24
Pedal
1
To prevent the pedal from suddenly dropping
due to spring tension, hold the heel end of the
pedal all the way down and place a block of
wood between the pedal and the base.
2
Loosen the tuning bolts on opposite sides of
the timpani and remove the head. We recom-
mend that you mark the pedal side of the hoop
with a piece of tape, etc. so that the hoop can
be reattached to the same position.
* Avoid touching the tuning bolt threads,
as they are greased.
Never touch the pedal assembly when
loosening the tuning bolts (when loosen-
ing the head). Also, never place your fin-
gers or feet in the space under the pedal,
around the base, or the moving parts.
Spring tension may cause the pedal to
suddenly move posing a great danger.
3
Remove the hoop and head together.
* Do not let the hoop come in contact with
the kettle edge, etc.
Hoop
Tape
4
Edge tape is applied to the kettle edge. The
tape provides a smooth edge, which is very
important to the operation of the timpani. To
prevent damage to the tape, please remove
any dust or dirt.
* If the tape is peeling or badly damaged,
it must be replaced with “Timpani Edge
Tape”.
5
Place the new head with the hoop on the kettle.
When using a Yamaha timpani head, make
sure its YAMAHA logo is on the side opposite
the pedal.
The hoop must be re-mounted in the same
position as marked with a piece of tape in step
2
. In the proper order, tighten the tuning bolts
alternately by hand until the head is tensioned
slightly. At this time, make sure that the head
and hoop are centered on the kettle.
Tighten each tuning bolt an additional 1/4 of
a turn using the timpani key. Repeat at least 4
times.
6
Adjust the timpani as described on page 18
“Initial Preparation” starting with step
2
. For
precise tuning, refer to the section “Adjusting
the Pitch” on page 20.
Interval for head replacement
When the head is slightly tensioned and
its surface looks wavy or shows dents, it is
time to replace the head with a new one.
The maximum head life normally is ap-
proximately 2 years and depends on the
frequency and duration of use. However,
the head should always be replaced before
the sound quality deteriorates dramatically.
If a head is left on and used more than two
years, the following problems may occur:
• It may become impossible to tune the
head to the proper pitch range.
• It may become impossible to balance
the pedal.
• The main unit mechanisms themselves
may become damaged.
We recommend replacing the head every year.
Replacing the Head
Caution
Block of Wood,
etc.