Hammond T-500 Problems

[mason357]

I have a Hammond T-500 first thing when I play at low volume after a while it starts getting distorted. All I have to do to get it back normal is to quickly up the volume and it clears up then go back to low volume and that's only temporary before it does it again. This doesn't happen when I play at a louder volume.

The other problem is after the organ has been on for about 5min the sound is like the tone generator is speeding up and slowing down. The sound is wavy like your constantly using a pitch bend effect.

[mason357]

Is there anyone?

[einstein magoo]

Dont know about your volume problem but you may need to replace the motor run capacitor

[Brendon Wright]

Hi Mason!
Yeah, I reckon that sounds like a run motor capacitor problem. That's a fairly urgent thing to fix.
Here's one of the places that sells em:
https://ssl.tonewheelgeneral.com/bui...p?item_no=RCAP


The T500 is well over 40 years old now, the electrolytic caps right throughout have dried out a fair bit and lost their original values, the power supply cans will be the first thing after the run motor capacitor to fix and then look at the stuff on the amp board, which is what your swell pedal will be affecting. It could be cracked connections or dried out capacitors.

Other than that, look for frayed wires attached to the power amp: pumping up the signal can sometimes enable the signal to leap across a tenuous connection. It works for a while then sets back into indifference!