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

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

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

4. Bearing Shoulders

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.