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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Returning M400 owner questions

From: John Barrick <barrickjohn262@gmail.com>
Date: 2018-05-08

Chris, I don't want to come off as an asshole, but someone's got to.  It would really help if you were SUPER specific in your questions and provided photos.  Don't assume that your Tron is like everyone else's. It would also help if you identify your Tron by serial # as they did change over the years - mine is #1407.

I've never heard of (nor seen) some kind of plastic tab to hold down the lid on a Tron.  It sounds like you're describing some sort of velcro arrangement.  Are you?  Every Tron I've ever seen has a two part brass looking friction catch (one part on the lid, and one part on top of the frame that mesh together)  There are a total of five of these catches on the lid - three on the back edge of the lid, and one each on the right and left hand sides of the lid.  Some people like to place a full on piano bench hinge across the back at the top to hold the lid on (the kind that has the prop to the top up in an open position).

I've never had the popping issue you describe, so I can't help you there.  I had my power supply worked on by Jerry Korb when I first got it, and I'm pretty sure he fixed the ground loop issue for me. There are power supply schematics out there and I'm sure some could be dug up here.

Please help us by asking clearer questions.

jb

On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 9:56 AM, Bart Nicolai bart.nicolai@kuleuven.be [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

 

Hi Chris,

 

I recently joined the new mellotron group when I bought and restored an M400 that was in a very poor state. I had a similar problem during the restoration process and asked Martin Smith from Streetly Electronics for advise. Here is his answer:

 

Probably poor brush contact on the armature. Take the red plastic clips off and take out the carbon brushes but remember which way round they are as they are bedded in. Clean the copper on the armature and fine wet and dry paper and then clean everything with methylated spirits(purple alcohol). Replace the brushes in exactly the same location and position as they were in.

I followed his advise, removed the dust from the carbon brushes and used steel wool to clean the copper on the armature, and, sure enough, the pops and clicks were gone.

 

You may like to try this as well.

 

Good luck,

Bart

 

 

 

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups. com <newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups.com>
Sent: dinsdag 8 mei 2018 16:45
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Returning M400 owner questions

 

 

Hi Chris,

 

First, welcome back!

 

Unfortunately the group is awfully quiet lately. And Yahoo having major server problems with their Groups system isn’t helping either, so I’m not sure everybody receives your messages. There are some Facebook groups also, but the problem is that it’s worthless as an archive. (Not that Yahoo Groups is much better.)

 

As far as I can remember, back in 2007 there was some unfortunate fallout between members on the mellotronists group and then this group was created. (It was three beers ago so I’ve forgotten the details, I believe it was about censoring posts/people.) Traffic on that list decimated. And then around 2012 traffic started falling on this list too. I see that on more lists. Also seems like Yahoo Groups is not being maintained or actively promoted by Yahoo. I took over from Clay in 2014 as moderator.

 

Can’t help you with your other questions though, hope someone else can!

 

Kind regards,

Ben (Moderator)



On 8 May 2018, at 07:02, fazeka@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 



<crickets>

 

No one? 

 




--
john barrick

∗Leo got it right the first time∗
∗then he added a second pickup and got it righter∗