Harmonium Repair and Setup: Coupler Model (Part 1 of 2)

Part 1 of 2: This is me fixing and setting up a Sur Taal brand harmonium.
Please don't attempt working on a harmonium based on things seen in this video.

Things not shown in these videos:

1. Key's hinge pins and guide pins cleaned of glue particles and lubed with paste wax. Re-enforced bottom of key where the hinge-pin enters, with superglue to harden the wood there, for better performance and prevent future damage. Video mentioned dropping the thin superglue from the top, but I chose to use a plastic toothpick and only apply it to the bottom area and bottom portion of hole.

2. Metal trim polished with metal polish, except aluminum corner trim (cleaned).

3. Aluminum trim on casing: cleaned of tape, added more screws, tape was replaced since the trim was mis-shapen and could get caught on something and get damaged.

4. Latches for case fixed so they close completely

5. Case is missing one white plastic foot on back/bottom side. I tried to find a replacement but Home Depot doesn't have them.

6. Area where your hand holds the bellows had a worn area of paint/wood. I applied 2 coats of clear nail polish over it to prevent future damage to the wood there as a temporary fix versus re-finishing. If it had been deep, like a chip, I would have sprinkled sawdust of varying grades and dropped thin superglue to harden it. And then sanded it.

7. Entire instrument was wiped down with a mild cleaner and polish.

8. The drones notes are still out of tune, I wasn't going to attempt tuning
them after that one broke during the cleaning process. The g# drone is pretty close.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• harmonium
• repair
• bina
• bhajan
• kirtan
• setup
• reed
• organ
• squeezebox
• fix
• stuck

[theguitaryears]

I'd guess the problem lies with the metal tabs that pop out to keep it raised.  Both the kind in the video and the flip-out/over portables have these tabs. I haven't done that kind of repair, but you'll need to either remove the entire tab mechanism (IF POSSIBLE) or open up the instrument to be able to get to the rear to see if the spring is broken, missing or loose. FIRST check to see if the tab is just stuck on a metal burr or something.

[highrollerzzz]

I've got a question, are the keys glued to the surface underneath them or I just pop them out by force?

[ladyfaealicia]

do plastic toothpicks hold up better???

[SatsangNuggets]

@Vaheguroo Can't say for sure w/o looking at it, but the first things I'd check are 1) See if there's a piece of sawdust or debris caught in the reed and then, 2) Look at the reed on each side to see if it's too close to the side. You may need to remove a reed to hold it against a light. If the reed is too close to one side, many times it can be nudged over a little by gently pushing with a tiny screwdriver or small knife blade. Easier done with low notes, very high reeds can break.

[Vaheguroo]

hey! great video very informative.... my harmonium has 3 keys that rettle when they are played, sounds like they vibrating against something metalic... do u know how to fix this???

[thekingraj2]

EXCELLENT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!

-Raj

[md88skater]

my portable harmonium wont stay up on one side. how do i fix this?