Grand Trapwork Servicing!

Why Trapwork Service Matters

• Feel: Correct weight and throw on all three pedals.

• Silence: Squeaks, clicks, and creaks eliminated at their source.

• Efficiency: Less friction and lost motion equals better control.

• Finish: A tidy, factory‑clean look that honors the original build.

Common Symptoms You’ll Fix

• Pedal stiffness or foot fatigue (often on damper or una corda).

• Una corda not engaging or shifting the action.

• Squeaks/clicks/creaks from springs and contact faces.

• Short sustain throw—advanced players feel “boxed in.”

• After a move: missing dowels or springs, misalignment.

TOOLS/SUPPLIES NEEDED

Cleaning & Prep

• Method‑type cleaner + lint‑free rags

• Brasso or equivalent metal polish (Fritz/Soltz) for pins

• Blue painter’s tape for labels & temporary clamping

• Field journal + pencil (order, measurements, notes)

Adhesives & Surfaces

• Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue (standard—skip the clear variant)

• White Wurzen front‑rail felt sheets (slice thin custom pads)

• Belly/thick felt for swing‑arm stops

• Leather stock (boot/saddle scraps are perfect)

• Leather/felt hole‑punch set & razor blades

Lubrication

• Super Lube clear synthetic or similar PTFE grease

• Teflon powder for keyframe↔keybed glide

Hardware & Spares

• Assorted coil & leaf springs

• Wooden dowel stock & small metal pin stock

• Small saw & drill for dowel fabrication

• Assorted white balance‑rail punchings (as spacers)
  

Step‑by‑Step Workflow

1. Access & organize: Remove the action. Work one zone at a time (damper, sostenuto/bass‑lift, una corda). Label every part.
2. Clean & inspect: Degrease, wipe, and polish pins. Check plastic/wood for cracks.
3. Renew contact faces: Replace worn leathers/felts. For curves, glue then tape‑strap while curing (15–20 min with Tacky Glue).
4. Custom felts: Slice thin Wurzen strips; avoid spongy craft felts.
5. Lubricate smartly: Thin film on pins, guides, and rub points—never over‑lube.
6. Springs quiet & controlled: Weave a thin felt strip through noisy coils. If stiffness persists (common on some Steinways), remove the lower trap spring but leave the tray spring.
7. Una corda setup: Reduce keyframe/keybed friction with Teflon powder; verify leaf‑spring tension; remove excess lost motion; repair worn keyframe contact with a hardwood graft if needed.
8. Damper throw: If sustain feels short, trim the hard felt limiter block by 1/4–1/2 inch—only with client approval.
9. Sostenuto/bass‑lift timing: Rebuild contact faces, confirm two‑stage linkage timing.
10. Dowel fabrication: Cut, drill, pin, and install from below; adjust rod height for proper lost motion.
11. Reassemble & test: Torque, test quietly, then at performance force. Verify noise‑free return, even resistance, timing, and throw.

Troubleshooting Quick Hits

• Dead pedal after a move: missing spring or dowel—look for an empty recess.

• Spring click: weave thin felt through the coil; lube contact.

• Leaf squeak: renew leather and lube lightly.

• Heavy una corda: de‑friction keyframe/keybed first; tweak leaf tension last.

• Short sustain travel: trim the limiter felt; retest with the player.