damper flange cords

[Lance Lafargue]

Howard,
I've replaced dozens of these and now automatically look in to check the
cords.  When you have repetition problems and slow hammer return, you know
what it is.  Yamaha told me it only happens in my part of the world.  I do
agree that it is what the cord is made of and not the corrosion of the
spring.  The cord turns to POWDER! On a warranty replacement I was told
that I should have been able to do the job in less than half the time I
estimated and there is no consideration of the need to file the hammers for
correct hammer/string alignment.  I should also say that I have not seen
this on pianos built after about 1980 (?) and I suspect that they found out
what the problem was.  A jig can be made to cut and glue new cord on the
existing flanges, but I usually just replace. 
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: Howard S. Rosen  <hsrosen@emi.net>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: damper flange cords
> Date: Saturday, January 17, 1998 2:49 PM
> 
> Hi List,
> 
> Since moving to Florida from New York 9 years ago, I have noted several
> cases of torn hammer flange cords in Yamaha uprights ( Young Chang as
> well). I have always assumed that our humid weather here is the culprit.
> With that in mind, I wrote to Yamaha 4 times and suggested the use of
> polyester cord, but to no avail. They never responded to any of my
letters.
> Now I know that replacing these flanges, or the cords as some techs do,
is
> a source of revenue, but it does make for unhappy Yamaha owners to be
faced
> with this repair after about 10-13 years of ownership. 
> 
> Have any of you techs been faced with this? Do you agree that this
problem
> is more prevalent in humid areas? Any thoughts?
> 
> 
> 
> Howard S. Rosen, RPT
> Boynton Beach, Florida