Basic Rotor Maintenance How to properly oil your rotor valve and linkage components

Rotor Nomenclature Stop Arm Retaining Screw Stop Arm Rotor Removable Bearing Plate Valve Cap

Short Spindle Bearing Rotor Port Stop Arm Shaft Rotor Body Long Spindle Bearing

Bearing Shoulders

Importance of Oiling 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

Types of Oils 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 Piston oil is too thin to properly lubricate a rotor

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 * Pictures show trombone rotor, however, these methods can be applied to any rotor : trombone, trumpet, french horn, or tuba.

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 * Pictures show trombone rotor, however, these methods can be applied to any rotor : trombone, trumpet, french horn, or tuba.

How to Oil the Rotor: Step 1 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. * Pictures show trombone rotor, however, these methods can be applied to any rotor : trombone, trumpet, french horn, or tuba.

How to Oil the Rotor: Step 2 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 Note: It is important to do BOTH steps of this process to the tuning slides on the F and the Bb sides of the double French Horn to ensure the entire rotor body gets covered in oil.

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 * Pictures show trombone rotor, however, these methods can be applied to any rotor : trombone, trumpet, french horn, or tuba.