Potentially Weak Spring

[Alex Signell]

The pad for the C#/D# button on my anglo has been staying open for after I release the button if I am playing hard and the pad will also get slightly misaligned making the note sound when I'm not pressing the button(it is very easy to realign, it's just a bit annoying). The spring for this button feels weaker than others and it seems like a weak spring could cause these issues. If that is the issue are there any easy fixes I could do at home?

[David Barnert]

Possibly, but not certainly.

 

Assuming you have a traditionally constructed concertina with springs that look like this:

 

 

One thing you could try is swapping the questionable spring with another one and seeing if the problem follows the spring or stays with the C#/D#

 

Note that there are right-handed springs and left-handed springs (depending on which way the hook at the end curls) and you’ll want to swap it with another spring of the same handedness.

 

It’s not a bad idea to keep a few extra springs (of each handedness) on hand, as they occasionally need replacement.

[Matthew Heumann]

And if its not the spring, it could be the pad or lever catching on something. If you open it and it is a spring, send me a personal message and I'll be glad to send you one (have gazillions on hand for repairs and such), wouldn't even miss one or 2.

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

It is possible to make a torsion spring by using piano wire coiled round, but can be fiddly to make them.

I managed to make one on my concertina, as I have had similar problem occur also, occasionally.

And I kept the original spring to measure the coil against, for reference.

[alex_holden]

There are several other possible causes for buttons that aren't closing properly: misalignment between the lever and the end plate hole, pad catching on an adjacent pad or a wall, tight bushing hole, sticky gunk accumulated on the button shaft, worn or faulty lever pivot, lever being held down by something protruding from the underside of the end plate.

[d.elliott]

The spring may be part of the issue but, and as the pad is becoming 'misaligned', I would first look to align the pad an re-fix it to the lever arm. At the same time check the clearances of the pad to the action plate and the casing, including the casing which is part of the action box cover.

[Clive Thorne]

I suppose that the question is;  does the button feel "light" compared to others on the instrument. If not then it's probably not the spring.