[CAUT] pedal squeal

David Ilvedson ilvey at sbcglobal.net
Wed Mar 22 16:47:21 MST 2006


I concur with Mark, if nothing seems to do the job, replace the damper lever cloth....

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Mark Cramer" <Cramer at brandonu.ca>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 3/22/2006 10:28:07 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] pedal squeal


>Hi Don,

>I'm coming in a little late on this one, so pardon me if I missed some
>suggestions.

>In the insta-cure category, I stand the action on end, use the key-slip (for
>instance) to press all the levers away from the rod, then drizzle McLube all
>the way down the rod. You can see it travel down, and should allow it to dry
>before releasing.

>It offers a decent coating thickness and has been the one-timer for every
>situation I can think of.

>The long term repair is to replace the cloth... if it's glazed, or glue
>infused, the noise will return. Having been a travelin' man myself for a
>number of years can tell you it's not that big a deal to fit into the day's
>tuning schedule:

>1.) Pack three thicknesses of action cloth (it's usually the "medium") , a
>cutting-mat, sharp blades etc.

>2.) Begin at the client's home first thing, number and remove the levers,
>soaking each cloth at the glue joint as you go (wall-paper remover &
>syringe), and placing levers cloth-side "up."

>3.) Make another pass with the soaking solution, and hopefully by the end of
>this rotation, they will begin to peel (unless it's a modern glue).
>Otherwise, go ahead to #5 and repeat the soak & peel test later.

>4.) When the cloths are removed, use a scraper to clean the surface, then
>lay a Dampp-Chaser bar over the row of levers, at the glue lines and plug it
>in. (will reverse the flow of moisture into the wood by creating a gradient)

>5.) Now you should be able to pre-cut your cloth, and head to your next
>tuning.

>After lunch, the levers should be quite dry and ready for glueing in the new
>cloth.

>Note: The cloth is glued at each end, but not in the middle, back of where
>the spoon contacts. (if it was, then you've discovered where the noise came
>from.:>)

>6.) I would simply use some small spring clamps (Dollar store item) over
>each glue line and rotate them in leap-frog fashion as you go.

>Hint: In the shop we try get some "stretch" in the material, by
>glueing/clamping one end, allowing it to dry, then the other. (and this,
>only in the course of an action rebuilding)

>7.) By the time the last section is in clamps you can begin re-installing
>the first ones.

>The other items include:

>1.) Re-bushing the hangers; fit the cloth, size the new bushings with an
>alcohol-soaking, then when dry, coat the pins with Super-lube. (or other
>high-load synth. grease)

>2.) Fine steel-wooling of the rod, followed by a heavy slip-coating (I use
>the grey-ish McLube spray, don't recall the number)

>3.) Inspect the trapwork down to the pedal (save a 4 hour call back :>(

>This service should be easy to accomplish within two service calls (1.5 - 2
>hours each), one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with plenty of
>time to get a few other tunings in.

>Much as I love tuning, many times I enjoyed the variety of one or two
>"non-tuning" service slots during a day-trip.

>Enjoy!

>Mark Cramer,
>Brandon University




>-----Original Message-----
>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of Don
>Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 5:28 AM
>To: College and University Technicians
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] pedal squeal


>Hi Keith,

>It is not the hangers--the squeal is from the rod against each of the
>dampher levers. I've already burnished in telfon powder--which worked for a
>few months.

>At 09:20 AM 3/22/2006 -0800, you wrote:
>>Isolate the sound to those brackets that hold the rod or the lift felts.
>If it's the lift felts I would
>>try TFL 50 spray stuff. Replace the felt if the bracket is making the
>squeal. The pressure fron
>>the dampers may be pressuring the rod backagainst the action rail.
>>
>>
>>Keith
>>
>>On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:30:27, Don wrote
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> It is the rod against the dampher lever felts.
>>>
>>> At 06:19 AM 3/22/2006 -0800, you wrote:
>>> >Usually it's not the rod itself as it doesn't go through the key bed but
>>> >comes in from the back so there is no guide bushing. Sometimes the
>punchings
>>> >that isolate the moving parts are worn and you can use a leather
>replacement
>>> >in stead of a balance rail punching. Tighten up things so the pedal
>doesn't
>>> >rub against the case. The lube that works is the protek grease.
>>> >
>>> >kpiano
>>> >
>>> >----- Original Message -----
>>> >From: "Don" <pianotuna at yahoo.com>
>>> >To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
>>> >Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 8:03 AM
>>> >Subject: [CAUT] pedal squeal
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Hi all,
>>> >>
>>> >> Has anyone had long term success with treating a squeal from the piano
>>> >> dampher lift rod (upright)? If so what was used?
>>> >>
>>> >> This is a teaching piano. Silence is golden.
>>> >>
>>> >> Regards,
>>> >> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
>>> >> Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat
>>> >>
>>> >> mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/
>>> >>
>>> >> 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7
>>> >> 306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >--
>>> >No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> >Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> >Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.2.6/287 - Release Date: 3/21/2006
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
>>> Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat
>>>
>>> mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com	http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/
>>>
>>> 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7
>>> 306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.2.6/287 - Release Date: 3/21/2006
>>
>>

>Regards,
>Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
>Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat

>mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com	http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/

>3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7
>306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner


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