Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

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pompatus
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Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by pompatus »

For those of you playing Instrument Innovations rotor valves, what lubricant are you using on them?

Are you finding they need less frequent maintenance, as a result of the bearings?

How are they holding up after a few years?
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Burgerbob
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by Burgerbob »

Ultra Pure is my go to.

They always have great action (in my findings), but will start to leak without lube, which is how I know when to lube again.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by hornbuilder »

Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Matthew Walker
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BGuttman
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by BGuttman »

hornbuilder wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:54 am Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Actually, bone dry is better than moist with condensate (from blowing). The moisture on the bare metal allows acids in the air to dissolve and start attacking the metal. Note that air is full of acids. The most common is carbon dioxide which reacts with water to create carbonic acid, but in some areas there is sulfur dioxide that dissolves in the moisture to create sulfurous acid, and nitrogen oxides (particularly nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in water to create nitric acid).
Bruce Guttman
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by hornbuilder »

BGuttman wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:15 am
hornbuilder wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:54 am Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Actually, bone dry is better than moist with condensate (from blowing). The moisture on the bare metal allows acids in the air to dissolve and start attacking the metal. Note that air is full of acids. The most common is carbon dioxide which reacts with water to create carbonic acid, but in some areas there is sulfur dioxide that dissolves in the moisture to create sulfurous acid, and nitrogen oxides (particularly nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in water to create nitric acid).
Emphasizing the point that lubrication with oil is important. How long does a Bone Dry instrument stay dry inside when you start playing it? As soon as you blow into a dry horn, you are introducing moisture, and thus inducing oxidation.
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
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BGuttman
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by BGuttman »

I'm not disagreeing with you. It's just if you leave the horn dry in a closet it's less of an issue than if you play it.

Fact remains, if you can get a film of oil (or silicone) on the bare metal parts, it slows oxidation much better -- whether the horn is played or not.
Bruce Guttman
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greenbean
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by greenbean »

If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!... :idea:

Just thinking out loud...
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afugate
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by afugate »

greenbean wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:13 pm If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!... :idea:

Just thinking out loud...
My technique and intonation are at their best when I'm stop playing! :lol:

--Andy in OKC
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Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?

Post by Bonearzt »

afugate wrote: Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:07 am
greenbean wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:13 pm If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!... :idea:
Just thinking out loud...
My technique and intonation are at their best when I'm stop playing! :lol:
--Andy in OKC
Ha!! I thought I was the only one!!!
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