Investigating a sticky bass button -- is my assessment correct?

[tatertatras]

Hello. I've recently acquired an old third-hand 12-bass piano accordion and it's in need of a bit of TLC I think. I am new to accordions and this is my first accordion. I am hoping to fix it up a bit so I can learn to play it. It seems to be largely in working order with the exception of this one bass button which has fallen and become stuck in that position. I opened the panel up to see what might be going on inside and the problem is immediately obvious --



That wooden block that is attached to the problem button via that rod looking thing is all cattywampus! It ain't even covering the hole proper. Best I can tell, the wax fixing that wooden block to that flat metal bar it's mounted on has failed and that wooden block is slipping off that flat metal bar. I'd assume that what I need to do remove the old wax and fix that block back into place with fresh wax. Does that seem correct? Is there anything else I'm not noticing that I ought to be aware of?

Also -- I'm still learning the names of all of the parts, especially internally. I haven't yet found a good diagram labeling all these parts, so forgive the descriptions of my own invention, I do hope I'm still being clear enough. Someone on the subreddit said those wooden blocks are called pallets. Is that right? And are there proper names for "that flat metal bar" and "that rod looking thing"?

Thanks!

 

[Glug]

Hiya,
Looks to me like you've made the right diagnosis.

It's worth checking that if you reposition that pallet the bass button goes back into the correct position - so there's nothing else wrong or bent.
But it does look like it's raised onto the metal bar and that's stopping the return spring pushing the button out.

If it's just wax holding the pallet to the arm you can remove it with an old screwdriver or a scraper, just don't damage the wood.
A temperature controlled soldering iron is pretty good for melting a small amount of wax: you need around 90 c and it's probably "accordion wax" which is a wax / rosin mixture.

 

[debra]

The wooden part that is in the wrong position is called a "pallet". If you move it back into the right position, covering the holes completely, The connection between the pallet and the lever is made using wax. (Accordion wax is a mix of about 80% beeswax and 20% rosin (and a drop of linseed oil). It is likely that when everything is back into position the button will also come out just far enough.

 

[tatertatras]

Hiya,
Looks to me like you've made the right diagnosis.

It's worth checking that if you reposition that pallet the bass button goes back into the correct position - so there's nothing else wrong or bent.
But it does look like it's raised onto the metal bar and that's stopping the return spring pushing the button out.

If it's just wax holding the pallet to the arm you can remove it with an old screwdriver or a scraper, just don't damage the wood.
A temperature controlled soldering iron is pretty good for melting a small amount of wax: you need around 90 c and it's probably "accordion wax" which is a wax / rosin mixture.

Thanks for the confirmation, Glug! Doing as you suggested, it does seem that nothing else is bent, and poking the pallet back into the correct position did cause the bass button to pop back up. I didn't even have to utilize a screwdriver to remove it... right after I poked at it, it fell right off. Thanks for the info on the wax, I'll look into it

 

[tatertatras]

The wooden part that is in the wrong position is called a "pallet". If you move it back into the right position, covering the holes completely, The connection between the pallet and the lever is made using wax. (Accordion wax is a mix of about 80% beeswax and 20% rosin (and a drop of linseed oil). It is likely that when everything is back into position the button will also come out just far enough.

Much appreciated!