release button

 Yep — this is a common ETA-2836/2824 family symptom. The part that’s too far back is the setting (set) lever / release button assembly, and it’s held to the mainplate by a small setting-lever screw. Loosening that screw just enough to reposition the lever (and then retightening) is the usual fix — no major part replacement needed in most cases. watchuseek.com+1The other problem...detent button stuck too deep in the plate is also fairly easy to spot...the set lever will be sitting too far away from the plate and probably out of mesh with the 'double corrector' lever.

The fix is to loosen the screw/s holding the parts in place and move them back to their proper position.

Below is a short, safe procedure you can follow (best with a loupe and watchmaker screwdrivers):

1. Expose the area

   • Remove the caseback, rotor and automatic winding bridge (if present) so you can see the setting-lever area near the stem/sliding pinion. On some watches you may need to remove the hands/dial and date disks if the lever is pushed fully out of place. Forum reports and walkthroughs show this is usually required when the lever is behind the sliding pinion. Cousins Material House Ltd+1

2. Identify the screw to loosen

   • Look for the small screw that secures the setting lever (often called the “setting-lever screw” or “setting-lever bolt”) close to the winding stem and sliding pinion. Parts lists for ETA 2824/2836 movements show a dedicated screw for the setting lever (many parts vendors sell this tiny screw separately). That is the screw you will loosen — do not loosen bridges unrelated to the keyless works. Gavan Tools+1

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvM7NHP9Z64

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3. How much to loosen / how to move the lever

   • Back the screw only a fraction of a turn — just enough so the setting lever can slide. With the crown in the hand-setting position you can gently nudge the lever back toward the plate so the detent (release) button sits at the correct height and the set lever engages the double-corrector operating lever. Use a fine (0.8–1.2 mm) screwdriver or pegwood — many technicians mention a 0.8–1.0 mm blade or a 1.2 mm driver to operate the detent for testing. Then re-tighten the screw while holding the lever in the correct place. watchuseek.com

4. Test before reassembly

   • Test by inserting/reinserting the stem and trying the crown positions (winding / date / hand-setting) to confirm the set lever and double corrector mesh correctly and the detent button is at the proper height. If the stem still won’t insert, re-check alignment — sometimes removing the dial/day wheels gives better access to set the lever back into position. Watch Repair Talk

5. Cautions

   • Don’t remove the screw completely unless you know what you’re doing — the setting lever and tiny springs can fly out.

   • Use correct small, well-fitting screwdrivers to avoid damaging the screw heads.

   • If the lever is bent, the screw head is damaged, or you’re unsure, have a watchmaker do the repair — the parts are tiny and the winding/crown assembly can be easily damaged. Gavan Tools+1

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Great — here are some annotated images plus reference info, and a bit more detail to help you spot the screw and parts.

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🔍 Key diagrams & references

• The exploded diagram (top right in the carousel) shows the setting lever / tirette assembly and where its retaining screw sits.

• The images of “setting lever screw / parts” (bottom images) show actual screws used in ETA 2824/2836 movements.

• In the ETA parts list / exploded view from Boley, the “Screw for setting lever jumper” / “Screw for setting lever jumber” (Ebauche part 5445, 952.101) is listed as the screw that holds the setting lever / jumper / small plate in place. boley.de+1

• In the ETA-2836-2 technical sheet, “Vis de plaque de maintien du … Pos. 46” is the screw for the maintaining (holding) plate — this likely refers to the small plate securing the setting lever / jumper. Scribd

From the parts list and exploded views:

• The setting lever assembly is Ebauche part 443/1 51.080.06 in ETA’s naming. Cousins Material House Ltd

• The screw that holds the setting lever / setting lever jumper (small plate) is part 5445 / 952.101 in many references. Eternal Tools+3boley.de+3Cousins Material House Ltd+3

So, that is the screw you’ll want to loosen just enough to allow slight movement of the setting lever (inwards) so that the detent button height corrects, then retighten it.

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🛠 More detailed tool & method tips (with reference to images)

Here are a few tips using those images + your earlier approach:

• Use a tiny, well-fitting flat or Phillips watch screwdriver (0.8 mm to 1.2 mm) — the screw head is very small.

• Under magnification, locate the setting lever (often a long, slightly curved lever adjacent to or under the sliding pinion / winding stem area). The retaining screw will be just beside or overlapping part of it. The exploded diagram helps you see approximate placement relative to the wheel train and pinion.

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  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy4anc3k97M&t=1906s
  
  

• Loosen the screw just a fraction of a turn, enough so you can nudge the lever inward (toward the movement plate).

• Hold the lever in place as you gently tighten the screw — ensure it doesn't shift.

• After tightening, test stem insertion and operation (winding, setting, date) to confirm the lever engages correctly.