A once-in-a lifetime-problem

[Jim Johnson]

I have run across this problem a number of times.  As soon as I see that a pedal appears to have become overadjusted, I check the pelican spring to see if it is cracking at the circular bend.  Even if I don't see a crack, I automatically replace the spring because it will only get worse again if you readjust it.  Eventually it will break clear through and the trapwork will fall to the floor of the piano.  The springs are cheap, they're easy to replace and then the problem is gone.  Don't even bother to readjust because you'll just be coming back in a few weeks to do it all over again.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PIANOTECHNICIAN at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:28 PM
  Subject: A once-in-a lifetime-problem


  I have a customer with a beautiful Sohmer console from the 1960's, a model 34-96 I believe. He complained 
  of an echo. When I got there I loosened the nut on the damper pedal and it went away.
  A few weeks later, he called me with the same problem. I was baffled. What could possibly be causing
  the lost motion to DECREASE in a pedal? It's always the other way around. When I inspected the trap work closely, I found the answer. The heavy spring on which the trap lever pivots, shaped like a Sigma, that connects the trap lever to the piano's floor was slowly breaking from metal fatigue! And as it was coming apart, the top part of the spring was coming up from the bottom part of the spring, thus pushing the pedal rod up, and lifting the dampers off the strings! Has anybody out there ever seen this problem?

  Jesse Gitnik
  NYC
  In business since 1980
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