After sustaining a slipped disc, I learned to lift pianos with my ankle. I can place my knee under the keybed where it joins the side of the piano and lift with my ankle. There is a lot of leverage there and by turning the ankle I can move a piano out an inch or two at a time with no strain whatever to my back. I also place my hand between the wall and the back because the piano wants to tip toward the wall. The secret to make this easy is to bring wood blocks of various sizes to "take up the lost motion" if needed. Books or a hard shelled tool case can work in a pinch. The disadvantage is that if you lift too far away from the body of the piano, you can flex the keybed and cause the piano to go out of tune, also, toe blocks can make it more difficult, but I was always able to manage. I have used this method to change legs on a grand, or to install caster cups, however, I also have a heavily constructed parts case that I made to just slide under a grand and can support the weight. Do not try this if you are not comfortable with it or can't handle the unexpected! (like a leg falling off). I can also get down on all fours and place the weight above my shoulders. There is tremendous leverage there and very little strain on the lower back. Disclaimer: under no circumstances should you try the above without me being there to supervise. Gerry Hubka, St. Charles, Il. In a message dated 96-09-09 15:35:34 EDT, you write: << "Does anyone have a system for singlehandedly moving a piano out from the wall for inspection that: 1. doesn't involve heavy lifting with the back? >>
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