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Hello All.<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>I just inherited a Hammond H182 which was setting idle for probably 5 years. The tone generator is stuck, and I want to know the best and easiest way to get it going again. Any suggestions? Also, how do you get in there under all those nasty wires to get to the tone wheels? I know that I can put the oil through the cups, but I was told that this would take forever before the oil would work its way through the whole mechanism. </div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Thanks for any direction, folks!</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Craig</div>
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
This organ has the high torque synchronous motor that can spin up a very stuck generator regardless. If the generator is truly stuck, and the motor is operating at normal torque, the coupling spring would slip and you could see it. Can you turn the shaft by hand?</p>
There is no quick way to free up a stuck generator without going into it deeply. Just adding oil and turning by hand frequently is the normal and best way. It will take awhile but eventually, it will free up and spin. Your problem will likely be when it does finally spin up, there will be squealing in the generator with some of the wheels. Some may not spin at all as each wheel pair have their own clutch.</p>
I was wondering if the motor was running at full torque. Another common problem is the run capacitor going bad causing the motor to lose torque. You could remove the coupling spring on the motor shaft and run it. The motor should spin up instantly if the run cap is good.You should be able to grab the running shaft by hand and find it hard to stop it. (CAREFULLY of course).</p>
George
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
George,<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Thanks for your reply. I can tell you that when I fire it up, the motor shaft spins immediately, but the shaft going into the tone generator only spins so far and then "kicks back" as if it were on a spring. It continues to do this repeatedly as the motor can only force the shaft so many revolutions before it is forced backwards the other direction. Does this mean that the generator is truly frozen. I disconnected the spring and tried it by hand, but the same thing happens - I can only turn it so far before it just kicks back and turns the other way. If I oil it, how long will it take before the whole thing finally cooperates?</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Craig</div>Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Are you spinning the flywheel next to the vibrato scanner? It is normal for it to bounce back a bit, but if it keeps going in the other direction, theres a problem. As far as how long it takes, we should really start keeping track of all the people who come here with stuck tone generators. In can be as short as a week, or as long as a month.Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
I'm not sure where the flywheel and vibrato scanner are. What do they look like? Sorry, I'm still really new when it comes to looking on the inside of a hammond to troubleshoot problems. It's a learning process.<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>PS. I see you are from North Chile. The country?? ¿Hablas Español? </div>Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Scanner looks like this:</P>
http://theaterorgans.com/hammond/ken...us%20motor.JPG</P>
Should be a big wheel next to it. </P>
And no, I am not from Chile, I live in Chili, pronounced CHYE LYE (as in eye), in upstate New York. </P>Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Disregard the flywheel info, you don't have that type.</p>
Sounds like a stuck generator. Keep oiling it and keep trying to turn it either by hand or briefly with the motor. It will free up, but when is anybody's guess. If you are persistent, you should be able to get it turning in a couple of days. However, if you have time, doing this slowly allows more oil to get to where it's going and you will have less squealing once it starts.</p>
You may have to raise the generator to attend to some squealing or not turning wheels. It can be done without removing any wires. Loosen all cable harnesses that affect moving the generator. Remove the lock down bolts on each corner. Raise it up as far as you can from the rear. Prop it up there with something. Using a can od WD-40 with the plastic tube, you can spray directly on the bearings of bad wheels. I usually do this while it's running and aim at the noisy or not turning wheels until they they all work.</p>
As for those who denounce the use of WD-40 on tone generators. I have been servicing Hammonds professionally for 34 years. I have always used WD-40 to free up stuck generators along with normal oiling. So does every other Hammond tech I know. There is no reason to remove a generator as some propose.</p>
George
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Hey George. <div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>I really appreciate your insight. </div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>About the oil........so it's OK to use some WD-40? I've heard mixed opinions about this. It won't gum up the generator??</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>Also, I talked with another gentleman who is also a long time technician of Hammonds, and he told me that I would need to literally tip up the generator and get in underneath to manually oil each of the bearings because if I just put it through the cups it'll take forever. What is your opinion? </div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>If I used WD-40, do I just spray it down into the cups and start small turns of the shaft?</div>Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
PS....<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div>I am going to get some oil, of course. I understand that the WD-40 is not sufficient on it's own, but I thought it might just get things moving a bit...</div>Comment
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Re-read my post. I believe I explained this in detail. I go out and un-stick generators all the time and every time within a service call. (1 to 1 1/2 hours). There are some tricks to make it happen sooner that require getting your hands oily. Just follow the directions I gave and it will be fine.</p>
George
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Re: H-182 tone generator stuck
Sorry for th redundant questions. Right after I typed my last post and sent it to you, I realized that my questions were answered in your last response. Thanks, and I will definitely make that my next project.Comment
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