Ah Ignorance is bliss. I just bought my first button acordion (it was very cheap and from the 1800s). Most the the flappers were sticking and not seating correctly. I couldnt see a way of getting the fulcrum out so i just squirted some 3in1 oil down there and wiggled them about a bit. Seems to work, but my main concern is that the oil might go sticky with time and make things worse. I also took a pair of pliers to the connecting rods and bent them back into shape so that the flappers sealed. All seems fine so far.. but maybe i'll be a bit more careful next time.