Hi Jean:
Sorry for the late reply:
Here is the link for removing the idler wheel from the Optigan. It's a long tedious job by the way. Don't rush it because if you bend or break something, you've kissed your Optigan's functionality good-bye:
You will have to remove almost every external screw and you should remember where each one goes or better yet label them on some kind of diagram.
There is a link inside this article for the guy who repairs the idler wheels.
In truth, it's actually better to get both wheels done because of the physics involved. New rubber on both wheels makes the machine run with no drag at all.
If you think you need both the flywheel and idler wheel re-done then you should call:
Kasche Organ Service
(561) 795-2950
He was an original Optigan salesman, so he has some extra credibility in understanding them. He's a little expensive but his work is good and I've been using his help since 1993 when I got my first Optigan.
That was before anyone else cared about these things.
Be nice and polite to him if and when you call. He's had to deal with a few hipster type assholes and professional time wasters in the Optigan internet community since the Optigan internet bandwagon started.
At this point I'm sure Pea Hix now has his hands full too. Pea is a great resource by the way. He can help you if you run into trouble.
Hope this helps.
Again - sorry about the late reply. If you have any more questions feel free to share them. There are a few of us here with Optigans and Orchestrons that love them as companion pieces alongside the Mellotron. Someone here can always help.
Chris Dale
On Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 2:17 AM, Casterman Jean
<jycasterman@yahoo.com> wrote:
THANKS SO MUCH CHRIS,I really appraciate your help :-)
I tought it was an idler wheel problem but I was not sure because I had never heard about slide /portamento effect when I turned on the optigan....and I didn't think that the problem can slow the optigan so much.
Now I will have to dissassemble the optigan in order to get this idler wheel...it's more than a challenge for me ..I'm not a great handyman :-/
I'm petrified....
Do you know if there is some shematics or plan available to dissassemble the beast?
Is there a good way to dissassemble the optigan....Sincerly I'm afraid to break somethingif you have some special advices,they are more than
welcome
Thanks for the adresses chris,sounds great :-)))
This group seems to be the best place to be,really friendly ;-)
Thanks for all guys
Jean
Show quoted textHide quoted text
Hello Jean:
I have had 6 Optigans at one time (now down to 4) and I'm familiar with this problem.
It is the idler wheel.
The rubber on the idler wheel has hardened and won';t grab the disc properly anymore.
You need to get the idler wheel resurfaced.
You will have to remove it from the Optigan and send it away to be redone.
There are a couple of places you can do it, but you have to send it to the USA for either one of them.
I'll have to look for the addresses for you. I don't have them here with me.
If you really care for your Optigan, you'll want to do this right and not rush things.
It takes a long time to unscrew everything, take it all apart and remove the idler wheel.
There are hidden screws everywhere and you have to be very careful not to break things when you take them apart.
These were never meant to be serviced by anyone except Optigan company employees.
You must also keep track of which screws go in which slots because they are not all the same.
I'll see if I can find the addresses for sending the wheel away.
On Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 4:42 AM, Casterman Jean
<jycasterman@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hello guys
I have a big problem with my optigan and I can't find some help for this problem....no response on the optigan forum...I know that some guys here own or owned an optigan...I decided to find some help in the mellotron group.
Here's my problem:
Since last week,I heard some problem on my optigan:
when I turn on the optigan,I heard a kind of portamento/slide effect and when I played the optigan it was impossible to stay in tune,I can hear something like a cycling pop (like a scratch on a vinyl)...Today I turn on the optigan and after 5 minutes,the optigan slow down drasticaly and progressively(2 minutes) until it was impossible to play with the optigan (so slow)....I read on the net that this problem is may be an idler wheel problem ..Have you heard about
the same problem before?It would be fantastic if somebody can help me because I feel alone in europe with optigan problems...and I really want to save my optigan because it's really rare here in Europe.
I know that's optigans are unreliable and looks like toy but I really love the lo-fi vibes of this machine and it works perfectly with my mellotron
Thanks so much for your help
Jean
PS:Sorry for my english spoken
