Replacing Bellows Pins

[m***@gmail.com]

Good day,
An accordion I recently acquired is missing some of its bellows pins. So far as I can tell, replacing (or losing) bellows pins doesn't seem to be very common. Do all manufacturers make their bellows pins differently? (I realise that any given accordion can have a multitude of pin sizes.) I couldn't really find any "universal" or variety packs of bellows pins online to buy. Is it common for accordion repair places to have a variety of bellows pins?

[Dave Garland]

Good day, An accordion I recently acquired is missing some of its
bellows pins. So far as I can tell, replacing (or losing) bellows
pins doesn't seem to be very common. Do all manufacturers make
their bellows pins differently? (I realise that any given accordion
can have a multitude of pin sizes.) I couldn't really find any
"universal" or variety packs of bellows pins online to buy. Is it
common for accordion repair places to have a variety of bellows
pins?

They're not "standardized", and indeed if they're pulled and replaced
a number of times, the hole may wear bigger and then require a fatter
pin. If you google on <accordion bellows pins> you should find a
number of places that will sell you an assortment. And yes, one would
expect a repair place to have a variety of pins available.

[ciao_accordion]

hi Spence,

just find the nearest ACCORDION CLUB to you and attend a meeting or 2

there are always a few do-it-themselfers around, or
a repair specialist, and they will hook you up
with a few pins

prolly best to do a fresh bellows gasket too

what part of the Earth are you located?

ciao

Ventura

Wash DC.

[ike milligan]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Good day,
An accordion I recently acquired is missing some of its bellows pins. So far as I can tell, replacing (or losing) bellows pins doesn't seem to be very common. Do all manufacturers make their bellows pins differently? (I realise that any given accordion can have a multitude of pin sizes.) I couldn't really find any "universal" or variety packs of bellows pins online to buy. Is it common for accordion repair places to have a variety of bellows pins?

If the holes are not too worn, you need a pin the exact diameter of the
other pins. I save pins from old accordions, and use that collection to
match up missing pins. If a pin is the right size, but a little loose,
sometimes a new bellows gasket will put pressure enough to make it stay.
Or dip the pin in Weldwood [R] contact cement.

If the holes are worn, you don't just go in an force a larger pin. What
I occasionally do is replace the bellows frame gaskets, plug and ream
the holes the next size up, then use a larger set of pins.

The pins have to be the right length, sometimes a long pin will hit the
largest reed in the low treble, or might go all the way through the
bellows frame when it isn't supposed to, or be too short, for example
where the bass switch is on the front, the casing might be thicker and
require a longer pin.