New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........

[Blind Lemon]

....one is a 1959 and one is a 1960 as best I can tell. Neither one has been abused and the cabinets are in great shape. Both were give to me.
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Got some problems with them I hoping you'll can help with, I already scratch build guitar amps so I have that end of it pretty well covered. I have soaked both of them pretty well with Hammond oil.</p>

The 59 spins up great and plays sometimes, seems that the run motor (synchronous motor?) doesn't always "catch" and run the tone gereator. But when it does it sounds great.</p>

The 60 (my birth year) is still a little tite. The start motor will spin up, but not to quite the RPM that that 59 does. As soon as I let off the start switch and turn it on, the run motor almost acts like a magnetic break. The run motor is not locked up.</p>

I had originally just taken these for the amps but I just couldn't bring myself to strip them out. I'm giving the 59 to a buddy of mine that plays in a band, guitar and keys. And I'm keeping the 60 and want to learn how to play.</p>

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BL
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[redoctoberff]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Make sure you're getting the start procedure right--you should be holding both switches up together for about four seconds before releasing the start switch. This is important because if I remember correctly the start motor actually turns the shaft faster than the desired speed to ensure that the run motor engages at sufficiently high speed, though the run motor speed stays constant. </p>

Congrats on the M3s, they are excellent instruments. Good to hear you're keeping them as they are, especially since they have nice cabinets. I'd love to see some photos if you have them.
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[bossbandbob]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Hi BL</p>

Welcome to the forum. I too have a '59 M3. Red is correct about the startup procedure but I have found that I usually have to hold the buttons up 8 seconds or so before mine will "catch."</p>

Bob
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[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



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Thanks for the reply redoctoberff.
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Then I was starting them wrong....I would start the starter motor first and let it come to speed then flip the other switch up.</p>

If I use the correct method on the 60 it will not turn the tone gen and run motor. If I just turn the start motor on it will turn both.</p>

The 59 went to my buddies this afternoon. I'll figure out how to post some pics of the one I kept.
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[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........

Hey BandB you caught me while I was posting..............[:O]

[JJMcS]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........

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Thanks for the reply redoctoberff.
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Then I was starting them wrong....I would start the starter motor first and let it come to speed then flip the other switch up.</P>


If I use the correct method on the 60 it will not turn the tone gen and run motor. If I just turn the start motor on it will turn both.</P>


The 59 went to my buddies this afternoon. I'll figure out how to post some pics of the one I kept.
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I may be misinterpreting what you wrote, but I think you might still be not doing the start procedure correctly.</P>


Press and hold the start switch for about 8 seconds. You should hear the generator start spinning, gain in speedand then level off. Turn the run switch on while still holding the start switch. Hold the start switch for about another 4 seconds. You will hear the generator slow down a little. Let the start switch go. The run motor and generator etc. should continue to spin. You might check to make sure the start motor is disengaging when you let go of the switch. If it isn't, it is possible it is putting enough drag on the run motor to cause it to not be able to maintain speed and it will coast to a stop.</P>


Good Luck.</P>
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[bossbandbob]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Sorry if my post was confusing but JJ's post is the correct procedure!</p>

BBB</p>

[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Ok, got it.</p>

When I do this to the 60 as soon as I hit the run switch, with the start motor running, it stops the start motor. With both switches of the run motor turns pretty freely. With the runswitch on it feels like there is and electric brake on the run motor. I have the curved cover off so its excessable. </p>

BL
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[TheAdmiral]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Would you kindly send in the information on your M3's for my study on them? Thanks. Here is the thread: </p>

Need serial info, form, amp AO-29-?? number, etc.
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[img]/forums/thread/72991.aspx[/img]http://organforum.com/forums/thread/72991.aspx</p>


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[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



There you go Admiral................................its up.</p>

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[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........

No help for the wicked?

[johnny b3]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



Turn on the run switch by itself. Do the tubes light up? If so, that rules out the switch. Could be a bad connection at the terminal strip in front of the run motor/scanner. </p>

Also, to continue where JJ started - check the start motor's pinion gear. look at the generator's right side, you'll see the start motor and its drive shaft w/gear. Get someone to hit the start switch momentarily and see if the start motor gear is properly engaging and disengaging from the generator. It is spring loaded and should pop in and out just like a starter motor in a car. If it is not disengaging maybe it could be dragging the run motor to a stop. Not sure if it would provide a necessary load to accomplish that but its worth checking. You can also use a screw driver to poke the gear and try to move it in and out.
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[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



The start motor works fine, the run motor acts like a magnetic brake. It turns freely with no power to it ....turn power on to it and it doesn't want to turn. And all the filiments in the tubes are lit.</p>

BL
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[Dave S.]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........

Sounds like it's not getting enough speed at startup. It's the nature of the Hammond run motor to act "sticky" when it's got power on it, but below operating rpm and/or stalled. Have you tried lifting the generator and observing the tonewheels with the start motor engaged? Sometimes a set or two of tonewheels will be stuck, and create enough drag thru their clutch mechanisms to bog down the run motor. Thiswas the shape my '49 model M was in when I got it. I gave the offending wheels a very sparing spritz of WD-40 to their bearings just to loosen them up, and then an extradose of Hammond oil in the usual way thru the funnels and let it sit for about 48 hours. If you do lift the generator, be careful not to stress any of the wiring harnesses, and use caution up inside the generator, as most components in there are fragile and a real nightmare to replace.

[Blind Lemon]

Re: New Guy Here........Hi All......Got 2 M3s...........



I had 2 until last Sunday. The one I gave away worked. The start motor on this one seems to be tuning as fast as the other one. This one will spool up and then like hit an overdrive gear, thats when I turn the run motor on. It boggs the start motor down to nothing in about 3to4 sec.</p>

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BL
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