Hi Monica,  When using the electric vacuum motor in your Pianola you
should not be pumping the foot pedals.  That's why the electric vacuum
pump is in the instrument -- so you don't have to pump.

If the player will not play properly with just the foot pumps or the
electric vacuum pump, there could be numerous problems.  The most
common problem with a 35-year old Pianola is leaky block valves.  The
second most common problem is leaky bellows cloth.  The third most
common problem is a leaky air-motor.

To help people determine the basic problems in their player piano,
I wrote up some web pages about testing the various components in the
player system. See Testing the Player:

  http://www.player-care.com/test_me.html

Musically,

John A. Tuttle
http://www.player-care.com/