In the past on various forums I have taken the time to give my best advice in detail based upon years of study, practice, and experience only to have the person asking the question announce he is going to do what he was going to do in the first place. I'm not suggesting this is one of those cases, but I am offering that background as an explanation for the terse way I am going to respond.
1. Get a used YAS-23 in fair to good mechanical condition to learn on. PERIOD. If you can't or won't do that, read no further.
2. The most important tools are a couple of good quality screwdrivers, smooth flat jaw pliers, spring hook, leak light, and Blazer ES-1000 torch.
3. Take the Yamaha completely apart except for springs and pivot screws and reassemble 4 times.
4. Once you are thoroughly familiar with every key and a logical disassembly/assembly order of your own choosing, disassemble a 5th time.
5. Read every sax repair article on Music Medic website.
6. When ordering pads get the Ultimax oiler and pivot screw grease.
7. Replace palm key, side key, low Eb and C key pads for practice before tackling stack keys, then take them off when you start on the stacks.
A novice has no business:
- Leveling toneholes - take it to a tech
- Swedging keys - on your first repair attempt it is not that important on a YAS-23
- Straightening rods, straightening bent hinge tubes - take to a tech.
This
website is useful for replacement parts for those lost, broken, or fubar by inexperience.