How do you start a Hammond Organ?

How do you start a Hammond organ?

Depends on the model. Check the side of your organ. Is there a button, or perhaps a switch? On older models there may be a handle attached to a rope, which you must pull while bracing one foot against the bench. Also they can be notoriously hard to start in cold weather. Feel around the back, upper right hand corner for a choke lever. Push it all the way forward. Right below that is a sort of a black rubber thing- press it all the way in once or twice, then tug on the cord a couple of times to get the gas flowing into the carb. Then give the rope a couple of good yanks. If the organ turns over, you’re good to go. If not, set the choke to about half way and repeat the procedure.

If none of this works, you may need a jump, so get a couple of friends to wheel in another organ. put them back-to-back so your jumper cables will be long enough to go between the battery terminals on both organs. Start the second organ, being careful to match the proper sides of the batteries! Red to red and black to black- otherwise you can damage both organs.

Once you get it started, let it idle a while until it’s warmed up.

Happy organizing!