Philicorda Organ Keys Removal

Started by sarakisof, January 25, 2020, 04:52:26 PM

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sarakisof

Hello everyone, i have a Philicorda organ, it is the latest GM751 model, fully transistorized, like the 752 model, no tubes-neon bulbs at all.
After having restored and fully repaired it so far (power cord-fuse replace, full recap,replaced some broken polystyrene capacitors, changed about 10 BF194-5 transistors and pair of AC187-8 Germaniums, contact-switch cleaning) this beauty came to life again, with lovely reverb and nice sound.
Now the only problem left is that i get intermediate sound in 8' voice tab for only two notes. After having tested everything i noticed some broken-cold solder joints in the pcb board under the keys, it is the pcb that is connected with the key contacts, placed in a very hard accessed position.

Any ideas on how i can access this board?
It seems like i cannot unscrew those "red" screws from underneath, they are "factory sealed" with red adhesive.
So my best bet i think is to remove some keys.
I unscrewed the front screw that keeps in place a key but now i cannot manage to get it out from this plastic white mechanism.
It is not a case like this with springs (this is the early tube version in the link) look at the last pics at the bottom:
http://liquitone.blogspot.com/2013/09/philicorda-ag-7500.html?m=1

So i am stuck here ...

Ps. They do not come out if i simply pushing-squeezing this plastic white conic part...









Rob Strand

#1
No idea.  It needs someone who's done this before!

The second last paragraph at bottom of this page has something,

http://liquitone.blogspot.com/2013/09/philicorda-ag-7500.html

It says don't try to squeeze those plastic things in as they can break and you have to wiggle it off.
-----------------
One of the pics on that site looks like the plastic mount (maybe) could be held in at the base with some aluminum extrusion.
Maybe those plastic mounts slide at the base out left-right or you pull the extrusion off as a strip releasing all keys.


Send:     . .- .-. - .... / - --- / --. --- .-. -
According to the water analogy of electricity, transistor leakage is caused by holes.

sarakisof

Thanks Rob but i know, that's what i wrote above, the model in this link does not match with mine. It is the earlier tube version. Mine is the latest fully transistorized. It does not use the same exactly mechanism there even seems similar from far sight. O thonk in my case i have to squeeze those white plastic conic parts, i tried hard with no results though, don't want to push ultra hard as i worry about what it is written in this link.. So i am stuck there. I am pretty sure it is that cold-broken solder joint right there, look at the pics below, couldn't shoot better pics the position is very hard as i said.

https://ibb.co/StLGg72
https://ibb.co/gVxnF1d

Rob Strand

QuoteI am pretty sure it is that cold-broken solder joint right there, look at the pics below, couldn't shoot better pics the position is very hard as i said.
Quite possible.

I can't work out how to get the keys off from the pics.  If you have it in front of you and it's not coming off then there's obviously some trick.   I can only suggest exhaustive searches on various search engines, youtube?, or posting on forums that do restoration and repair.   Surely *someone* in the world knows.   With the vintage of those things maybe they are no longer with us.
Send:     . .- .-. - .... / - --- / --. --- .-. -
According to the water analogy of electricity, transistor leakage is caused by holes.