How do I repair a stuck bass button?

[wirralaccordion]

Foolishly, I allowed a younger visitor to hold my Brandoni Super Musette accordion and I think it was too heavy for him and the bass bellows pulled out too far. This lead to one bass button becoming stuck in the play position, i.e. not releasing. I have took the cover off and released it but now, when it is pushed in to play the chord, the button “wedges” against the hole through which it passes.

It could be that the wire attached to the button has been bent and consequently is now causing the button to press against the inside circumference of the hole.

The photo attached shows the displaced bass button ( E flat diminished on the 6th row ).

Has anyone had this damage and can recommend a fix? I cannot see what is pushing the wire to which the bass button is attached towards the hole circumference but there must be something!

 

[Ventura]

there is a special tool for this (deffner.busso have them)
that slips down over the button and lets you re-align it without
stressing of breaking the linkage, which is pretty delicate

 

[debra]

As you already opened up the bass part you can use pliers on the metal piston just below the button so as to move the button back in the right direction, without putting any stress on the button. Often you cen even do it just by hand by pushing the button on one direction and the piston on the inside in the other direction.

 

[John Doe]

Two things;
-the shafts are of metal that does not do at all well with being bent back and forth; very subject to metal fatigue. You can surely realign it once, perhaps twice but go slow and bend carfully lest the thing weaken and break.
- you might glance at the arms on the shaft ( the projections covered with the yellow anti friction sleeves). They rest on arms from the "pipes" which are what push the shaft with the button back up when you release the button. Should those arms, or the arms they rest on be bent down, the button would remain down. When properly adjusted there is a slight amount of slack between then and the arms they rest on (look at the other shafts on either side to gauge how much). A pair of needle nosed pliers CAREFULLY applied can realign these. Again bend slow so it only gets done once- you don't want to bend them back and forth by over bending.

Does it sound all the time now? If so it's the bent shaft and the consequent sticking/rubbing button. If not, it's more likely (though not certain) to be bent arms.

It could easily be a little of both issues!

Good luck-

Henry

 

[jollyrogeraccordions]

there is a special tool for this (deffner.busso have them)
that slips down over the button and lets you re-align it without
stressing of breaking the linkage, which is pretty delicate

Interesting..do you have a photo of this tool? I've not seen a tool to do this on the Carini site…but then if I've not seen one I wouldn't know…

 

[Dingo40]

Interesting..do you have a photo of this tool?

I got this hit on Google:

D43 Accordian Bass Button Adj Tool

A double-ended tool used to straighten bass buttons without removing the complete bass mechanism. Each end has a different bored hole to fit most buttons This tool will be discontinued when stock is depleted.

www.ferreestoolsinc.com

Some posters have made their own out of suitable metal tubing.
Another one here:

Bass Button Alignment Tool | Accordions Asia Super Store Xiamen 手风琴 厦门

A couple of fancier models here:

La malle aux accordeons

Tools for accordion repair and tuning. Wide selection of tools and repair parts. Fast, secure shipping.

www.lamalleauxaccordeons.fr

 

[jollyrogeraccordions]

Thanks. Yes, I think I have all those tools…except the button clamp.

 

[boxplayer4000]

jollyrogeraccordions: Some bell leather punches I have are close to the bass button diameters and can be handy.

 

[John Doe]

jollyrogeraccordions: Some bell leather punches I have are close to the bass button diameters

I sprang for one ot the thiry dollar "special tool" button adjusters, successfully misplaced it, and have used a leather punch ever since. Works just as well and is a lot cheaper.

 

[wirralaccordion]

I don't think the problem is the shaft on which the button is mounted as it appears to be exactly paralllel with adjacent shafts. I think it is the button itself which may be damaged inside its mounting hole. This has forced the button itself out of parallelism and up against the inner wall of the hole in which it should lie concentric. Therefore, as I see it, it surely would not be possible to fit any of the the tools above over the button.
I have released the button back through the hole to its normal ( off ) position but that means I have to be careful not to press it accidentally because if I did I would have to go through the process of taking the cover off and releasing it. Fortunately it is the E flat diminished button!

 

[TimeSwan]

I use a small tube of brass stock that I got at my local hardware store. Does the job well, and the guy at the hardware store was kind enough to give it to me for free. He must have seen the desperation in my eyes.

 

[boxplayer4000]

I don't think the problem is the shaft on which the button is mounted as it appears to be exactly paralllel with adjacent shafts. I think it is the button itself which may be damaged inside its mounting hole. This has forced the button itself out of parallelism and up against the inner wall of the hole in which it should lie concentric. Therefore, as I see it, it surely would not be possible to fit any of the the tools above over the button.
I have released the button back through the hole to its normal ( off ) position but that means I have to be careful not to press it accidentally because if I did I would have to go through the process of taking the cover off and releasing it. Fortunately it is the E flat diminished button!

Wirral: No two accordions are the same but if the leather bell punch is a close fit over the bass button and you use a pair of pliers to hold the wire as close to the bottom of the button a possible then it's normally possible to make adjustments.

 

[maddogdom]

Foolishly, I allowed a younger visitor to hold my Brandoni Super Musette accordion and I think it was too heavy for him and the bass bellows pulled out too far. This lead to one bass button becoming stuck in the play position, i.e. not releasing. I have took the cover off and released it but now, when it is pushed in to play the chord, the button “wedges” against the hole through which it passes.

It could be that the wire attached to the button has been bent and consequently is now causing the button to press against the inside circumference of the hole.

The photo attached shows the displaced bass button ( E flat diminished on the 6th row ).

Has anyone had this damage and can recommend a fix? I cannot see what is pushing the wire to which the bass button is attached towards the hole circumference but there must be something!

Hi there.just wanted to say to use two pairs of needle nose pliers to straighten the bar,as the buttons are very fragile,and degrade to a certain extent with age and use.just be as delicate as possible.rubbing a pencil around the button will apply graphite which acts as a lubricant.best of luck.easy job,just fiddly.dominic mogridge.dunmanway,west cork,eire