Hammond M3 organ help, please

[Steve Zettel]

Hi,

I've run across a Hammond M3 with the auxiliary speaker cabinet (not a
Leslie, darn it!) for $150. Looks to be in very good condition, but like
a lot of tone-wheel Hammonds, it won't start up. Sounds like it's
trying, but no-go. . . the current owner and I went by the manual during
the start up, too.

Otherwise, it looks to be complete (all the tubes present in both amps,
all light up, etc).

Questions for this learned bunch -- where on the 'net is a good place to
find out more, find a user/restorer-group, locate parts if needed, etc?

Any opinions (yeah, I had to ask!) as to the fair value at $150?

Thanks for your time,

Steve Z

[Rich Sherman]

The M3 (as with other similar Hammonds) may develop problems with the
starting circuitry. Before performing any work on your recent acquisition I
would order a copy of the Service Manual for the Hammond Organ FIRST!

There are several variations in these organs that have to do with the
Preamplifier, the main circuit board ( as seen
when you take off the rear cover) and other model
specific things.

If your particular Hammons is not starting even after you follow the
two-step (Start and Run) toggle switch sequence, you may have a bad motor
cap or even a bad tone wheel motor altogether.

There organs use a special Oil to lubricate the tone wheel assembly that can
be purchased from GOFF.

I have rebuilt a Hammond M3 that was practically a war casualty and what we
found after extensive troubleshooting was that the Ivory Colored rocker
switches that control the sound had had numerous 'drinks' spilled and has
rusted not making good contact.

You have to practically dissasemble the keyboard panel to get at these
switches that are housed in some small metal cases.

In any event these rocker style switches can stop to conduct properly and
you will lose volume, sound and other quirky behaviors.

Take your time and care when working on Hammonds. They have very thin wires
that connect the

"Steve Zettel" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I've run across a Hammond M3 with the auxiliary speaker cabinet (not a
> Leslie, darn it!) for $150. Looks to be in very good condition, but like
> a lot of tone-wheel Hammonds, it won't start up. Sounds like it's
> trying, but no-go. . . the current owner and I went by the manual during
> the start up, too.
>
> Otherwise, it looks to be complete (all the tubes present in both amps,
> all light up, etc).
>
> Questions for this learned bunch -- where on the 'net is a good place to
> find out more, find a user/restorer-group, locate parts if needed, etc?
>
> Any opinions (yeah, I had to ask!) as to the fair value at $150?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Steve Z

[Raymond Koonce]

Steve,

I've been working on one of these for a few weeks off and on trying to
get it running for a client's mother. It hadn't been oiled in 20 years.
I'm having the same problem with starting. I can get the starter
motor to run (the one at the right end of the tone generator looking at
the back of the organ) and it spins the tone generator. The run motor
will spin up, but when I release the starter switch, the run motor
doesn't seem to have enough power to keep things going. I've had it
soaking for about a month with some Marvel Mystery Oil (a few drops in
each oiling point) along with a generous drink of Hammond Oil. I bought
my oil from a place in Houston by mail for $6/tube. I'm due back there
any time to see if it'll start.

IMO, if the amp's working, it's worth $150.

Best regards and good luck

Raymond

Steve Zettel wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've run across a Hammond M3 with the auxiliary speaker cabinet (not a
> Leslie, darn it!) for $150. Looks to be in very good condition, but like
> a lot of tone-wheel Hammonds, it won't start up. Sounds like it's
> trying, but no-go. . . the current owner and I went by the manual during
> the start up, too.
>
> Otherwise, it looks to be complete (all the tubes present in both amps,
> all light up, etc).
>
> Questions for this learned bunch -- where on the 'net is a good place to
> find out more, find a user/restorer-group, locate parts if needed, etc?
>
> Any opinions (yeah, I had to ask!) as to the fair value at $150?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Steve Z

[Kazan Mohrs]

http://f.webring.com/webring?ring=pipeorganring And if you need parts I
am parting one out .
Sincerely
Kazan Mohrs

[Steve Zettel]

In article >,
"Kazan Mohrs" > wrote:

> http://f.webring.com/webring?ring=pipeorganring And if you need parts I
> am parting one out .
> Sincerely
> Kazan Mohrs
>
>

Thanks, guys for all the info so far. I appreciate your time.

Steve Z

[WayneM]

Hi Steve,

I have a Hammond L series (suspect most of the parts will fit) and I
am parting it out (actually I had already stripped out all of the tube
stuff and some some of the keys for another Hammond L, and was going
to drag the rest to the curb.)

