Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Did I break my damper pedal?

I was cleaning the inside of my bottom piano compartment and I turn the damper pedal screw. After that it started to sound funny so I tried to turn the reverse of whichever way I did earlier and now my pedal just doesn't work. Does it make a difference if you step and turn the screw or not step and turn the screw? I think I might have stepped on the pedal one time I tried to reverse whatever I did.

Now when I step on the damper pedal, I can see the lever moving but the damper does lift and (hence) there is no sustain sound.

What happened? Is there anything I can try? I am trying to get my technician and I'm freaking out.

First don’t freak out. You should try posting your question in the Piano Technician’s Forum. Also there are quite a few Piano Techs that read this forum so they should give you some guidance. I know it’s scary but acoustic pianos are pretty durable instruments. Best Wishes on this issue and getting it fixed.

j&j gives good advice.

My thoughts? There are two possibilities. One, you initially turned the damper pedal adjustment screw so there is less travel on the rod, hence, less travel/movement on the damper system, which the rod actuates. The second possibility is that somehow, the rod came disconnected from the damper lever where the top of damper rod connects to it via a small metal dowel in the end of the wooden rod.

My best guess is that you got the damper rod adjustment screw out of adjustment, (not enough rod travel when pedal depressed) and when you tried to readjust it, you mistakenly turned it the same way instead of the opposite way, making it worse.

You could try again to turn the damper rod adjustment screw in the correct direction in order to add travel to the rod. Look carefully at the screw adjustment mechanism when you make the adjustment to insure you are turning it in the right direction, adding travel/length to the rod.

As j&j said, it is not something that cannot be corrected. Remember, the damper pedal connects to the damper rod, which connects to the damper lever on the damper action, which is part of the piano action. The damper adjustment screw either adds travel/length to the rod or removes/shortens length to the rod adjustment; too short, no damper, too long, too much travel between damper felts and strings, but plenty of damper, or, you have continuous damper, without depressing pedal.

Good luck!

Rick

You would have to turn the adjustment nut quite a few times to stop it from working at all, so the most likely is that the damper rod has popped out at the top. If this has happened you'll be able to wriggle the rod about from the bottom and it won't feel connected.

Your tuner will be able to fix it in a jiffy.

Meanwhile you have an excellent opportunity to develop playing without the use of the sustain pedal, which will be very good for you. Try some Bach.

If indeed the damper rod has fallen out of its connection with the action, it is a very simple mechanical problem to fix, and something any piano owner should be able to fix on his own. Just follow the rod up and see if it is connected to the action or not. If not, stick it back into its proper receptacle on the action. Easy.

My dog broke mine. She was on the bench, jumped off and the stool fell. It hit the pedal and chopped the pedal in two. My technician rised it so neatly I can't see the break.

I think it is quite beastly of you to blame that poor, innocent hound.

What does 'rised' mean?

rised = to rise (I think :D)

Sorry braised. Autocorrect?