M3

[jazzman37]

just purchased a M3 or rescued from a goodwill store. brought it home unbolted the tone generator plug it in hit the start switch heard the tone gen start to turn then stopped. what do I start with first ? oil ? is there a way to manually turn it ? thank you

[mwd]

I would order some Hammond oil because it will now be part of your life. My M3 did the same thing and was a combo of 2 things. Sitting for a long time it needed oil and the cord was shorting out. New cord and oiled the proper points and now it spins nicely.

[tmccann]

Definitely oil first, but the right kind is important. You can get Hammond oil from Tone Wheel General, among other places. Do not use 3-1 or anything else. For a lot of organs all that is necessary to get them to move is putting in some Hammond oil and wait for a week or so.

This may be obvious, but make sure you understand the startup on the M3. The run switch must be off first. The start switch is momentary and you must hold it until the generator gets up to speed (5-10 seconds) Once it is up to speed, then you turn on the run switch while holding the start switch. After a few seconds you let go of the start switch.

If you hold the start switch, are you saying the generator turns over for a while and then stops, or does it really only engage the starter motor and then bind up?

There is a flywheel of sorts on the left side of the generator. You should be able to turn that by hand and the generator and run motor should rotate. Do not force it or you could break something. It should move easily. If it doesn't then the generator and/or start motor are gummed up and will need Hammond oil and some time.

You can search this forum for shortcuts to freeing a generator. The safest is probably to add oil and let it sit, but others here recommend Naphtha (lighter fluid) flush, etc.

The last one I freed up was an A102. I added the oil and waited for a few days. Then I tried to move the flywheel a little every day until it would rotate. Then I tried the starter motor and the generator would spin but not up to speed. Turns out the run motor was really gummed up. I sprayed CRC contact cleaner (Naphtha-based) on the shaft and worked it back and forth until it turned easily, then threw some Hammond oil directly on the shaft. Then I found I had a bad run switch...after replacing that all was good.

Once the generator starts working, do not run it for long if it is screeching. The screeching sound means some bearings aren't getting oil and you can damage them. The cure for that is usually Hammond oil and waiting.

And be careful poking around the motors and the generator. There are fine cotton threads that are capillaries for the oiling. They are hard to see and easy to break.

Last advice is to replace the power cord and add a fuse. The original power cords are fire hazards and the fuse can save your organ and maybe your house.

[jazzman37]

I'm still working the drive shaft crank wheel. It is getting looser.