<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] Vertical hammer return spring slings, replacement of</TIT= LE> </HEAD> <BODY> Alan, My standard question in this situation:  What’s the cost of all = new flanges, versus your labor charges in replacing the slings?  Gettin= g the sling the right size is very important to maintaining consistent sprin= g tension.  The only technique I have seen for this that looks like it = would really work involves getting the flanges off the butts.  This wou= ld only be practical if you replace the flange, and then replace the slings = in the shop, thus creating more replacement flanges.  I have a small bo= x full of this type of flange waiting for me to get around to replacing the = slings.  Problem is, I can’t replace the slings for less cost tha= n I can buy new flanges. If you’re locked into doing this on Monday, your plan is correct. &nb= sp;You’ll have to remove the hammers.  Removing the dampers would= n’t help, since from the damper’s point of view, the sling is gl= ued to the “back” side of the butt flange, i.e. the side opposit= e the rail.  You can’t get to it from that side of the action. &n= bsp;I’d use CA glue, although I don’t use CA for anything becaus= e I’m allergic to the fumes.  Anything else would take way too lo= ng.  Unless Yamaha provided pre-cut cords, I don’t know how you c= ould get them all the same/right length. Good Luck, Ken Z. On 2/18/06 8:57 AM, "reggaepass@aol.com" <reggaepass@aol.com&g= t; wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>Hi All,   This Monday I will replace all of the hammer return spring slings on an old= er Yamaha U3.  Yamaha graciously provided the cord material.  Some= one advised removing all of the dampers and leaving the hammers on for the o= peration.  However, looks to me like it would be rather tricky to get t= he glue and the right length of cord in the right place in the hammer flange= slots with the hammers still on the rail.  My current plan is to leave= the dampers, but remove all of the hammers so they may be handled individua= lly.   Anybody out there worked through this to their satisfaction?  Got a so= lvent that works better than alcohol for loosening up the old glue?  Fo= r installing the new cords, have you used CA, hide glue, what-have-you? &nbs= p;   Any and all input is welcome, all the more so if it is before Monday mornin= g.   Have a good weekend,   Alan Eder, RPT </BLOCKQUOTE> -- Ken Zahringer, RPT Piano Technician MU School of Music 297 Fine Arts 882-1202 cell 489-7529 </BODY> </HTML>