Kawai metal cabinet parts

[Don Mannino]

Lance and Jim,

There are some older Kawai models that had metal legs and maybe toe
blocks as well.  I think they were BL models - ?? Not sure.

If I remember correctly, there are screws from the bottom around the
caster that tighten the leg to the toe block, and those could be a
possible source of noise - although I've never seen it happen.

More commonly, the trap lever pivot brackets and spring cups can squeak,
and there are screws underneath the trap lever that hold things
together.  This is a common 'hidden' squeak source, as are the toe rail
/ bottom board screws you mentioned.  To check, pop out the pivot pin
and take off the offending trap lever, turn it over and check the
screws.  Also check the spring cap for cracks.

Kawai parts can get you replacement trap parts if needed.  (800)
421-2177.

Don Mannino RPT, Director
Kawai Piano Technical Education
www.kawaius.com
dmannino@kawaius.com 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Harvey [mailto:harvey@greenwood.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 9:02 AM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: Kawai metal cabinet parts
> 
> 
> Hello Lance,
> 
> Thursday, March 4, 2004, 7:55:00 AM, you wrote:
> 
> l> Techs,
> l> I was wondering if any of you have Kawai studios at 
> schools with the 
> l> steel front legs/toes.  I have found a few that creak when 
> the pedals 
> l> are depressed fully.  I have tightened all screws after 
> putting them 
> l> on their backs, etc. The noise is coming from the metal parts, not 
> l> the usual pedal mechanisms, bottom boards, etc.  Oil is 
> all I can think of.
> l> Thanks.   
> 
> Thanks for posting this. I think I learned something. For the 
> second time today, I'll mention the late George Defebaugh. 
> One of his expressions was that the Japanese are famous for 
> making wood look like plastic, and plastic look like wood. He 
> didn't have an equivalent expression for metal, since there 
> was not a lot of wood to metal substitution during his tenure 
> with the company.
> 
> I was aware of many changes from wood to plastic and wood to 
> metal during my days at Kawai. Some of the wood to steel 
> substitutions I didn't especially like (steel keybeds on some 
> verticals and steel lyre/keybed supports on entry-level 
> grands for example). So when I asked the engineers about 
> their rationale, the reply had to do with availability of raw 
> materials (steel is easier to get, often equal or less 
> expensive), tooling, speed of production, amount of damage 
> and waste (potential). I just lumped these all under the 
> umbrella of "resources".
> 
> Meanwhile, although I'm out of touch with newer Kawai's, I 
> was not aware of steel legs and toes. That's what I learned 
> from your post. Now, for clarification, are these the UST-7, 
> UST-8, or some other non-institutional type studio pianos?
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
>  Jim                            mailto:harvey@greenwood.net
> 
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