Help with squeaky pedals

[Greg Newell]

Nice going Mark! Feels good, don't it?

best,
Greg

At 09:38 PM 7/8/2006, you wrote:
>Corrected that squeak problem today!
>It turns out that the buckskin that I used in it 
>to remove the squeak earlier actually was worn 
>to a "shiny" finish. This made it squeak at the 
>slightest movement of the pedal. To be certain 
>there were no other areas, I checked this from 
>the dampers on back, checking for noise as I added another piece of linkage.
>I replaced the worn buckskin with a heavy 
>leather on the bottom and a thinner layer of 
>leather on the sides of the metal push-rods. I 
>changed all three of them so that I will not 
>receive a call later with the same issue 
>regarding the sostenuto and the una corda.
>
>Thank you to all for your great suggestions and words of wisdom.
>
>Mark D. Montbriand
>
>Mark's Piano Service
>10576 Webster Road
>Freeland, MI  48623
>989-695-2518
>989-205-2761
><mailto:mps at usol.com>mps at usol.com
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:tune4 at earthlink.net>Paul Chick (Earthlink)
>To: <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>'Pianotech List'
>Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 9:16 PM
>Subject: RE: Help with squeaky pedals
>
>Hi, Mark.
>I started a reply to you on this and lost it.  I hope I’m not too late.
>When chasing a squeak, you want to eliminate as 
>many moving parts as you can.  For 
>example:  crawl under the piano with a flat 
>blade screwdriver.  Insert it between the dowel 
>that passes through the key bed, and the 
>lifter.  Move the dowel up and down to check for 
>noise.  Noise
pull the action, lift the damper 
>tray by hand
if no noise, reach under the piano 
>and push up on the lifter.  Noise would indicate 
>the dowel needs lubrication.  If the tray 
>squeaks, you may have noisy damper lifters or 
>dampers squeaking through the guide rail.
>If all is quiet from the lifter to the damper 
>tray, operate the trapwork with the part that 
>moves the lifter; then move onto the next part, 
>all the way down to the pedals.  Remember.  Add 
>one part at a time to the testing.  Operate the 
>trapwork a few times with the pedal to “warm” it 
>up, then, move it slowly.  If the noise comes 
>back go through the above steps.
>
>CA glue is good stuff, but it migrates through 
>porous material i.e. felt, cloth, leather, and 
>sometimes wood.  I use Aleen’s Tacky Glue.  It’s 
>sold in craft and hobby stores.  I use the brown 
>bottle
I think it’s marked “Original Tacky 
>Glue.”  It’s very thick; does not migrate; 
>sticks to dissimilar parts.  I use tape to hold parts together until it sets.
>
>I found a lube that is silicone in a heavy base 
>that looks like candle wax.  Look for it in the 
>hardware dept.  I think its called Panpf or 
>something like that.  The package will tell you 
>what kind of lubricant it is.  It works wonders 
>on noisy trapwork, springs, etc.
>
>Old parts of leather or felt, get hard with use 
>and can glaze over from friction.  If it’s 
>convenient, replace these badly worn items and add some lubricant.
>
>Lastly, don’t let it intimidate you.  You can 
>refer to me as a helper that’s been around 
>pianos and their noises for over 30 years that 
>sometimes can’t find the fault right away.  Be 
>friendly and honest.  Don’t be afraid to say 
>you’re stumped for the moment.  Sometimes 
>getting away from the problem is a good way to find a solution.
>
>Let me know how it goes.
>
>Paul C
>
>----------
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
>[mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark's Piano Service
>Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 10:20 PM
>To: Pianotech
>Subject: Help with squeaky pedals
>
>Help please!
>You may remember a few weeks ago when I asked 
>for any help replacing the rubber grommets at 
>the base of the pedals on a Horugel Grand.
>I was given some very good advice as to how to 
>do this. The squeak (caused by the deteriorate 
>rubber grommets) disappeared when I replaced them with buckskin.
>The pastors wife was happy with those results 
>for a couple weeks and then the squeak returned.
>I spoke with her tonight and scheduled a service call for this Sat. 7-8-06
>I am at a loss on this one.
>The squeak comes and goes. On more than one 
>occasion when she called me to have this fixed, 
>I arrived at the church only to find that there was no squeak.
>As I do not doubt a clients word (my goal is to 
>satisfy all clients) I am extremely puzzled regarding this one.
>When I was there last, I went ahead 
>and  replaced some of the other "soon to wear 
>out" pieces of buckskin in the trap workings.
>I glued them in place with CA glue. (buckskin to 
>wood). Did I use the wrong glue perhaps?
>I certainly can't charge for this as the problem 
>is not being resolved. I am looking incompetent!
>Can you help???
>Any tips/suggestions welcome
>Thanks in advance
>
>Mark
>
>
>
>Mark D. Montbriand
>
>Mark's Piano Service
>10576 Webster Road
>Freeland, MI  48623
>989-695-2518
>989-205-2761
><mailto:mps at usol.com>mps at usol.com

Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
mailto:gnewell at ameritech.net
www.gregspianoforte.com