[CAUT] Piano truck installation

[Fred Sturm]

Hi Lance,
    My method is similar to Alan's, but less equipment and simpler. I use a
portable/foldable metal saw horse (available in virtually any large Home
Depot/Lowes type store and elsewhere). There's a model that has adjustable
leg lengths, which is nice but not necessary. Heavy enough steel
construction to take the weight of a concert grand easily, but nice and
portable (the legs fold/pivot into the top, giving you about a 2 x 6 x 3
foot thing to carry, with a built in handle. Always in my trunk).
    First I set up the truck under the piano, doing the necessary rough
spacing and angling to get it more or less sized and fit to the piano: each
arm next to its leg, screws loose enough to adjust angles and spacing.
    Then I lift each corner in turn with my legs: sit at the piano on a
chair or bench, feet (toes) on a piece of 2 x 6 or whatever, knees under the
keybed (or straddling the back leg). I "go up on my toes" to lift the corner
of the piano, which really doesn't take that much strength (unless it's a
new Mason CC or a Kawai EX). While holding the corner aloft with my knees, I
slide the sawhorse under the corner in an appropriate location. If
necessary, I add a scrap of 2 x 4 or two on top of the saw horse for height
(the adjustable leg model makes this unnecessary) and then let the piano
corner down on the horse.
    I now pry off the caster (and remove and replace the leg if I need to
for some reason), position an arm of the truck under the leg, place one
scrap of 2 x 4 and just enough other shim material under the arm of the
truck to fill the gap. Lift the corner again, remove the saw horse, and
lower the leg carefully onto the arm.
    Repeat at each leg, except the last leg doesn't require a shim under the
arm. Tighten all truck bolts. Remove all shims under the arms (lift if
necessary, as described before). Presto/chango, you're done! Fast,
efficient, not a big deal. Have done it many, many times with no muss or
fuss. I don't remember timing it, but would guess well within an hour.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico


    On 6/20/05 3:19 PM, "Alan Crane" <alan.crane@wichita.edu> wrote:

> Hi Lance,
> 
> You don't need to remove the lyre, or even use any more than the hydraulic
> jack and some 2x4 blocks plus a longer piece (or something else) to use as a
> lever.
> I regularly do this job solo and it works quite well.
> I described it on this list some time ago so I won't re-copy it here.
> The link to that page of the CAUT list archives is:
> 
> https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/2003-March/008564.html
> 
> If that's not clear enough, call or write.
> Best of luck!
> 
> Alan B. Crane, RPT
> School of Music
> Wichita State University
> alan.crane@wichita.edu        316-978-6167
> 
> 
>> ===== Original Message From College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
> =====
>> I am ordering a piano truck/dolly system from Pianotek for a Steinway D
>> in a University hall here.  I have never installed one from scratch and
>> not sure of the smartest and safest way.  I know I have to take each leg
>> off to remove the casters.  Also that the lyre should be off.  I have
>> car/piano stationary jacks to hold it up (only have 2) and I have a
>> hydraulic jack.  I also have a portable engine hoist that I could lug
>> there from my shop if necessary.
>> 
>> Any experienced voices would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.
>> 
>> Lance Lafargue, RPT
>> LAFARGUE PIANOS, LTD
>> New Orleans Chapter, PTG
>> 985.72P.IANO
>> llafargue@charter.net
>> www.lafarguepianos.com
> 
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