Hi all!
I own an Optigan 35011. Just recently the discs would have serious speed problems or stop spinning altogether quite often. I went through this amazing website and from what I could see the problem is most probably the idler wheel. The point is that in less than 2 weeks I was planning to take the Optigan with me to Berlin, where I was invited to play live the music I compose for a theatre play. Dismantling the instrument seems too much of a challenge for me at this point, specially given the time frame... I oiled the parts I could reach but that did not seem to make it much better. When there are no discs inside the Optigan, the wheel seems to spin with no problem at all. I was wondering if someone would have a quick fix so I can get away with this gig before committing to putting the instrument apart, get a new idler wheel, etc.
Also, another problem is that I am getting the radio a lot... I am running the output signal into my computer and through an open source software called SuperCollider, and I am trying to get rid of the radio interference with some DSP, but it is quite a pain... Have anyone fixed this problem at all?
Thanx for your time and let me know if you have any questions or need any more info
Best,
The Sad Lounge Band

I'm betting I'm not the only one that smiled when they read the part about the radio. That's random, natural noise at its finest! I hooked my Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine up recently to my old Sony reel-reel and was piping echo-induced radio beats and garble into Garageband.

Have you ever considered attempting to rent a working Optigan over the pond? It may be a long shot of course, but Berlin seems a way likely candidate for some European Optigan owners who like the idea of Euros coming their way.