[HAM] Variacs and tone generator motors

[Stainless Brown]

I've just about completed replacing the components robbed from a M-100 that I picked up for the nice price of "free, just get it out of my garage"- The reverb amp and one of the speakers had been taken from it, although it was working (just no verb)  I've  replaced the power supply filter caps in the AO-44 amp I got on e-Bay (badly dented, didn't want to chance it)  and in the past I have always used a Variac to slowly ramp up the power to full line voltage when doing this (on other amps), however, other circuits have not had a motor to think about.
   
  Is this a concern? Should I disconnect the  power to the TG motor, and if so, where's the best (easiset) spot to do this?
   
  Could I switch it to "Run" without using the start switch, and power it up this way?
   
  and... another question, the spring on the expression/volume pedal- should it be strong enough to return the pedal to the "up" position?
   
  Thanks
  Stan
  Sacramento