Pianotech

  • 1.  Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2013 08:46
    So a question regarding this piano made at the Inchon S.Korea factory in 1996.

    Mid section is blocking - big red flag.  Is this one of the expanding bracket problem pianos?  What were those years again?

    I didn't pull the action to measure the spread - which would have told me right away.  I have to set up a return appointment for cleaning and tuning but I noticed this when we moved the piano from one side of the room to the other.


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    Bill Davis, RPT
    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE
    Marietta GA 30066-2113
    HP: 770-485-6430
    CP: 770-778-6881
    bill@pianoplace.net
    www.pianoplace.net




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  • 2.  RE: Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2013 09:05
    Hi, Bill: Almost certainly the bracket problem. The models that didn't have them have remained pretty well regulated in my experience. The store I worked for was the YC dealer for many years. They used to say, "Even if you suspect the action brackets, replace them anyway". I'll often remove the fallboard and see that the hammer rail has warped. It's easy to see the gap between the rail and the bottom of the pinblock and stretcher. Give YC a call and ask if your serial number is in the ballpark for bracket problems. Paul McCloud San Diego


  • 3.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2013 09:17
    According to Mario Igrec's book, p. 149: 1990 to 1998, serial numbers 050000 - 118750.  There was an article in the Journal in the last few years by Bruce Dornfeld about replacing the brackets.

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 4.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2013 09:48
    Bill, Here are phone numbers at Young Chang; Sam and Larry Fresch. 657-200-3470 and 657-200-3490. Have just replaced brackets on a Wurlitzer G457. These guys got the news brackets to me pronto . ------------------------------------------- Wesley Hardman Owner Hardman Piano Service Scottsboro AL 256-574-4761 -------------------------------------------


  • 5.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Posted 04-27-2013 10:55
      |   view attached
    In my notes, '90-'94, serial numbers starting with:  00

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    Regards,

    Jon Page

    Attachment(s)



  • 6.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2013 12:03
    Some interesting historical information with regard to expanding action brackets:

    1942-03 Tuner's Digest:

    DIE CAST, GRAND ACTION FRACKETS
    By J. M. KINGSBURY, President Wisconsin Division

    Some 15 years ago, a number of grand
    piano actions were manufactured and
    mounted on brackets, moulded of die-cast
    metal.
    My advice to tuners, who come across
    this type of action is, change to cast
    iron brackets. Actions of this age using
    die-cast brackets will usually be found
    in poor regulation, due to warping of the
    metal. Regulating the action and leaving
    the old brackets on will do no good. The
    work will have to be done over before
    "many moons."

    1950-11 The Piano Technician

    Just had a most pleasant surprise visit
    from Errol Crowl, president of the Boston
    Division, at my home and basement shop.
    He was accompanied by a gentleman who
    manufactures textile machinery and who is
    a master mechanic. I took them down into
    my shop - cluttered up as it is - and we
    discussed an action in which I was installing
    new brackets to replace the expanding
    (die cast) ones. The gentleman explained
    that it was the Antimony used in the alloy
    that caused the expanding and cracking.
    I showed him some other ones that had
    not expanded so much and he said they had
    used Aluminum as an alloy and if they had
    used all Aluminum the brackets would have
    been stable.

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    Paul Brown
    Vancouver BC
    604-324-7013
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  • 7.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-28-2013 08:34
    Good morning Bill,

    Definitely sounds like brackets.

    One thing you can do to make it playable/tunable for a short time (treating the symptom) is to shim the letoff rail. Obviously this isn't a permanent fix but will allow you to work on the instrument while parts are on order and much less work to undo than adjusting letoff.


    The letoff button rails are mounted to the hammer flange rail by studs passing through rail and secured on top by acorn nuts. You can remove the acorn nuts, slide each letoff rail section out and place appropriate balance rail punchings between the letoff rail and the flange rail. 

    When you install the new brackets, simply remove the punchings and you're left with much less twisting of letoff buttons than if someone has been twisting them down to try to achieve escapement. 

    Be well,

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    Allan Gilreath, RPT
    Registered Piano Technician & President
    Allan Gilreath & Associates, Inc
    Calhoun, GA
    706-602-7667
    allan@allangilreath.com - www.allangilreath.com


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  • 8.  RE:Young Chang G-150 # G106657

    Posted 04-28-2013 17:37
    Bill,

    Here is a video I made in April 2012 replacing these growing brackets. Maybe it will help give you a visual idea of the process.
    Replacement of Young Chang grand action brackets

    Keith McGavern, RPT
    Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
    tune-repair@allegiance.tv
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