Yup. I just happened across it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-telegraph-Morse-code-telegraph-key-springs-for-J-38-Western-Union-Electric-/150827076793?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231dfe8cb9

1. Make the antenna put it up and get it tuned (just do what the book says).
2. Get on the air with it and start making some contacts.
3. Read a good book on antennas and such as you have the time.

It's a win win situation that way!

I would try a different power supply and see what happens. It seems to me that would be one of the first steps in troubleshooting it.

Panadapters and spectrum displays are neat but I have in the past sat in front of a 756 Pro3 for hours in a couple contests and probably didn't spend 10 minutes looking at it. It is a great feature for sales and marketing as it it visually very appealing and we are visual creatures. In a contest on HF, other than very early or late in the band being open, there are so many signals showing up that it has little usefulness.
The best use I can see is for monitoring 6 meters for short openings. Even then, if you are not staring at the display you will not know anything popped open somewhere. Scanning works better for that.
For a DX pileup, it may show you where the majority of the callers are so you can adjust where you want to be in relation to that.
I think they are largely overrated.

I use an old teachers desk. I think it is oak. I see them on Craigslist often around here. They are big, deep, heavy, and have large drawers. Mine has two pull out shelves, one on each side which often come in handy. I could stack a LOT of real heavy gear on it. It is no fun to move though!!
In any event, look on Craigslist for desks and see what you can find. You may not have to pay much for one that you like.

A 5 element beam is the average or probably the most common 6 meter antenna for cw and ssb. 3 elements IMO, is a bare minimum. A dipole at most any height isn't much of an antenna for 6 meters. I used to do quite well with 7 elements on a 20 ft. boom at 35ft and 10 watts in a rather lousy location. With 3 elements and 2 watts it was pretty sad and hopeless. Now I have a 2 element quad at 45ft in a good location but don't spend much time on 6 anymore. I did finish off WAS on 6 though. Some of the openings are not going to give you a lot of signal strength to work with so beams are the only way to go. A 6 meter beam is pretty small, and easy to build...so get to it!

I'd sure rather have the HW-101 than the FT-101.
Once you have a manual for it it would be relatively easy to repair if necessary.
One good thing about either is there is a TON of info out there about them if you do need help with them.
The FT-101 series need board extenders for some troubleshooting.

Replace all the electrolytics in it if it hasn't been done already.

I would check both the rigs against WWV or some other known standard and see how it goes.
Also, the 746 has a calibrator and you could check it with that.

Yup.
If you are not on HF, you don't have any idea of what you are missing out on.

Manual is here;
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/morse/1324om.pdf

Basically you plug a set of iambic paddles into it and it into the rig.
It is great for an older rig that does not have electronic keying circuitry built into it.
Most all do these days.
Some might use one anyway as it may allow more flexibility with memories, different types of keying and other preferred settings.

That is a nice way to go.
All I use is a DPDT momentary (center off) switch with my BB3.
I don't have any problem finding the sweet spot without a slow speed, even on 75.

Congrats!
Sit back, relax and celebrate...eat a Twinkie!!

Yup. Give up sleeping at night, and stock up on Red Bull.

As mentioned, spend all the time on 80 that you can during DX contests. I stayed up all night for them.
Expect to find more on CW than Phone.
Keep an eye out for DXpeditions that you may be able to work and if you can hear them, don't give up.

Insurance..
Don't stop working a more common entity until you have a QSL in hand for it.
Work a couple extra entities, don't stop once you get to 100 worked. I went to 105.

It's a MISERABLE band for chasing DX!
But it's a GREAT band for getting used to using your DSP to eek out a whisper!!

Or more realistically to prevent lose of listenership and revenues!

If you want to be licensed for FM broadcasting, prepare for a nightmare. A friend of mine (also a long time ham) went through it and had to fight tooth and nail all the way. He got through it but it wasn't pretty!!