Getting wonderbar pushbuttons off

[Stewart A.]

I'm having trouble getting the chrome push buttons off my Wonderbar. Has anyone had this problem before. The person taking these off is reluctant to try in fear of damaging them. He tells me the last one he serviced broke two rods that attach to the buttons the rod is only made from cast. Besides a bit of spray overnight any suggestions would be great. Stewy

[Jack H.]

Re: Getting wonderbar pushbuttons off

Good! That means the push buttons are correctly installed.

Basically, the push rods have a slightly 'arrow' shaped tip with serrations on the side. The push buttons are pot metal with slots that narrow causing the shaft to 'bite' into the push button's ID and hold the button in place.

Remember, you set the radio's pre-sets by pulling the button out, tuning onto the selected station and then pushing the button in to 'lock' that position on the dial. Therefore, the button has to STAY on the shaft under both extension and compression movements.

So, the design was intended for a one-shot installation of the button onto the shaft. The buttons weren't intended to be removed and re-used. And, when new, replacement buttons were plentiful.

But, now what you have to do is extend the shaft then carefully + persistently wiggle and pull on the button until you eventually 'break through' the internal pot metal the shaft has bitten into in order to free the button.

The odds that once the button is off, it'll re-install on a given shaft and stay there by itself are slim. What many do to reinstall original buttons after they've been re-chromed, is squirt a SMALL amount of RTV (silicone bathtub caulk) into the button's shaft slot, install the button firmly then let the RTV setup over night....

Reproduction buttons have set screws that 'can' be visually detected in the interior judges are savvy and skilled with their flashlights/inspectors mirrors!

[Stewart A.]

Re: Getting wonderbar pushbuttons off

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Thanks very much Jack !!!! I appreciate your answer to my Question. I will give it ago and cross my fingers that I don't break anything. [/FONT]