With all this talk of lubing and rejuvinating pinch rollers - you know
the best thing is to replace bad ones all together with new. Markus
can do this now and as Streetly are on the verge of releasing new
trons they should be able to soon. Have we got new rollers yet for
the new trons Martin?
John
>
> On the subject of cleaning a balky roller - would electrical contact
> cleaner harm the rubber? I do use it for things other than pots and
> switches as it is a decently aggressive cleaner and dries quite quickly
> and completely.
>
> Also, wouldn't dry graphite powder lubricant work well if worked into
> the axle? No chance of drippy mistakes....
>
> Vance
>
> -----Original Message-----
> 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
>
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