Converting Old 186 S Linkage

[Dan Schultz]

....

As to why they were quiet and now they're not, I have no idea.

As far as oiling, I oil them every few weeks with Al Cass oil. I remove the back plates and put a couple of drops on each spindle thing. Then, I dump a load of oil down the 1st valve slide. I've done nothing as far as oiling the outer linkages. On my 1972 186, back then, I used to put oil on the linkages (any moving parts), but that would cause the gig bag (from the old Miraphone draw string bag) to deposit red lint all over the linkage area. Messy.

Al Cass is fine for pistons but does not have the viscosity necessary to support bearings. Try sewing machine oil or something like Hetmans for bearings and linkage for the bearings and linkages. The heavier oil will eventually migrate into the rotor bodies and slow them down. That's when it's time to flush things with Al Cass or lamp oil.

[Bill Troiano]

OK, well I was under the impression that Al Cass was a light oil, sort of like a rotary oil. That's why I chose to use that. I haven't put any oil on the linkages on this 186 tuba. That is mainly because I didn't want to attract lint when it's in the case. Although the Altieri bag I'm using does have a nylonish interior, so I doubt it would deposit lint on the oiled valves.

Soon, I know it's been discussed here somewhere before, but what should the process be for oiling a rotary valve tuba such as an old 186?
What kind of oils? Probably different on the valves than on the exterior linkage parts.
How often?
Where to place the oil?

A person of my age and experience should know this already, but mainly playing pistons for the past 40 years, I'm not familiar with rotary valve etiquette.

[Radar]

More of a question here than a solution, but I was told that the set screw in the center of the covers over the back bearing plate was there to reduce the up and down motion of the rotors. The procedure I was told to use was to tighten them until they were snug and then back them off until the valve moved freely. Since I didn't see that mentioned in this thread I thought I would ask if that is the proper procedure for adjusting these little screws in the center of the back valve cover, and what those screws are for?

As far as Oiling procedure I oil the outside moving parts on my 186 about once a week with Hetman's key oil, and generously put all case fast down the leadpipe at least once a session. Is there something I need to adjust in the way I'm doing things? I also have the old S linkage, and I don't find the valves to be excessively noisey.