jbAutoInc.addActionListener(new ActionListener() { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) { if(ticking) { t.stop(); ticking = false; } else{ t.restart(); ticking = true; } } } ); t = new javax.swing.Timer(200, new ActionListener() { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) { btnNumber++; System.out.println("Timer start: btnNumber now equals: "+btnNumber); updateDisplay(); } } );