Rusted Keyboard axle

[gstas]

Hi, great forum and its great to be here. I have an accordion with a rusty keyboard axle. I managed to get the axle to spin but cannot pull it out. Anyone got any tips here?

 

[debra]

There are spray cans with a rust remover. The biggest problem is to reach the points that need to be treated without getting the stuff on other parts of the accordion.

 

[gstas]

yes access is the problem

 

[JIM D.]

If you have enough rod exposed to fit a drill chuck on it, spin the rod and start puling it gently.
:tup:

 

[gstas]

theres not alot sticking out but ill give it a go to see if there is enough for the chuck to hold onto. thanks

 

[Tom]

I've used vice grips and turned and pulled slowly but surely when there is not much to grab. Good luck!

 

[gstas]

Cordless drill did the job. There was just enough to grab onto.

Thanks

 

[Tom]

Cool, good work! Why did you have to take it out? Overall cleaning? Some keys need repair? Got photos? ☺ Hope it goes back in as easily!

 

[JIM D.]

Replacing the rod is the same in reverse. Once it's out, clean it, and wipe lube on it (WD40) and spin it back in. "DO NOT TAP IT IN" as this will cause keyboard damage.
:tup:

 

[gstas]

Keys are clicky when pressed so i want to change pads under keys. I have new axles so i will be replacing old rusty one with a new one. Ive done a few of these but never had one this hard to get out before. This has 2 axles, one for white keys and one for black, but fortuntaly the black keys are ok as that axle is way to short.

 

[debra]

Glad to hear that you got the rod out. Once the white keys are removed there should be good spots where you can grip the second rod to start moving it enough for the drill chuck to be able to hold on as well.
When you replace the felt under the keys make sure you replace it with the same thickness because otherwise you change the opening of the pallets. I learned that you can measure the thickness of the felt at the ends, where no key has been pressing on it for many years.

 

[gstas]

The black key axle is rusted too. i can rock it a bit with long nose pliers but not enough to push the axle out further. Fortunately i can get away with these ones if i cant get axle out as there are only a couple of noisy black keys and i have access to replace felts.

 

[jollyrogeraccordions]

I wouldn’t replace an axle because it's rusted. Clean it up with emery cloth and reuse it.

 

[debra]

The black key axle is rusted too. i can rock it a bit with long nose pliers but not enough to push the axle out further. Fortunately i can get away with these ones if i cant get axle out as there are only a couple of noisy black keys and i have access to replace felts.

When you have access to the axle (since you removed the white keys) you can try to first use rust remover, steel brush or whatever is needed to get the axle to move more. You can probably even see where it gets stuck and remedy that part. Accordion repair is perhaps 20% solid knowledge you can learn in an accordion repair course (and a lot of which is covered in sites like accordionrevival) but 80% is detective work and trial and error (hopefully not too much error) diy work. Which explains that a course can only complement but not replace years of experience.

 

[gstas]

it wouldnt budge, but fortunately i didnt need to remove black keys. I managed to do what i needed with black keys in place.