leaky accordion

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 11:33 AM

"the leaky accordion" - doesn't it sound like another pub in Harry Potter's world?

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 11:12 AM

:D

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 04:33 AM

That's a bit rude innit? "Dave you wanker your own boat"

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 04:11 AM

Dave, you anchor your own boat.....

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 02:44 AM

Fill it with cement?

:D tG

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 02:42 AM

Get more help here:http://www.accordionforum.co.uk/index.php

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 02:40 AM

I had a similar prob which turned out to be the spring on the air button, which wasn't pushing the cover over properly

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Bert
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 08:54 PM

Duct tape.

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: GUEST,trier
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 08:02 PM

Great info - many thanks!

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: treewind
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 06:02 PM

Air can leak from:
Bellows
Bellows gaskets (where they join on to the ends)
Palettes (those are the pads that uncover holes when you press a key)
Holes in the woodwork - if something like a strap bracket was screwed in and later removed and the screw holes go right through. It does happen!

Bellows leaks may be patchable with tape.
Gaskets are easy to replace.
Palette leaks can happen because the leather facing has deformed or hardened, or because something has moved so the palette doesn't cover the hole properly.

Often it's a combination of a bit of everything.

Buy any replacement bits you need from Charlie Marshall if you're in the UK.

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 05:28 PM

Immerse in bath full of water and look for bubbles!

Seriously if you can detect where the air is being lost, and it's most likely the bellows, repair from the inside using very thin leather, a piece of kid or calf split down to a fine slither and use a glue that doesn't set hard. Evostick type.

Bellows usually only attached by metal pins that can be withdrawn with pliers but if an old one it might be held on by catches in which case these will be obvious.

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 04:48 PM

The big bellows is the air pump, which can deteriorate and leak, usually in the folds, which are soft leather.
Inside, there are LOTS of little valves which stop or allow the reeds to sound. Then there are just as many mechanical parts which can stick....

Get someone to look at it for you. Unless it is free, of course.

(Quick and dirty fix for a bellows. Stick pieces of leather glove over the leak with rubber solution/contact adhesive. I didn't tell you this.)
Where are you? Someone may know a sympathetic repairer in your town.

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 04:12 PM

There's various ways a squeezer can lose air

Is the leak obviously in the bellows?

Subject: RE: leaky accordion
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 03:16 PM

You can buy repair tape lots of places, like here for instance

Subject: leaky accordion
From: GUEST,trier
Date: 11 Apr 13 - 02:29 PM

I've been offered an accordion but have been told it has a small leak. As a complete novice I don't know how serious that may be. Can it be fixed? Expensive?
Bernard to the rescue....