Subject: Yamaha Butt Spring Cord List, I'd like to suggest a repair for the broken cords on yamaha verticals without replacing the flanges. For this repair to be viable the flanges are in good condition with solid pinning and well traveled . If the flanges are in poor condition, than in all likelihood the hammers and other action parts will also need replacing and the cords will be least of your problems. With replacement yamaha cord on hand I procede as follows 1- Tighten all flange screws, space hammers and reshape as necessary, blow or vac action clean. 2-Remove hammer rest rail ( the hangers are screwed to the rail ) 3-Loosen but plate screws and remove butt-hammer assemblies and set aside in order.(these are numbered so check that they are sequential as you reinstall ) 4- Now your flanges and cords are wide open. Remove the old cords. I experimented with various tools to clean out the slots and found the point of a small spade drill bit to work best .Vac any debris from the slots . 5- Precut the cords. I wrapped the cord around an old #88 keytop 88 times and cut them all at once with a straight edge and razor blade.This gave me the correct length 6- glue one side of all the cords to the flange with a very small amount of titebond. When you get to the end go back and repeat with the other side . 7- Reinstall butts and rest rail .( This will give the glue enough dry time.) Hook up springs, Space hammers if necessary. This takes me about two hours.The traveling is undisturbed , the flange screws will stay tighter without the initial flange compression against the screw and although a minor point ,the cost of parts is lower. With flange replacement , I had to ream centers, and travel (not easy with the dampers in the way) @ about four to five hours total. Of course any action with these broken cords will usually need regulation so proceed with the usual steps. Tom Driscoll
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