Spring cord replacement WITHOUT butt plates, AKA answering my own question

piannaman at aol.com piannaman at aol.com
Wed May 2 00:13:34 MDT 2007


Hi List,
 
Several weeks back I asked this list if anyone knew of any methods to expedite spring cord replacement on Yamahas that DON'T have the plates the hold the center pins.  Most everyone told me that they'd replace the flanges.  Paul McCloud suggested that it's easier to replace the cords.
 
While I thought I had a standard cord replacement job on a P2 today, it turned out it was cord replacement on the non-plate variety!  As I had already blocked out a sizeable chunk of the day to do this job (with a bike ride scheduled afterward..)  I figured I'd go ahead and give it a try.  It took right around 5 hours.  
 
Same basic formula:
 
Remove rest rail
Take hammers off the rail, flanges and all
remove old cord debris from slot, but I've found that being overly meticulous about this step is a waste of time
wind your replacement cord around a 5/8 inch dowel many times
Cut lengthwise to make cord pieces of the proper length
Glue one side
Go back and glue the other side 
reattach spring
screw hammers back on to the rail
replace rail
PUt action back in piano
Go home
Have a glass of wine
 
 
Notes:  
 
It's harder to glue the threads to the flanges as a moving target hanging from the butt assembly than when the flanges are firmly screwed to the hammer rail.
 
Keep a sharp blade around to keep the flange and the hammer assembly detached when excess glue gets slopped in places where it shouldn't
 
With better gluing technique, I expect that this job could realistically be done in 4 hours.  Next time, I may try replacing the flanges, though I suspect that will take longer.
 
I'm going to bed.  I'll probably dream about applying glue to empty slots....
 
 
 
 
Dave Stahl, RPT

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/
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