[CAUT] Young Chang action troubles (?)

[David Love]

Expanding action brackets.  You need to contact the YC rep to get
replacements (they should provide them for free).  Usually not that big a
job unless you have to correct your own regulation.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Cramer, Mark
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:49 PM
To: CAUT at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Young Chang action troubles (?)

I worked on a 15-year-old Young-Chang grand for a new client today, and the
action has REAL problems.

Some of the issues I've either seen before, or read discussions about here
on our list, i.e.: "bad knuckles & seized action centers."

However, one thing has me perplexed, and as I don't see very many of these
instruments, would appreciate the experience of you those of you who have.

The big question is why "ALL" hammers were blocking at the strings? (no
let-off)

I gave all the buttons a quick 1/2 turn down and went ahead with tuning and
assessment. What set me off though, is this is the same intial intoduction I
had to one other Young Chang grand, four years ago, and I've yet to solve
it!

With that instrument, I followed the initial visit several weeks later with
a re-tuning and a one-day regulation. That particular piano appeared much
like brand new, and I was quite pleased (read "smug") with the results.

When I returned six months later however, let-off had dropped below the
point of drop contact! (?) 

I spent a 1/2 hour poking around for clues... loose let-off rail, change in
humidity, loose action brackets, severed key-bed, loose plate fit, etc., but
came up "empty."

So, I restored let-off, tuned, and left it at that. 

A year later the client had moved, and I returned for tuning. The hammers
were blocking once again! Yipes!

Now, seeing this symptom on another YC has me wondering what's at work here?
Can anyone shed some light?

BTW, I've read in past about YC action brackets "growing". 

I've seen that about twenty years ago on a mid-century "Zimmerman" (East
Europe/mid-quality). In that case, I had a machinist mill new brackets from
aluminum. Nice work, but the orignals were so messed that determining
original dimensions was a real chore!

Neither bracket-sets on either of these actions though have the cracks and
"bloated" appearance those Zimmerman brackets had.  

Any clues?

much thanks!

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University