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**lparsons21** · 09-02-2009, 04:32 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

I can't help on the voices missing, but the pedals can be gotten from Morelock's. They don't have the plastic ones any more, but they have made some wood ones that fit right in place. Or at least they have the ones for the spinets of that era. I replaced one on my now given away 625T. Cost at the time was $10 US.

Going from memory, changing out the pedals was simple once I figured out the access. Remove the Leslie and then prop up the left side of the organ about 1 to 1.5".

Looking from the back, you'll see a metal bar at the bottom with some long rods running down to it and mating with the pedals. Note the spring loaded nuts on top of that bar. I think there are 3 (maybe 4?). Remove those nuts and the pedal assy will drop down just enough to wiggle the bad pedal out and wiggle a new one in from the front. On the old pedal note where the cloth tape and spring steel plate go so you get them right on the new pedal.

On those Wurlitzers the pedals were pretty flimsy and breaking one isn't all that difficult. Fortunately the fix isn't too difficult.

Once you are inside and have the keyboards swung up and out of the way, getting to the other parts isn't all that difficult. If you are lucky it may just need some switch cleaning. If it is electronic parts, I don't know what is available. Morlocks also has service manuals for some of the Wurlitzers. I'd offer mine, but I gave it away with the organ.

Your comments on the cabinetry are right on. My 625T was a beautiful cabinet and fully finished as you describe. My Lowrey GX1, Technics EA5 and Hammond Aurora have that fiber backing.

**Sarah Paks** · 09-03-2009, 05:19 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

[quote user="lparsons21"]

the pedals can be gotten from Morelock's.they have the ones for the spinets of that era. I replaced one on my now given away 625T. Cost at the time was $10 US. the pedals were pretty flimsy and breaking one isn't all that difficult. Fortunately the fix isn't too difficult.

Morlocks also has service manuals for some of the Wurlitzers. I'd offer mine, but I gave it away with the organ.[/quote]

I am aware that US schools historically have not been any good, or interested,in teaching the geography of places outside US borders (atypically obese female tourist from Chicago once asked me in a Waikiki singles bar if Australia was anywhere near Austria!) but realise that the US west coast is a 14 hour non-stop flight from Sydney, then add travelling time out to the Mississippi swamps where these Morelock people no doubt are. 

Cost the necessary parts in $AUD including freight and any thinking person will realise it's a pointless exercise for an organ that's 31 years old, according to the online Blue Book.

Not residing on the Australian mainland, I know nothing of the Sydney market(?) forelderly organs, but I'm sure that Skippy would be aware that this ol' all butdeceased Wurly could be replaced for much less than the cost of repairs.

SP

**lparsons21** · 09-03-2009, 06:37 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Having bought things from Australia in the past and using a special postal shipment method that I believe is also available for shipping to Australia for a reasonable cost and in less than a week, I figured that he might be able to get it for a reasonable cost.

Of course, I want to thank you for your excellent geographical knowledge, and that coupled with your previous comments pretty much sums you up.

**Sarah Paks** · 09-06-2009, 04:44 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

[quote user="lparsons21"]

I'd offer mine, but I gave it away with the organ.[/quote]


Hmmmm..........................[:S]???


Pretty much sums you up too..................

**skippy** · 09-12-2009, 02:51 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

[quote user="lparsons21"]

Once you are inside and have the keyboards swung up and out of the way, getting to the other parts isn't all that difficult. If you are lucky it may just need some switch cleaning.

[/quote]

Hi Lloyd,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

The owner delivered the organ yesterday to my place. It is now sitting in my workshop awaiting repair. Do you remember how the top shelf (lid) is secured? It looks like it is hinged to swing up. But it appears to have some hidden fasteners that have to be removed first. Sometimes they just have spring loaded catches. But this lid just won’t budge. And I don’t want to break anything. The flutes are already working - with the odd crackle. When I first looked at it a few weeks ago, I sprayed some contact cleaner between the gaps in the rocker switches. It looks like this has done the trick.<o:p></o:p>

On another topic, I just scored an excellent Leslie720 through eBay. It wasused witha Hammond Aurora. I am looking forward to use it with my Elegante. Is your <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Aurora</st1:place></st1:City> hitched to a Leslie?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

Skippy<o:p></o:p>

**lparsons21** · 09-12-2009, 04:47 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Hi Skippy,

Going on memory here, so you may have to look around a bit on it.

