[CAUT] Piano truck installation

[Greg Newell]

Jim & list,

A block of wood should always go under the legs of the spider that are NOT 
being lifted at that time. This will prevent what you just described.

best, Greg

At 10:44 PM 6/20/2005, you wrote:
>Scary Story
>
>I installed a 'spider' under a baby grand in a local hotel a few years 
>ago, pretty much the way Wim described, except, that since it was such a 
>small, and therefor not very heavy piano, I knelt under the piano and used 
>my back to lift each corner in turn instead of using a jack . .  Started 
>with the front legs, and, exactly as described below, without using the 
>block, however, got the front or keyboard legs done.
>Lastly, went to the back, tail, leg and lifted . . .  well I discovered an 
>interesting phenomena about centre of gravity, momentum etc.
>The two front legs, now being on the spider, where the castors are 
>significantly inboard of the legs, gives the whole piano an entirely 
>lighter feel at the back end . .  It went up entirely too easily, and 
>would have kept going in a front somersault if I had not realized what had 
>just happened, and grabbed that disappearing back leg with all my ( bank 
>account inspired ) strength.
>As I held on to the piano and fitted the leg into the little cup, I 
>thanked my lucky stars that the piano and I had both survived . .
>Moral of the story . . sometimes an assistant / spotter is a GOOD thing !!
>
>Be careful Lance !
>
>
>Jim Kinnear
>"A man is about as big as the things that make him angry." -- Winston 
>Churchill
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:Wimblees@aol.com>Wimblees@aol.com
>To: <mailto:caut@ptg.org>caut@ptg.org
>Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 10:24 PM
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Piano truck installation
>
>In a message dated 6/20/2005 3:36:59 PM Central Standard Time, 
><mailto:llafargue@charter.net>llafargue@charter.net writes:
>
>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
>
>Assemble the truck as per instructions. Do not tighten the arm bolts, so 
>you can move them in and put, and leave the plate bolts a little loose, so 
>you can turn the arms. Position the truck under the piano, so that each 
>arm is close to each leg. You want the arm that comes out of the plate at 
>a 90 degree angle at the back. Use the jack to lift one leg, (preferably 
>one of the front legs). You can remove the caster with a big screw driver. 
>With the caster removed, position the arm under the leg, and put a piece 
>of wood, like a small piece of 2x4, under the leg. Lower the jack and let 
>the leg come down on the arm rest. The block of wood will prevent the 
>other legs from coming up. Repeat this for the other two legs. You do not 
>need to remove the lyre
>
>Good luck
>
>Wim
>Willem Blees, RPT
>Piano Technician
>School of Music
>University of Alabama

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net