asdormire Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I bought a twenty button of ebay last weekend. Arrived this morning. It is a mechanical mess--but looks ok. Where do I start? Buttons not working, appearantly frozwn mechanisms, disconnected buttons from the mechanism and reeds sounding on their own. I suppose buying Dave's book would be a good start. That or sell my soul to Greg, if he will take me, and learn from the expert I think I'll call the bluegrass shop and have John order me a copy of Dave's manual. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I'd get his book anyway; it's a really good 'comfort blanket' when you have to do something in the maintenance line. It also seems very extensive, none of that 'take it to your dealer' stuff that some authors use to save writing about the difficult bits. I'd heartily recommend it. As for buying junk concertinas off Ebay, been there, done that, sympathise completely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I'd get his book anyway; it's a really good 'comfort blanket' when you have to do something in the maintenance line. It also seems very extensive, none of that 'take it to your dealer' stuff that some authors use to save writing about the difficult bits. I'd heartily recommend it. As for buying junk concertinas off Ebay, been there, done that, sympathise completely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperpunchr Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 If you need photos of the action I'd be happy to help out, as I now own one fully restored (built ca. 1908) and one pretty much factory original (built ca. 1886) of the same model...let me know if that would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 serial 184915, does this give anymore info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperpunchr Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 serial 184915, does this give anymore info? That would be newer than mine, the one I sent you photos of was serial 107588...wonder if they made any significant changes between ca. 1900-1908 (mine) and that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 Finally received Dave's book, and looked at the problem I have been having with the buttons. If I am reading this right, the keys need to have bushes installed. There are none at the moment. The pads looked ok, and I reglued a few that had come loose, but the keys want to just go all over instead of staying on the levers. Makes it hard to to put the cover back on. Otherwise, everything else I have examined so far seems ok--bellows, reeds, reed pan. I am wondering though whether just to replace all the pads, even though they look ok. Any thoughts? Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 One more thing, where would I buy those little felt o-rings on the bottom of the keys? (or new pads, for that matter) US please. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Read Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Finally received Dave's book, and looked at the problem I have been having with the buttons. If I am reading this right, the keys need to have bushes installed. There are none at the moment. The pads looked ok, and I reglued a few that had come loose, but the keys want to just go all over instead of staying on the levers. Makes it hard to to put the cover back on. Otherwise, everything else I have examined so far seems ok--bellows, reeds, reed pan. I am wondering though whether just to replace all the pads, even though they look ok. Any thoughts? Alan The pads may look OK but they have probably compressed meaning that the buttons sit higher and probably do not sit in the holes in the action board that keep them aligned. You can either install new pads (recommended) or adjust the levers to lower the buttons (i.e. bend the levers - not really recommended). Whether you need new bushings or not really depends on whether there were any in the first place unless the holes have worn in the cover plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Bradbury Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Call the Button Box. They have it all and are very helpful! Sounds like you have a fun project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperpunchr Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Call the Button Box. They have it all and are very helpful! Sounds like you have a fun project. David Leese also has em, so does Concertina connection, Wim Wakker...and both are reliable folks with quality products. Concertina connection offered them as a kit for 20 button anglo, and If yours is really the same model as mine, and I think it is, it didn't originally have bushings, and they aren't really needed...but you might also have weak springs...the most-used ones gradually weaken as they get fatigued. Good luck! By the bye, on that model Lachenal the fulcrums are not much more than a bent brass wire staple, and they are easily pulled out of the pad if you're not careful while working, especially if you have to bend an arm to make a new pad sit square on the hole. Remember also that you'll need to realign all the buttons by placing the end exactly over the action pan (let the end bolts nose into the action pan holes to be sure) and lift it off without disturbing the buttons to make sure the pads line up right...one of the last operations in a pad replacement. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted July 27, 2007 Author Share Posted July 27, 2007 I put in a call yesterday to both the button box and Bob Tedrow yesterday, unfortunately, The Button Box called later in the evening while I was out. had a good conversation with Bob, though. Am really looking forward to seeing him next weekend at the Dublin Irish festival. Doug, even if they weren't bushed originally, it looks like there is room for some light bushing, and I think I will use them. As to redoing the pads, if I don't get a rebuild kit, it doesn't look like they wood be to hard to make myself. May put it off, this next week though, and make up some bones from some cedar salvageI picked up a couple of summers ago, as one year I brought some bones with me to the Irish Festival, and had people asking to buy them, so, it might not be a bad idea to have some with me. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Finally received Dave's book, and looked at the problem I have been having with the buttons. If I am reading this right, the keys need to have bushes installed. There are none at the moment. The pads looked ok, and I reglued a few that had come loose, but the keys want to just go all over instead of staying on the levers. Makes it hard to to put the cover back on. Otherwise, everything else I have examined so far seems ok--bellows, reeds, reed pan. I am wondering though whether just to replace all the pads, even though they look ok. Any thoughts? Alan Alan, are you talking about the cross bushing through which the lever passes, or the action cover bushings theough which the key slides? Dave E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted July 27, 2007 Author Share Posted July 27, 2007 Finally received Dave's book, and looked at the problem I have been having with the buttons. If I am reading this right, the keys need to have bushes installed. There are none at the moment. The pads looked ok, and I reglued a few that had come loose, but the keys want to just go all over instead of staying on the levers. Makes it hard to to put the cover back on. Otherwise, everything else I have examined so far seems ok--bellows, reeds, reed pan. I am wondering though whether just to replace all the pads, even though they look ok. Any thoughts? Alan Alan, are you talking about the cross bushing through which the lever passes, or the action cover bushings theough which the key slides? Dave E Cross bushings, section 5.5.2 in The Concertina Maintenance Manual Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wild Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 it doesn't look like they wood be to hard to make myself. Maybe that WOULD depend on how hard the WOOD is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Cross bushings, section 5.5.2 in The Concertina Maintenance Manual Alan These are absolutely essential to the positive action and smooth playing of the instrument. Looks like you have another job to do, at least its easy to do whilst the pads are off. Only moderately exasperating with the pads fitted! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 No, exasperating was trying to put the end back on without them, after all, they weren't there in the first place, and I hadn't realized I needed them. Well, now I know. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperpunchr Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 No, exasperating was trying to put the end back on without them, after all, they weren't there in the first place, and I hadn't realized I needed them. Well, now I know. Alan Yes, misunderstanding on my part...you definitely need bushings where the lever arm passes through the button...I thought we were talking about where the button passes through the wood end. Sorry. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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