Take off the back cover, then there are some screws (I think) at the back upper on or near the top. I think it was 3 or 4 there, remove them. I think you figured out this part already.

Then the "hidden" screws are under the cowl in the front, on the right and left side and hidden by the cove lighting. There is one on each side. Once they are out the top should be moveable. I don't remember if you had to slide it fore or aft before lifting, but just fiddle around and it should come right off. It doesn't swing up, it comes completely off. If you use a flashlight and look from the front to under the cowl, you'll see what I'm talking about. 

When you start cleaning the keying stuff, that is cat whiskers and you need to be careful. Basically just spray around where the contact is being made and then play and play some more. These Wurlys will clean up the keying pretty quickly, but they will also get dirty just as quick. You have to be careful if you try to use q-tips or some such as you can break those cat-whiskers fairly easily.

The keyboards flip up after the top is off, but they are held down with bolts on each side. After you flip them up, you can get to the back side of most of the rocker switches. Except for the bottom ones, they are held in a little differently, bolted from the bottom.

I sounds like you are on a roll with this as some things are coming back. I was always amazed that after letting mine sit, I could usually just play it for a bit and things would all start working. The auto-chord was the one thing that was hinky and stayed that way as it needed a board worked on and I didn't go that far. The rhythms are pretty cheesy on this model as you might have noted.

BTW, I have a sheet or two that shows settings for the Orbit to get particular sounds, if you want it, just let me know and I'll scan it in.

My Aurora isn't hooked to anything and is just about ready to go to the garage for a thorough go through yet again. I came very close to getting an Aurora Classic a week ago, but then decided I just really don't have room for another organ and my Technics is so versatile. Right now if someone offers me a free interesting organ, I might get it, but I'm not even sure about that.

Good luck in the restoring this organ, I think you'll like it, I know I liked my 625T.

Lloyd

**lparsons21** · 09-12-2009, 04:48 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Ah, one other thing. I think you have to take off the music stand. I know that I did, but I can't remember if I had to in order to get the top off or if I was just taking it off to be able to give it all a good exterior cleaning.

**skippy** · 09-12-2009, 05:55 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Thank you Lloyd,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I will follow your advice.Although theorgan is hardly worthour combined efforts it may just make this dear old lady happy.<o:p></o:p>

I consider ourselves the custodians of abandoned dreams. In the early 80s I went to an organ shop in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:City> to witness the introduction of the Hammond Elegante. After an impressive demo I walked up to the organ to try a few keys and just as I was approaching it a sales person cut into my path and told me if I wanted an individual demo and advice regarding the organ I would need to make an appointment with the sales manager. Not long ago I saved my Elegante from theland fill. Out of pity I gave the ownerAU$100. Really, this was an insult. But he appeared to be happy to get rid of it. Isn’t it great to enjoy these master pieces for pocket money?

Cheers,

Skippy

**lparsons21** · 09-12-2009, 09:15 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

It really is a good thing there are some of us out here that just like to fiddle with these old beauties. As you say, all the work and what-not you may put in that Wurly aren't worth what it would sell for, it is just really nice to get them working and listen to all those wonderful sounds. I sold my 625T for $1 after I fixed everything I could on it. A new band was forming from a few local youngsters. I got the chance to listen to them a bit later and really enjoyed hearing someone that actually knew how to play use that Wurly. They were into some strange rock sounds, which isn't my cup of tea these days, but it was still enjoyable.

My first Hammond was an Aurora Classic, bought in the late 70's or early 80's for what was big bucks for me. I think I gave $5 or $6K for it. I loved that organ and regret losing it. But one of life's little challenges presented itself and when the dust all settled I didn't own anything. My wife's health went very bad and the med bills just put me down.

I'm looking more towards a full console organ, but again unless it is free, I most likely won't get one.

