Rubber Grommet for Pedal Lyre Rod Hole

[Terry Farrell]

Most Asian grand piano pedals have a hole with a bottom at the rear of the pedal to retain the respective lyre rod. A rubber grommet typically was originally in the hole and then the lyre rod fits into a hole in the top of the rubber grommet.

And of course, as we all know, these rubber grommets last maybe 20 years or so at best. Such is the case with my client’s 30 year old Sojin grand. Nice piano, but has a croaking/creaking sustain pedal. 99% sure the noise is coming from where the lyre rod sets into the no-grommet hole in the pedal rear.

I cut a piece of very heavy leather this morning an jammed it into the bottom of the pedal hole and it seemed to work wonderfully. Unfortunately the owner just sent me a text saying that it was creaking again.

So I suppose the best fix is to get new rubber grommets for the pedals. Where can one find them? I don’t see them in the Pianotek or Schaff catalog. Order them from Yamaha or Kawai?

Or is there a better fix? Leather set in grease?

Thanks.

Terry Farrell

[Chuck C]

Terry,
I've never had a problem with the leather after putting enough lubricant (either VJ or the Protek MPL-1) in the socket.  Cutting the leather into a kind of maltese cross form first (a tip gained from this list), it fits nicely into the pedal socket, making a much more permanent grommet than the rubber ones I think.  Needs re-greasing every once in a while.  You've probably done all this, so maybe the noise is coming from somewhere else (numerous places)?
Chuck Christus

[Michael Spreeman]

When I was rebuilding, we made felt “grommets” from hammer felt scraps (purchased from most any piano supply company).

[Jon Page]

On one Asian grand, the end of the rod was pointed and wore thru the grommet. I ground the end round and installed a leather punching under the grommet. The pointed rod caused a high squeal, metal on metal.

[Joseph Garrett]

Terry,
The things that Steinway uses are called: Rubber Bolt Caps, (page 126 of Schaffed Catalogue, item #359). Hope that helps. Otherwise, put two strips of thick key bushing felt strips "X'd" over the hole. Jam the rod down into the hole taking the bushing cloth with it. Some like to use a bit of Eileen's to keep it in place.
Best,
Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Farrell
Sent: Nov 26, 2017 4:18 PM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [pianotech] Rubber Grommet for Pedal Lyre Rod Hole

Most Asian grand piano pedals have a hole with a bottom at the rear of the pedal to retain the respective lyre rod. A rubber grommet typically was originally in the hole and then the lyre rod fits into a hole in the top of the rubber grommet.

And of course, as we all know, these rubber grommets last maybe 20 years or so at best. Such is the case with my client’s 30 year old Sojin grand. Nice piano, but has a croaking/creaking sustain pedal. 99% sure the noise is coming from where the lyre rod sets into the no-grommet hole in the pedal rear.

I cut a piece of very heavy leather this morning an jammed it into the bottom of the pedal hole and it seemed to work wonderfully. Unfortunately the owner just sent me a text saying that it was creaking again.

So I suppose the best fix is to get new rubber grommets for the pedals. Where can one find them? I don’t see them in the Pianotek or Schaff catalog. Order them from Yamaha or Kawai?

Or is there a better fix? Leather set in grease?

Thanks.

Terry Farrell

Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

[Fred Schwartz]

Terry,

 

You can make one out of a combination of belt leather and thin leather. Use a punch to make a ring of leather that fits the rod and the pedal hole, then glue another piece of thin leather or buckskin on the bottom. Put it in the hole and apply Protek MPL-1 cream.   It’ll be quiet and last a long time.

 

However, don’t assume – there are LOTS of other places the noise could be coming from!  Moving things around and doing the first fix often stops the noise at first, then with playing the parts settle back into their most comfortable positions and the real noise comes back.  Just a few that come to mind:

• Pedal pivots
• Pedal rod guide bushings (these can be really hard to verify!)
• Pedal rod cap / pedal lever skins

 

Kawai in California has the pedal rod rubber bushings, but I don’t know if it will fit this pedal.

 

Good luck!

 

Don Mannino

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Jon Page]

On one piano, I tried everything (or so I thought) but it kept coming back. It turned out to be a bead of glue in the seam of the guide rail bushing. I replaced the bushings and it was gone for good, that was everything...