The motor ran well - actually the entire tonewheel assembly worked
well.

I will let you have it for VERY minimal cost plus actual shipping.
Would be even more interested in an interesting tube amp stuff trade
(broken amps, tubes, transformers, etc.)

As for whether the stuff will actually fit - I have no idea

Let me know in a week or so - significant other is anxious to get this
250 lb piece of "junk" out of the garage.

Later,

Wayne



Steve Zettel > wrote in message >...
> Hi,
>
> I've run across a Hammond M3 with the auxiliary speaker cabinet (not a
> Leslie, darn it!) for $150. Looks to be in very good condition, but like
> a lot of tone-wheel Hammonds, it won't start up. Sounds like it's
> trying, but no-go. . . the current owner and I went by the manual during
> the start up, too.
>
> Otherwise, it looks to be complete (all the tubes present in both amps,
> all light up, etc).
>
> Questions for this learned bunch -- where on the 'net is a good place to
> find out more, find a user/restorer-group, locate parts if needed, etc?
>
> Any opinions (yeah, I had to ask!) as to the fair value at $150?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Steve Z

[stilldivin]

8-14-12 Hi Steve. I have a Hammond M3. I had to replace the start and the run switches to get my to start. I also had to oil it, clean it, and replace most of the tubes. Beware; the switches may look like standard switches, but they are not. They are wired and switched internally differently that a replacement. You can download a free service manual on the web. I've been trying to remember where I got mine, but if you Google it you can probably find one. Also, I'll save you $5.95; the cost I spent having my appraised via a Internet company. These organs are worth between $50.00 and $150.00. That's if they work. My is very clean, and it works, except three keys on the upper and lower keyboard, same notes, are weak. I'm told it's worth closer to $50.00, maybe $100.00 at the most. The service manual is very large and complex. I'm a retired electronics service tech and I don't want to fix the organ any further; the cost of repair will exceed the selling cost.


Hi Steve,

I have a Hammond L series (suspect most of the parts will fit) and I
am parting it out (actually I had already stripped out all of the tube
stuff and some some of the keys for another Hammond L, and was going
to drag the rest to the curb.)

The motor ran well - actually the entire tonewheel assembly worked
well.

I will let you have it for VERY minimal cost plus actual shipping.
Would be even more interested in an interesting tube amp stuff trade
(broken amps, tubes, transformers, etc.)

As for whether the stuff will actually fit - I have no idea

Let me know in a week or so - significant other is anxious to get this
250 lb piece of "junk" out of the garage.

Later,

Wayne



Steve Zettel > wrote in message >...
> Hi,
>
> I've run across a Hammond M3 with the auxiliary speaker cabinet (not a
> Leslie, darn it!) for $150. Looks to be in very good condition, but like
> a lot of tone-wheel Hammonds, it won't start up. Sounds like it's
> trying, but no-go. . . the current owner and I went by the manual during
> the start up, too.
>
> Otherwise, it looks to be complete (all the tubes present in both amps,
> all light up, etc).
>
> Questions for this learned bunch -- where on the 'net is a good place to
> find out more, find a user/restorer-group, locate parts if needed, etc?
>
> Any opinions (yeah, I had to ask!) as to the fair value at $150?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Steve Z

[stilldivin]

8-14-12 Hi Steve. I have a Hammond M3. I had to replace the start and the run switches to get my to start. I also had to oil it, clean it, and replace most of the tubes. Beware; the switches may look like standard switches, but they are not. They are wired and switched internally differently that a replacement. You can download a free service manual on the web. I've been trying to remember where I got mine, but if you Google it you can probably find one. Also, I'll save you $5.95; the cost I spent having my appraised via a Internet company. These organs are worth between $50.00 and $150.00. That's if they work. My is very clean, and it works, except three keys on the upper and lower keyboard, same notes, are weak. I'm told it's worth closer to $50.00, maybe $100.00 at the most. The service manual is very large and complex. I'm a retired electronics service tech and I don't want to fix the organ any further; the cost of repair will exceed the selling cost. However, I changed my mind and began to work on it further. I found one of the rods that positions one of the pickup coils was too far in, stopping one of the tone wheels. CAREFUL adjustment fixed this. Slowly moving it in and out will adjust the volume on the tone. too close and it will jam or break, too far away and it will not be heard. There is also a screw next to the rod for fine tuning. This is while monitoring the tone by connection one side on the capacitor to a draw bar.
I isolate the connection with another capacitor. I also used a 'scope to see the frequencies and wave forms.