Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Removing a pedal from an upright

Can I do this? Is it just a case of removing the screws?

The easiest way to do it is often to remove the bottom from the piano, because usually the pivot pins do not fit through the slot that the pedal fits through.

need soaking few oil and other lubricate on pin and to wool of bushes.May be it's help you.

Removing an upright pedal almost always entails tilting the piano on it's back to access the screws that hold the bottom board to the piano. Tilting is best done with a tilter specifically made for the task.

It depends on the design of the pedals. A lot of old uprights in the UK don't have pedals with pivot pins at the back - they have dimples with cone-ended bolts retaining them. Those will fit through the holes.

As has been mentioned, the floor of the piano has to be removed in most cases. There are a few situations where there is clearance -- either by accident or design.

A variation on the theme of tilting the piano is to tip it to its side instead of on its back. If you don't have a tilter, it will be easier because you are not moving the piano's center of gravity nearly as far. Should be within the capabilities of 2 strong people. I can do it by myself up to something like a 45" Baldwin Hamilton. (Not advocating that -- just saying I've done it). Use high school physics instead of brawn!

Of course, if you have access to a tilter that's the best way to go.

Sometimes it is enough to unscrew the fixing screws of wood's bars and smear them with oil. Then install again. A creaking must disappear.

Thanks for your help. I managed to remove it. I am sending the broken pedal to my technician. He will either get it fixed or source a replacement. Then when he comes to tune all the pianos, in July< he will refit it.

The pivot pins on the backs of upright piano pedals can be easily pressed out and reinserted.

The tool needed is a C clamp with a hole slightly larger than the pivot pin drilled in line with the screw portion of the clamp, so that the pin has an escape route when it is being pressed. The pivoting plate at the business end of the screw portion of the clamp needs to be removed and the end surface of the screw slightly cupped, simply using an electric drill.

Drilling the escape hole for the pivot pin involves filing a small, flat surface on the outside of the clamp so that the drilled hole can be successfully started.

Sometimes the removed pin won't fit back tightly in the body of the pedal when it is being returned to its functional location. Then you get into replacing the pin (easy enough as long as you have the right size or are willing to bore out the hole in the pedal) or resorting to epoxy -- all while being almost upside down into the bottom of the piano.

I've done it but I prefer taking the floor of the piano off. Then a thorough maintenance can be done like tightening pedal bracket bolts, cleaning and possibly dealing with the other two pedals that are the same age -- although probably used less.