Dreaded foam.....Is it too late?

[Grasshopper]

Hello all you experts!!,

Been awhile but I have another question for you all.

I have a Hammond A-143 I acquired.
It is a 1965 model and I am pretty sure it is a foam model.

I am missing ALOT of tones on most of the keys and on both manuals.
The suggested "hit the key several times rather firm" had no affect.
I tried a couple busbar adjustments and it appears to have made ZERO difference.

I have never attempted a foam job so I am looking for advice from fellow players that have.

Is it too late?
Would I be wasting my time and money by having the foam removed at this point with soooooo many missing tones?

Thank you in advance for all your help and advice, you guys are the best!!!

The Grasshopper

[Jaim]

Before you assume its the foam, do the missing tone check as per http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/MissingTones
Tones missing due to foam are random per key and DB. That is you may be missing tone xx on one key, but have it on another.

The environment the organ was kept in is probably the biggest factor. Hot & humid - extremely bad.

Jim

[Grasshopper]

Gone through that list......pretty sure is the foam.
The tones missing are random per key and sometimes interminit.

If it is the foam.....Is it too late?

[Jaim]

May be simple as a buss bar clean and lube. Don't write the manuals off until they are evaluated. Could be a simple fix or a rats nest. Where are you located?

Jim

[geoelectro]

Usually if it's intermittent then it's contacts and not broken wires due to foam. A-100's used round brass busbars in a lot of cases. Those tend to tarnish and cause very bad contact keying. They can be removed, cleaned and treated, and re-installed without to much disassembly. If it's the busbars the improvement will be monumental. The round busbars are considered bad because of the tarnish issue. However, due to their shape, very little physical wear takes place meaning they may outlast other types in the long run.

Geo

[Jaim]

I had a 1964 A143 which had foam in one manual and felt in the other with flat bussbars.
Jim

[enor]

"Intermittent" is good news - it means that the wires aren't completely broken off. Probably just dirty/oxidized busbars.

[Grasshopper]

Does it require raising the manuals for side access or complete manual removal?

thanks gang!

The Grasshopper

[enor]

Should be possible to do the job with the organ on end (at least you can do it on a "standard" A-100). But, why not take them out and de-foam them while you're at it?

[Grasshopper]

Should be possible to do the job with the organ on end (at least you can do it on a "standard" A-100). But, why not take them out and de-foam them while you're at it?

Very good point!

[Grasshopper]

All righty then.....This is a call out to anybody & everybody who have pulled the manuals, and or performed either a busbar cleaning or foam job.
ANY HINTS? CLUES? PIECES OF WISDOM I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

This will be the first time I have removed the manuals, cleaned the busbars, and or removed the dreaded foam. VERY EXCITED!!

The Grasshopper

[gtc]

Member Bobman's video on busbars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6CKRzkhTs

[enor]

And one on foam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOKazQqr_6w&t=17s

[300lbLoveAffair]

The A143 at my rehearsal space, had foam and has the round bus bars.
Small list of rookie mistakes along the way that slowed down my process.......

1. Don't get mixed up and skip a terminal when soldering the manual harness back to twg.
use paper clips in the blanks, various methods.
2. When you solder the scanner harness back to the vibrato line, don't reverse them, it can happen. Then you embarrass yourself with posting questions about self inflicted dilemma.
3. Lube the busbars. I did not after first cleaning with NeverDull and had to remove manuals and lube
about 8 months later.


I found a dental pick and a shopvac useful getting the foam in mine. The overall jobs are not bad. Get the service manual, a padded bench to place manuals upside down on for foam, then turn on end for busbars. Make sure presets stay on cancel.

Good Luck
Have Fun, my A143 is quite wonderful.

McKenzie

[Jaim]

My 2 cents:
Bussbars
1. stand manuals on end.
2. tape down cancel key. Don't want to latch a preset by accident.
3. Pull and clean 1 at a time. I use never dull, alcohol wipe and buss lube. Wear latex gloves.

Foam.
I remove the bussbar shifter to make it easier to get the cover off. If the foam is into the wiring loom - removing the cover has the potential to do the most damage. It has been my experience that chilling the foam makes it less gooey.

If you don't have a good quality variable temp soldering iron/station, invest in one. I love my hakko.

Jim