**skippy** · 09-13-2009, 02:19 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Hi Lloyd,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Thanks to your assistance I managed to remove the lid of the 580TA and swing up the control panel and upper manual. I then removed the broken black pedals. Whoever designed these flimsy plastic abortions should be ashamed. I am stunned by the contradiction of design principles of this organ. Beautiful cabinetry. Even the expression pedal housing solidly protects the organ from vermin intrusion. And such poorly designed half note pedals. Pedals should be designed to carry the weight of an average adult keeping in mind that they should rest on the floor at the end of their travel . This reminds me of the back panel of my Hammond Elegante. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a Wurly 555 sitting in the shed, waiting to go to heaven. I hoped to use its pedals to fix the 580TA. But they are mostly solid wood and not the right size. Anyway, I will think of something. I will keep you posted.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have been after a Yamaha D85 for a while. But in OZ they have an iconic status and this pushes the price up. Today I purchased a D85 from a dealer with a 2 year parts and labor warranty for $500. This will be the end of my organ acquisitions for a while. I am running out of room anyway.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Cheers, <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Skippy <o:p></o:p>

**OrgansR4Me** · 09-13-2009, 04:43 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

One of the greatest difficulties in our organ repair hobby is that we can have a large store of parts that don't help a bit on our next repair. I wish there had been some industry standards in the heyday of home organs. You almost have to locate another organ from the same production run in order to borrow parts. I parted two Kimballs in the last 4 months and nothing was the same on either organ. Hopefully, the Kimball I gave my friend a little over a year ago has alot in common with the second organ parted so I'm in hopes some of those parts will actually get used later.

Sounds like you will have to start whittling on the pedals that were too large! As you mention they are solid wood you could probably achieve a pretty close copy to the 580. The other best alternative would be to find out the ship rate for parts here in America. But be careful. I chose the wrong flat rate postal box for some Conn replacement keys I sent over and it cost me almost $50 in shipping.

Congradulations on your Yamaha. You were a good businessman to get a parts warranty. Where is your dealer getting the parts? I thought Yamaha was pretty much out of the organ business?

**kkeys** · 09-14-2009, 07:16 PM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Congrats on the 720 Leslie Skippy ....should be a great sounding addition.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Agree with your comments on the Elegante’s Melody Maker voicing…. but this is what could have been if this organ was produced: <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://organservicecompany.com/340.html<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
No Melody Maker on this one… behold “The Instrumentalist”<o:p></o:p>

**jbird604** · 09-15-2009, 04:29 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

Skippy,

Coincidentally, I went on a service call to see a 580A just last week. Not sure of the difference between the "A" and the "TA" but likely it's minor. Very nice little organ.

If you decide to order replacement pedals from Morelock, be sure to replace all 5 black keys at the same time because the rest of them WILL break in time! I made the mistake several years ago of just replacing the broken one and had to go back shortly after to replace another and another before I got smart and changed the rest.

These new wooden keys are a little differently shaped but do fit in exactly.Be careful about getting them properly seated with the springs and everything lined up. BTW, those pedals on the 555 are probably compatible even if they look a little different. Best I can recall, Morelock send out the same wooden pedal for all spinets of that era.

As has been said, no doubt the organ has so little market value that your repairs will certainly cost more than the organ is worth. But it is a very nice little spinet organ and beautifully constructed. It may well be worth a lot to the lady who owns it either sentimentally or just because she's accustomed to it and would have a hard time getting used to another one.

The sounds are pretty good, especially when the flutes are enhanced by the Leslie and the strings are in the Symphonic Presence mode. It does have a fine audio system in there, much better than a lot of spinet organs, especially later ones.

Morelock's Organ Service in Rienzi, Mississippi, USA will have the pedals and the service manual if you're inclined to order one. They have an email address but I can't find it at the moment. You're bound to find it if you poke around online.

Best of luck.

John

**skippy** · 09-15-2009, 04:48 AM

Re: Wurlitzer 580TA Problems

[quote user="OrgansR4Me"]

Congradulations on your Yamaha. You were a good businessman to get a parts warranty. Where is your dealer getting the parts? I thought Yamaha was pretty much out of the organ business?

[/quote]

Picked up the Yammy D85today. Just excellent. The only thing that does not work is the slow speed Leslie. Worst case scenario is a burnt out slow motor. I had them re-wound in the past locally for AU$20 orAU$30IIRC. I recently ordered some Yamaha custom IC's for my FS30. Expensive "YES" butavailable. The D85 looks like awell designedunit and I am not worried.

Cheers,

Skippy

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