Wurlitzer 555-D (dual divider)

[kcmoejoe]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and organs for that matter. I picked up a Wurlitzer 555 deluxe funmaker w/ Orbit III synth. All works except my B's on the upper and lower manuals. The highest pitched B makes sound but sounds "off". I spoke with Morelocks service and they said I had one or more bad dual dividers under the upper manual. I now have some new parts and ready to try to repair.

My question is how does one get to the back (foil side) of the board these divider chips are on easily ?? when you lift the upper manual up on the hinges the component side is easily accessible and when down I'd have to reach through from the back side of organ and risk pulling a wire and don't think there is any room since the amp is in the way.

So, my thought was if I can't get to the foil side to unsolder and replace the chip(s) could I simply solder a new divider on the top of the bad one ? kinda like how some people have soldered new fuses on top of bad ones?

pics included to show what I'm working with. Thanks!

Joe in Kansas City

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/KCMoeJoe/Wurlitzer-Organ/P1010351.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/KCMoeJoe/Wurlitzer-Organ/P1010352.jpg

[geoelectro]

Take the manual off the hinges so you can lay it over further. It's not easy at all, but doable. I just cut the old part out and soldered the new part to the old part legs sticking up from the circuit board.

Geo

[kcmoejoe]

Thanks alot geo that makes perfect sense, I'll give it a try the only thing I don't know now is if it's just the master divider on the far right or the other 4 down the line, guess I'll start with one and see if I need to replace on the rest, there are five that control the B's if I'm reading the schematics correctly.

[kcmoejoe]

that seems to have fixed it...the first one I picked #20 was the culprit all the B's sound correct now, only thing is some of the foot pedals maybe 2 or 3 don't work. Maybe it just the contacts needing cleaned.

thanks again Geo!

[geoelectro]

When troubleshooting dividers, I take a small screwdriver in one hand, and touch any point in the organ with the other hand that will produce some hum. Then, you can touch the screwdriver to the input and output of each divider listening for the proper tone. The signal will travel through your body just fine.

DO NOT DO THIS On TUBE EQUIPMENT!

You can also deduce which divider by determining which is the first note down the chain that fails. I find the other way much faster.

The pedals have a pedal keyer board. You may have a bad part on the notes not playing.

Geo