Basic Rotor Valve Care
Importance of Oiling Valves:
- Lessens the effect of wear on bearing surfaces
- Prevents corrosion
- Fills space around rotor body in casing to give valve proper compression
- Keeps linkage lubricated and prevents binding
We recommend Hetman Synthetic Medium Bearing & Linkage oil for use on the:
- Long spindle
- Short spindle
- Thumb lever or paddle hinge rod
- Mechanical linkage
We recommend Hetman Synthetic Light Rotor or Rotor Oil for use on the:
- Rotor body
- We recommend Hetman’s because it is compatible with all other oils and comes in varying viscosities to match each instrument most accurately
How to Oil the Long Spindle
- Using the Hetman medium bearing and linkage needle oiler, place a couple drops of oil on the long spindle
- This is the space between the stop arm and the casing
- We recommend doing this at least once per week (more if playing extensively)
How to Oil the Short Spindle
- Using the Hetman medium bearing and linkage needle oiler, place a couple drops of oil on the short spindle
- This is done with the valve cap off
- We recommend doing this at least once per week (more if playing extensively)
How to Oil the Rotor
- Using Hetman Synthetic Rotor oil or light Rotor oil, place six drop of oil inside the tuning slide tube that leads to the rotor when inserted in the outer tube
- We put oil inside the inner slide tube instead of dropping it in the outer tubes to keep the slide grease from mixing with the oil and gumming up inside the rotor
- Now insert the tuning slide (while keeping the oil in the tuning slide tube) and, once inserted fully, turn the horn so the oil inside the tube drops down to the rotor and move the lever to disperse the oil throughout the rotor body.
- We recommend doing this at least once per week (more if playing extensively)
How to Oil the Mechanical Linkage
- If you have mechanical linkage, then there are a few places that need a drop of oil as well.
- If you have string linkage, DO NOT oil the string or the screws holding the string.
- Place a drop of Hetman Synthetic medium bearing and linkage oil any place that has a mini ball or any other pivot point in the linkage.
- Since there are many types of mechanical linkage, it will be important to look for the parts that move when you depress the lever to activate the rotor. Then place a drop of oil there.
- Also, place a drop of oil where the lever’s hinge tube meets the post.
- You can find this by looking for the lever’s spring, this surrounds the hinge tube
Check out our guide to taking care of your rotor valves