Hammond T-202 Broken Tonewheel Generator

[MrJangles]

http://<a href="https://www.youtube....yTTn0nPVKA</a>

Hi everyone I'm new to this forum. I recently got a Hammond T-202 that's been unused for years as far as I can tell. There haven't been any awful problems with it apart from the tonewheel generator (which is annoyingly quite important). When the motor turns on it makes a really loud grinding whirring noise (?) it's definitely not caused by the motor or the capacitor and I'm not sure what the issue is. I oiled it yesterday with Hammond Oil so I hope that could alleviate the issue. Please feel free to let me know if you have any ideas or solutions. Thanks!

There's a youtube video of my tonewheel generator, just click the link above ^

[tpappano]

Try this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cyTTn0nPVKA

[handyczech]

The key statement is "unused for years". Translation is "not oiled for years". Oiling it yesterday will not yield results. It will need to be oiled liberally several times, possibly thinning the oil with Ronson lighter fluid. Better would be applying oil directly to the driest bearings, but patience may work as well. The run capacitor needs to be changed because it will fail as certainly as the sun rising tomorrow. The oil inside will leak or spew out.

As we all know, the Hammond generator is a mass of precision bearings and gears lubricated by hundreds of cotton thread wicks resting in the trough at the top of the generator fed by the cups into which you had placed the oil. Gravity and capillary action. Be patient.

[Papus]

1. Before you do ANYTHING, replace the motor run capacitor. It is filled with carcinogenic PCB's and is prone to exploding.

2. Reiterating what others have said: PATIENCE. It will take days, if not weeks for the Hammond oil to work its way through the TWG.

[Organfella]

Hello and welcome! You have a nice organ there - oil it liberally and be patient, as others have commented. Once the magic oil has done its thing you will not look back and regret your patience!
Nico

[bnelson218]

I agree with everyone; the caveat being that you're undoubtedly going to have to tilt the generator up and deliver oil directly to as many bearings and bushing joints as you can reach. A Que tip dipped in Hammond oil will work, although you might want to find better quality swabs (possibly at a hobby shop) that won't leave stray cotton hairs. Let the TG set for a week and start it up again, and with it again tilted up you can zero in on any still-squealing bearings or bushings and again dab on the oil. DO NOT USE WD-40! As has been stated, this may take a while, so patience is important. After it's up and running oiling once a year is sufficient. Don't be like one of my elderly customers that thought it weekly oiling was required. What a mess that was. :) Best of luck!