Frustrating organ issues(maybe you guys can help)

poorbassist15 · #1 02-15-2011, 08:35 PM

Hello everyone,

Well, my Hammond is acting up again. But this time, I have no clue what it is. Number one, it's a half step out of tune, it used to be sharp, now it's flat. The tone Generator is behaving well, it's well oiled, and isn't making noise. So I think this may be the motor. Number two, it's making a very weird, almost microphonic tube sound. The tubes all work fine in other amps, and I've replaced every 12AX7 I can find in the thing. Number three, the bass pedals are making almost no sound. They work, but they have a very low output.

Uhh, Help?

PolkaHero · #2 02-15-2011, 09:12 PM

Try posting that in this forum!

http://www.organforum.com/forums/for...Hammond-Organs

poorbassist15 · #3 02-15-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolkaHero

Try posting that in this forum!

http://www.organforum.com/forums/for...Hammond-Organs

I singed up a while ago, but I've never posted anything. I'll try though.

Dirk Diggler · #4 02-16-2011, 09:35 AM

Sounds like you might have a voltage issue. Or perhaps just a tube issue.

And I hate to say it, but you might consider and organ transplant!

Sorry about that.
Good luck,
Dirk

cavemusic · #5 02-16-2011, 12:16 PM

What model? Out of tune is likely a problem with the motor or the voltage supplying the motor. There is a knowledgeable bunch of people on the yahoo group:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/hammond_zone/

poorbassist15 · #6 02-16-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavemusic

What model? Out of tune is likely a problem with the motor or the voltage supplying the motor. There is a knowledgeable bunch of people on the yahoo group:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/hammond_zone/

It's an L-102. I'll ask there as well.

poorbassist15 · #7 02-16-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Sounds like you might have a voltage issue. Or perhaps just a tube issue.

And I hate to say it, but you might consider and organ transplant!

Sorry about that.
Good luck,
Dirk

I would hate having to give this thing up because it's got a few problems.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #8 02-16-2011, 03:27 PM

Is the motor running really hot?

Smokin' Toaster · #9 02-16-2011, 03:29 PM

I've got an L-102 that plays 1-1/2 steps flat. I bought a motor on Ebay but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. I got the organ free. I was riding in a rural area and listening to one of those "garage sale of the air" type shows and a lady called in and said she had an organ that didn't work for free if someone would haul it away. I called her and when she said it was a Hammond I turned around and went and picked it up. worked the motor and tone wheel a bit and up it came... 1-1/2 steps flat. Still a good deal, and definitely worth the money!

poorbassist15 · #10 02-16-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Is the motor running really hot?

It's a little warm, but not hot.

poorbassist15 · #11 02-16-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

I've got an L-102 that plays 1-1/2 steps flat. I bought a motor on Ebay but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. I got the organ free. I was riding in a rural area and listening to one of those "garage sale of the air" type shows and a lady called in and said she had an organ that didn't work for free if someone would haul it away. I called her and when she said it was a Hammond I turned around and went and picked it up. worked the motor and tone wheel a bit and up it came... 1-1/2 steps flat. Still a good deal, and definitely worth the money!

I keep waiting for that to happen on our AM trading post here in Danville, only I hope it's a console, like a D,C,B, or H.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #12 02-16-2011, 03:58 PM

The organ has a synchronous (in sync with the line frequency) AC motor. Yours should be a 120V 60 Hz motor--otherwise it won't run at the proper speed.

Sometimes a synchronous motor will develop a lot of internal friction (from dirt, goo, failing bearings, etc.) and run slow, but it'll get quite hot to the touch at the same time.

You can download a service manual at http://rapidshare.com/files/24704638...viceManual.pdf. It's a pretty big file, though.

poorbassist15 · #13 02-16-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

The organ has a synchronous (in sync with the line frequency) AC motor. Yours should be a 120V 60 Hz motor--otherwise it won't run at the proper speed.

Sometimes a synchronous motor will develop a lot of internal friction (from dirt, goo, failing bearings, etc.) and run slow, but it'll get quite hot to the touch at the same time.

You can download a service manual at http://rapidshare.com/files/24704638...viceManual.pdf. It's a pretty big file, though.

This file is nothing size-wise to the Hauptwerk expansion pack I downloaded. Good God, it took close to an hour to finish.

ShredderMaximus · #14 02-16-2011, 04:18 PM

Heh heh, have you tried beating your organ?

poorbassist15 · #15 02-16-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

Heh heh, have you tried beating your organ?

Actually...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVkR8MlZqR4

ShredderMaximus · #16 02-16-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorbassist15

Actually...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVkR8MlZqR4

Emerson is the definitely king of beating his organ, beating with 2 hands, standing on his organ in cowboy boots, rolling around on the ground with his organ, he is a truly talented organ beater!

poorbassist15 · #17 02-16-2011, 07:08 PM

I've posted a thread like this on every organ forum I can find, and so far this is the only thread that has gotten responses.

poorbassist15 · #18 02-17-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

I've got an L-102 that plays 1-1/2 steps flat. I bought a motor on Ebay but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. I got the organ free. I was riding in a rural area and listening to one of those "garage sale of the air" type shows and a lady called in and said she had an organ that didn't work for free if someone would haul it away. I called her and when she said it was a Hammond I turned around and went and picked it up. worked the motor and tone wheel a bit and up it came... 1-1/2 steps flat. Still a good deal, and definitely worth the money!

According to the guys at The Organ Forum, a good solution to both our problems is the run motor capacitor.

http://www.tonewheelgeneral.com/buil...at=Accessories

It's in the middle of the page.

bound'n'blocked · #19 02-18-2011, 10:49 AM

well, an old Chinese proverb says: "its better to have lobster on your piano than crabs on your organ!"

Bob Lee (QSC) · #20 02-18-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorbassist15

According to the guys at The Organ Forum, a good solution to both our problems is the run motor capacitor.

http://www.tonewheelgeneral.com/buil...at=Accessories

It's in the middle of the page.

After looking at the schematics, I was just about to suggest the same thing.

I hope you can get them from Hammond. If not, Goff Professional in Newington, Connecticut, should be able to provide you.