Opening a Hohner Atlantic IV

[knobby]

With these models having a metal case & no bellows pins, how do you get inside them?

 

[Soulsaver]

I believe these are the same opening design as the Lucia amongst others (Virtuola):
Clear some safe clean dry worktop (or the like) space for it and the sections.
Stand it on its feet. I'd recommend remove the straps, it will make for easier handling, especially if you've not done it before and they just dangle in the way.
Take off the grill. At the front face of the pallet section there are two wire tags pointing in opposite directions (usually). They are the locking mech'sm levers.
Turn them both to point the other way and the treble section is unlocked.
Push up at the front with your thumbs away from the bellows while pushing down with other fingers at the bellows joint and it will part from the bellows (easily in my experience)and rotate towards the back where there are some T catches that will detach themselves from the treb sections spring clips.
Take care by then that you have a firm grip on the top section... and you've got that clear space to put it on; make sure your not putting it on anything that can poke inside and do any damage.

There's a bit of a knack to the refitting and Adam will possibly comment, but I carefully locate it on the rear catches and rock the treble section to and fro 'til I hear them 'click' into place. Then carefully lower (rotate) the front back into original position and turn the tags back to lock it. Test (listen) for air leaks from the joint; if there is a leak it'll likely be that you've failed to engage the catches at the back. If so undo the tags and have an other go.

 

[Adam-T]

I re-fit the same way SS, always a good idea to make sure the front end isn`t leaking after re-fitting too as it can sit differently on the gasket and leak if re-positioned badly .. on the Atlantic, the release levers are on the top Under where the Hohner logo on the grille sits . We`re probably making this sound harder than it looks , it`s easy really and a lot faster than pulling bellows pins ......

For the record - the bass end doesn`t come off the bellows, it`s all fitted together hence why the reedblocks come out easily , if you`re adjusting stuff etc, make sure not to overtightnen the reedblocks in the bass end otherwise you`ll stiffen up the couplers and on pressing them, they`ll break as the plastic gets fragile with age (common issue with Atlantics) , they`re easy to replace though like everything in that accordion.

 

[Glenn]

It does all sound rather complicated but I guess it's like changing a lightbulb, easy to do but difficult to describe.

 

[Soulsaver]

It does all sound rather complicated but I guess its like changing a lightbulb, easy to do but difficult to describe.

True.

 

[smdc66]

carefully locate it on the rear catches and rock the treble section to and fro til I hear them click into place. Then carefully lower (rotate) the front back into original position and turn the tags back to lock it. Test (listen) for air leaks from the joint; if there is a leak itll likely be that youve failed to engage the catches at the back. If so undo the tags and have an other go.

when i have done this i havent noticed any clicks and my levers face same way

the gasket looks quite flattened and indented where the case presses onto it

i do hear a leak though - sounds like air being forced under pressure and makes an intermittent shortish raspberry blowing sound

i have tried to reposition it carefully

to replace seal i presume you remove gasket seal and simply replace it roughly in position it was with new one

i am unsure re bass end 1)whether that should be replaced too 2)never seen gasket seal there :?: - in fact dont know how to remove bass end really :?

 

[Soulsaver]

carefully locate it on the rear catches and rock the treble section to and fro til I hear them click into place. Then carefully lower (rotate) the front back into original position and turn the tags back to lock it. Test (listen) for air leaks from the joint; if there is a leak itll likely be that youve failed to engage the catches at the back. If so undo the tags and have an other go.

when i have done this i havent noticed any clicks and my levers face same way

the gasket looks quite flattened and indented where the case presses onto it

i do hear a leak though - sounds like air being forced under pressure and makes an intermittent shortish raspberry blowing sound

i have tried to reposition it carefully

to replace seal i presume you remove gasket seal and simply replace it roughly in position it was with new one

i am unsure re bass end 1)whether that should be replaced too 2)never seen gasket seal there :?: - in fact dont know how to remove bass end really :?[/quote]
Its a shame you so far away Dave, Id nip round...

Replace the gasket as near as possible to exactly where it was, sits in a groove I think. And see Adams post above regarding bellows & bass end... Now my memory may be mistaken but I think I have removed a bass end before on a Lucia - screws through the bass end under the cover?

 

[smdc66]

For the record - the bass end doesn`t come off the bellows, it`s all fitted together

does that mean there is no gasket seal required bass end :?

if so more air tight and less gasket work required :?: :!:

 

[knobby]

The base end does come apart, assuming it's the same as my Vox 4P which is based on the Atlantic.

Unscrew the four feet and remove the metal cover from the base mechanism. All the gubbins in mounted to a metal plate inside.

This metal plate containing the base mechanism is attached to the bellows with 5 screws, 2 at the back and 3 at the front. The middle front screws is recessed into the metal plate and is set about half an inch further back than the other two. I couldn't get a screwdriver in there to unscrew it so I had to remove the white cover plate which fits over all the base buttons. This is held on with 4 tiny screws and is much easier to fit back on that you'd first think. With this removed the recessed screw can be removed and the metal plate lifted away from the bellows.

Replace the gasket following the same line that the original one takes - this is not around the raised wooden part of the bellows, as the metal plate doesn't follow around the wood exactly particularly where the bass register buttons are.

 

[Adam-T]

Yeah, what I meant was that it doesn`t come off with levers, clips or bellows pins , it`s a dissassembly job