Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Pedal making noises.

I recently purchased a piano, the piano was moved into my house just last Thursday. It's been great, however with the sudden change in humidity conditions, things didn't go so well after a bit. I've noticed, very clearly, 10 keys that are out of tune.

However, what is annoying me, very much, is the sustain (right) pedal. It's making a cringing noise, similar to the noise of a door in need of lubrication opening and closing.

My piano is a Bechstein A1.
Any ideas on what to do?
(Scheduling a piano tuner in a month)

Keep a list of complaints and concerns and let the tech. deal with them when he shows up to tune. Call him/her ahead so they bring the right tools/lubricants.

Well, it's likely still settling in, so you're just gonna have to tough it out! Be sure to let your tech know that there are pedal issues to be dealt with, for his scheduling convenience.

I know, I know...it's gonna be a long month...but please resist the urge to start greasing things...

Haha, thank you for the advice.

The tuning is driving me nuts!

There is no law saying you can't tune your piano as often as you like. It just costs money. If it's making you crazy, try to get the tuner there sooner. If it then goes out again two months later have it tuned again. Twice a year is a rule of thumb but more often hurts nothing.

It is likely the gromets that the pedal rods fit into at the end of the pedals, It can also be in the lyre where the pedals are mounted to the dowel pins, loose screws on the bottom lyre pedal mount, loose bolts where the lyre mounts to the keybed, loose lyre support rods if it has any, in the pedal rods where they contact the trap lever, trap lever springs or pivot pins, pitman bushing in keybed, scrubbing of pitman on damper tray, damper tray support/pivot blocks or return spring, more than one of the above etc.
Probably a good idea to have the assembly removed and gone through completely. Takes about an hour - a bit more if buckskin or felts need replacing and a bit more if damper tray pivot pins are noisy.

Thank you, Gene Nelson. I'm really not sure if I got any of what you said above, other than the "it'll take an hour to go through."

Which is very helpful, actually!

So thanks again!

Your welcome. Look for a book called Piano Parts and Their Function. https://www.ptg.org/store/product_i...;osCsid=67cdccbafbd07c0c755918eb5185f8c3
Don't hold me to an hour.

A few days ago I was called to repair a piano. Some keys were undamped when depressing the sustain pedal. I adjusted the pedal and voila!

The owner had missadjusted the pedal because it was too hard to depress and also she lubricated the mechanism of the pedal, with 3 in 1 oil!

All the wood around the work trap was oiled!

Never put oil to lubricate a piano! It will damage wood! It migrates and will "lubricate" parts you did not intend to lubricate.

Oh wow, no worries, I don't plan on lubricating anytime soon.

As for when I can get this whole tuning/pedal problem resolved, it has to be in a month. The reason is because the piano dealership offered a free tuning (whatever maintenance that may come up within the course of a month), however they said it MUST be in a month because that's when a piano gets "fully settled in." If I were to get someone to tune it now, it would cost me $65 unnecessary dollars. However, as days go by, it doesn't seem so unnecessary.

You don't say where you are, but that's a bargain in my neck of the woods...and Louisiana certainly ain't no high-falutin' district...

I'm wondering if you have a carpet under the piano which might be throwing off the balance of the piano, or an unevenly set wheel?

Also, in the room it is placed, does sound bounce around and off of windows, is it a "soft" room or a "hard room". Concrete - brick - high ceiling? If possible, do not place it on an outside wall. Do you have art or decorations on the top of your piano?

This certainly sounds silly to piano technicians who are very capable of working inside with the piano mechanisms, sounds, heart and voice.

Things that have driven me nuts are my above list and have contributed to unpleasant sounds.

I would suggest 'Tums' to the owner to quell his irritation level, and maybe (ha, ha) leaving them in sight on the top of the piano in the jar they come in so the piano gets the idea that you'd like to see it get well. Hey, I remember a piano I had once, where the tuner suggested I throw and leave a blanket over the back of it.

You mentioned humidity - that's probably a big clue. Have you been having more than usual rain or extreme temperatures.

I brought a piano from California to Rochester, New York. The piano was miserable in that location. It sounded like it had a cold ever after and it was no longer enjoyable to play.

Yes, a visit from my tuner (PTG) for tuning is $110. Have you ever been to the Piano Technicians Guild website? It's a very worthwhile visit for anyone "related" to a piano.

Good luck to you and your piano!

Betty

This all reminds me of an embarrassing thing that happened to me a year ago. I had composed 16 songs and was recording them onto a CD at home on my Baldwin L grand. I was recording the last song when I noticed an annoying squeak coming from the loud pedal. I called my tuner/tech in a panic because I had to have the CD finished before my concert which was the next day. He came over and checked everything out and couldn't make it squeak when he played the piano Then he asked me to play, and there was the squeak again. It turns out it was caused by the my SHOE! I asked if he had any official Baldwin factory authorized shoe lubricant powder, but he suggested I just wear a different pair of shoes when I play. I'm sure he had a great time telling this story to all his tuner buddies! Larry Larson

Well, this is brilliant. My whole piano is out of tune. The right pedal is squeaking. Middle C is squeaking.

The guy at the shop says "let it settle in more" -.-

Anyways, will this "settling in." do harm to my piano action? Keys are squeaking, so I'm not sure what to think.

You better have your piano serviced now and pay for it. Try to re-schedule your free tuning to december 2008 or january 2009. I can see you can not wait 3 more weeks.

That way you can enjoy your piano from now and it will do fine for the months to come.

Call the dealer. Tell the dealer all the problems you're having with the piano. Tell the dealer to send someone to fix it right away since you are unable to use it in its current condition.

Is the piano brand new?

Yes, it is brand new. I recently payed another visit to the shop. I tried the Bechstein Academy Grands (just for fun), absolutely fantastic.

My initial plan was to simply go and ask about the tuner, rescheduling, etc. But I ended up spending two hours on C. Bechstien/Bechstein grands ><, as well as a Steinway Concert and Semi-Concert, all great.

That is besides the point, though.

Thank you for all your help!
I'm expecting my piano tuner next week to tune the piano, the squeaking key, and the squeaking pedal.

Thanks again!

For those reading this, still:
I checked out the "squeaking peddle." It turns out that it's actually loose, and gradually loosening. I flipped up the cover and saw that it barely lifted up the dampeners, can this damage the piano in any way, if I still decide to use the pedal?

This isn't the best Bechstien upright, apparently.

*pedal

Fnkyazn

Does your story come to an end ... ie the tuner came and all problems resolved? I ask because I have a Bechstein Academy A124 (similar in size to the A1 and may or may not use different parts)...
The piano was new and delivered end of July 2008. At the end of August an independent tech inspected it - found the highest octaves very sharp - he tuned it and adjusted the dampers a bit - and said it was an excellent piano. November and the 'free' tuning from the store happened... he, too, found the high octaves very sharp - but basically just retuned it.
Now in January 2009... there are several notes which are out of tune with themselves (ie one or two of the three string triplets has moved and the sound is really horrible). The sustain pedal squeaks - there are several keys just above middle C that all squeak...
I have called our tech again - he will come next week - he grumbles that the piano should not need retuning so often - and that I am being fussy ...(just wait until he hears these discordant sound)...
So I just wondered : has your piano settled down - or is it still giving you problems?