[CAUT] Young Chang action troubles (?)

[Scott E. Thile]

It's bad metal in the action brackets... Just like some of the old American
grands had pot metal. They must be replaced. At one point it was tough to
get replacements, but I think Young Chang has some sort of service
department back up and running again now. Anyone know any details on how he
can get them?

All the best, Scott

> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf Of Cramer, Mark
> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:49 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
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