as well as rustic furniture

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