Anybody ever have to fix a broken-off key bushing tab on a Continental or Jaguar?

[SamSteinig]

I did! And boy was it tricky, involving some metalwork, a nibbling tool, a jigsaw, JB Weld and Home Depot, haha. Here are some pics:

[Alenhoff]

That's an impressive job! Nicely done!

I did the same repair (less elegantly, however) on a Gibson G101 combo organ. I bought a cotter pin with legs similar in width to the key stop. I cut the legs off and used a vice and a hammer to bend one of the legs into an L-shape. Used JB Weld to glue it to the stub of the keystop, and pushed a rubber bushing onto the end. It has worked perfectly for 7 years.

But yours looks prettier -- and more original. Thanks for sharing.

Alan

[SamSteinig]

Thanks Alan!

Sorry about the sideways pics.

I really don't have any experience with metal fabrication, but I felt I could tackle this. I thought about it incessantly for about a week and then jumped in. I was kind of worried about only the JB Weld holding it, so (if you can tell from the pics) I drilled a hole through both the new piece and the tab it was sistered to, so the JB Weld could go through them, plus I stuck a stiff wire in the hole to secure it even more. After all was set, I cut and filed it all before reassembling the keys. I'm hoping it'll last forever :)

[Tim_at_Jonas]

Nice work.

That keybed shares several features with the one that is used in the Hohner Clavinets.

[Alenhoff]

I was kind of worried about only the JB Weld holding it, so (if you can tell from the pics) I drilled a hole through both the new piece and the tab it was sistered to, so the JB Weld could go through them, plus I stuck a stiff wire in the hole to secure it even more. After all was set, I cut and filed it all before reassembling the keys. I'm hoping it'll last forever :)

I was concerned about the strength of the bond, too. I actually called the JB Weld company for some tips on how to best use it. (Clean the pieces thoroughly; scratch them up with some coarse sandpaper and mix the steel and hardener super-well.) They recommended using acetone to clean the parts. But that can melt plastics, and I didn't want it anywhere near any keys. So, they suggested using Dawn dishwashing detergent, which is a good degreaser. So far, so good!

Alan

[SamSteinig]

Yep. I believe it's called a Pratt-Read (lots of old synths and combo organs used that keybed). I know that the rubber bushings fit a lot of different organs and synths

- - - Updated - - -

I was concerned about the strength of the bond, too. I actually called the JB Weld company for some tips on how to best use it. (Clean the pieces thoroughly; scratch them up with some coarse sandpaper and mix the steel and hardener super-well.) They recommended using acetone to clean the parts. But that can melt plastics, and I didn't want it anywhere near any keys. So, they suggested using Dawn dishwashing detergent, which is a good degreaser. So far, so good!

Alan

I filed the existing tab completely (with a metal file) before using the JB Weld, and I think drilling the hole through both pieces and inserting the stiff wire made it extra strong. I don't anticipate it failing (fingers crossed)

[KC9UDX]

JB Weld has been keeping the coolant inside the cylinder head of my Jeep for a decade.

[SamSteinig]

JB Weld has been keeping the coolant inside the cylinder head of my Jeep for a decade.

Ha! The uses are infinite.