Thanks Ken. I was looking at your web page and it's fantastic;
I really appreciate the info.
What I was wondering is if anyone had a SPECIFIC type of lubricant
i.e. use Hammond Tone Generator oil, or go to AutoZone and get
Valvoline XYZ oil, etc. I'd like to get going on this since I
can't rework the heavy keyboard action with stiff rollers presumably.
But there are so many potential candidates I'm hesitant to just pick
any one at Home Depot or whatever.
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, Ken Leonard <ken@k...> wrote:
>
> >does anyone have a recommendation for a specific kind of lubricant
> >for rollers that don't spin as smoothly (to be purchased in USA),
> >and perhaps a short procedure for the process they use?
>
> At one of the 'tronto Symposia we used (gulp!) some kind of light
oil
> similar to Hammond oil (I forget what it was---it was Martin's).
You work
> it onto the axle as best you can, and it works OK, but it kills the
sleeve
> around the axle a bit more quickly than it would ordinarily---but
who
> cares, the pinch roller wasn't working well anyway!
>
> I don't know if something else, like a graphite or silicon-based
lubricant,
> would be better (just watch any propellant if it's the squirt stuff-
-I
> don't know what the sleeve material would find intolerable and just
wind up
> melting).
>
> Then there's the Merbler Flick for those stubborn pinch rollers.
From my
> "Tronecdotes" page:
>
> - Wobblies: The unintentional variation in speed as a Mellotron
plays a
> tape. Results in an uneven sound. Cure involves getting
Mellotronist's
> Hunchback. If that doesn't work, you may need to perform a
procedure known
> as the Merbler Flick as part of freeing up a pinch roller that has
become
> stiff. If the pinch roller won't turn properly (has become stiff
around
> the axle), douse (or submerge) the unit in alcohol for a while,
especially
> around the axle. When you remove the pinch roller assembly from
its bath,
> place a suitable finger on the pinch roller and give it a flick.
Think of
> it like your middle finger resting on your thumb as you snap your
> fingers---that kind of press and flick, only very hard. Repeat
until the
> pinch roller is rolling freely. Yes, this does work.
>
>
> Ken Merbler came up with that one. I've seen it work. I wonder if
you can
> use Windex or 409 instead of the alcohol. It would be better on
the roller
> material.
>
> Fortunately I think new pinch rollers are going to be produced
soon, if not
> already. Check with our Fine Mellotron Part Providers.
>
> ...kl...
> M400 #805 - been oiled
> M400 #1037 - been flicked
>
> ∗∗ Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents: http://www.kleonard.com
> ∗∗ Get Outdoors New England: http://www.GONewEngland.org
> ∗∗ Ever hear of the Constitution? These guys have:
http://www.lp.org