Young Chang Action Brackets

[Kent Swafford]

Hi Avery,

I am the list administrator this week. Since Phil is not subscribed to 
pianotech, the reply that he attempted to post bounced. He asked that I 
forward his response to you and pianotech which I did. So, you see, you 
have indeed heard back from Phil.  :)

Kent

On Monday, June 9, 2003, at 03:28  PM, Avery Todd wrote:

> Hi Kent,
>
> I appreciate your response but why was it sent to you and
> not to me. I sent Phil an e-mail and so far, haven't heard
> back from him.
>
> At 01:37 PM 06/09/03 -0500, you wrote:
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>>> From: "Phil Glenn" <Phil@yca.tzo.com>
>>> Date: Mon Jun 9, 2003  12:53:01  PM US/Central
>>> To: <pianotech-owner@ptg.org>
>>> Subject: [admin] RE: Young Chang Action Brackets
>>>
>>> Please post this reply.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Phil
>>>
>>> Thanks Avery,
>>>
>>> I'll answer each of your questions, though basically any YC 
>>> manufactured grand piano dating
>>> from about 1990 to 1997 has the possibility of this occurring. If 
>>> you see anything that is weird or unstable,
>>> then you'll probably need to exchange the brackets. It will usually 
>>> start to show up between two to five years from new.
>>> Very rarely do you find any visual defect on the bracket itself.
>>>
>>> 1. What I DIDN'T see was everything I've read about it. I was able
>>> to easily pull the action out; the drop screws didn't scrape on
>>> the underside of the pin block, etc.
>>>         These severe symptoms only occur on very advance cases and 
>>> not always then.
>>>         The only predictable thing about the growing
>>>         brackets is that they are unpredictable... and the hammers 
>>> block.
>>>
>>> 2.  Besides the blocking, all I could see was that the underside of
>>> the drop screw was AWFULLY close to the front edge of the wippen
>>> buckskin and the jacks were mostly WAY too far back under the
>>> knuckle.>
>>>         As the brackets expand, it pulls the hammer rail away from 
>>> the wippen rail,
>>>         thus the jack is moved back from the roller.
>>>
>>> 3.  Besides measuring the spread (which I don't know what it's 
>>> supposed
>>> to be) how can one know for sure?>
>>>         Measuring the spread is the only technical way to know, but 
>>> then the spread could be off for other reasons.
>>>         The affected pianos had a spread of 112.5 mm pre-1991 and 
>>> 113.5 mm post 1991.
>>>         It doesn't take much to make a huge     difference (1 or 2 
>>> mm) but,
>>>         I had a tech the other day tell me that the spread on his 
>>> piano was 119.
>>>
>>> 4. It's had water leak/damage in the middle and 1st treble section 
>>> and
>>> the strings and plate are rusty there. I can also see evidence of it
>>> by stains on the action rails and a few of the shanks.>
>>>         Water damage could cause the keyframe to warp, imitating the 
>>> bracket symptoms,
>>>         though the spread shouldn't change. But... if your going to 
>>> be doing major work
>>>         to a piano within the affected range, you may as well throw 
>>> in a set of brackets.
>>>
>>>
>>> 5. I just don't want to do the "growing action brackets" thing 
>>> without
>>> being sure. Any ideas how I can BE sure? Thanks.>
>>>         Thanks for your concern. As this is a major warranty 
>>> situation, we have a need
>>>         to keep expenses at a minimum. However, the customer is our 
>>> greatest responsibility.
>>>         We don't want unstable pianos in the field when there is a 
>>> very easy fix.
>>>         When in doubt, seek me out.
>>>         I receive a paycheck because I am here to help you.
>>>
>>> The pianotech list is a great tool and resource,  I am sorry I can't 
>>> afford the time to monitor the internet each day,
>>> but I do try and answer all of my e-mails every morning.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Phil B. Glenn, RPT
>>> National Service Manager
>>> Young Chang Acoustic Pianos
>>> (800) 874-2880 x110