squeaky, creaky pedal puzzler---SOLVED!

[John Ross]

I find a piece of pipe will give the necessary leverage.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Magness 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 1:12 AM
  Subject: Re: squeaky, creaky pedal puzzler---SOLVED!


  A hammer is kind of primitive for this adjustment, a vise grips, medium size, clamped behind the threads and a little muscle/body weight will bend it to your will. I have also used an adjustable wrench in a pinch, closed as far as I could, lined it up on the post and pushed up or down as needed  


  On 8/16/07, Tom Sivak <tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net> wrote: 
    Mark Wisner <mwisner at earthlink.net> wrote:
      Action bracket moving on the stud or bolt.
      Mark Wisner

    This was basically it.  The problem was that the bolt that you attach the action to (at the top) was too high in the treble.  Every time you raised the damper lift rod with the pedal, the action would torque with the upward pressure, and when you released the pedal, it would make that creaky sound.   I noticed that when the action was bolted in place, I could take hold of the far right action bracket and move it in and out.  I originally thought there were loose screws on the action rails but this proved to not be the case.  It was actually the entire action that moved upward when the pedal was depressed. 

    The solution was to lower the bolt, (I used a hammer to bend it downward slightly) so that it held the action in place more firmly and the creak went away.   

    I'm surprised at how many of you were either very close or on the money.  As I solved this one, I came across so many things that seemed like they were probably the cause, and eliminating each one finally led me to examine the fit of the action in the piano.  But I never heard of this one before.  

    Hey, I'm just happy I figured it out and was able to satisfy the customer.   The bill for eliminating this squeak?  (90 minutes @ $...?)  

    This was a piano that I sold to this client.  The sale included a free tuning in the home and a guarantee.  I don't mind.  Nine times out of ten a drop of Protek and I go home.  So this time it took a little longer.  She offered to pay me but I refused.  Having the problem solved, I can look back on it and say I enjoyed the challenge.  And I was able to find a few other little problems along the way and solve them before they created any more trouble down the line. 

    Thanks for your responses.  

    Tom S



  -- 
  Michael Magness
  Magness Piano Service
  608-786-4404
  www.IFixPianos.com
  email mike at ifixpianos.com 
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