[CAUT] Creepy Creak

[J H]

on the topic of "creaky creek" - i want to thank rob for pointing out
this noise.  i found the exact same problem on our rental d and was
able to quickly remedy the problem.  it was a "creak" noise, two
little creaks actually, when slowly releasing the una corda after
fully depressing it.  thanks for the easy fix!
jeremy

On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 10:34 AM, Edward Sambell <esambell at yahoo.com> wrote:
> These anecdotal experiences are valuable to us, so thank you. I had one
> recently too. I was tuning for Anton Kuerti, the piano was an unfamiliar
> Steinway D, in excellent shape. He arrived to rehearse, so I left and
> returned when he was through. I had checked everything ,including the
> pedals, and he told me there was a loud knock in the damper pedal. Indeed
> there was, but only if stamped on. He doubted that it could be fixed as it
> was now close to the doors being opened. I withdrew the action, and by pure
> luck tried the screws in the pivot blocks for the damper tray. Both needed
> half a turn.After the concert I saw him and asked him if he noticed the
> pedal was OK. He said "Yes, and I'm not surprised" (I know him well). The
> lesson is not to just work the pedals, but to treat them vigorously
>
> Ted Sambell
>
> ________________________________
> From: Rob & Helen Goodale <rrg at unlv.nevada.edu>
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Sent: Wed, September 29, 2010 10:00:19 PM
> Subject: [CAUT] Creepy Creak
>
> Creepy Creak -  Not just a stream in Transylvania
>
> I had an interesting bout with a 5 yr old D today.  There was a loud very
> defined creaking noise from the treble side of the keyboard when using the
> shift pedal.  I thought it was the spring but after putting some thin felt
> behind it that was eliminated.  Then I thought the frame was squeaking
> against the key bed so I lubed everything with dry teflon.  Nope, still
> there.  Then I thought maybe the shift lever itself.   After tightening
> everything below and lubing the creaking was still there.  Then I thought
> maybe the frame itself might be loose.  I tightened all screws on the frame
> including the action bracket screws.  Nope, still there.  By this time I'm
> getting really frustrated.  The creaking is loud and obnoxious and there is
> a concert later in the evening.  Next I thought maybe it was external.
> Perhaps it's the leg or the lyre.  No fault could be found.  Repetitively I
> took the action in and out, tightening, adjusting, lubing, checking again.
> Then on about the 20th time of lifting the action out I heard the creak AS I
> was handling it.  Good, that eliminates the piano, it's IN the action
> somewhere.  Almost by accident I found it.  It was the strip of wood glued
> on the bottom of the frame where the lever engages.  It wasn't loose, in
> fact it was quite secure.  The problem was the end of it where it was
> rubbing on the balance rail cross member.  In other words, it should never
> have been glued tight up against it, a gap should have been aloud to prevent
> rubbing when flexing from the "push" from the shift lever.  With that fixed
> it was smooth as silk, but not before taking over an hour tracking it down!
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
>