Posted by John Swensen on January 27, 2000 at 18:01:40:
In Reply to: Quickfix for Old Tuba with a Cheap Owner posted by Randy Mac on January 27, 2000 at 11:40:44:
The easiest thing to do is to thicken the oil you use by adding something more viscous to the Al Cass. I have heard of 3-in-1 oil, Marvel Mystery Oil, motor oil, mineral oil, spindle oil (for machine tools) and, now, automatic transmission fluid. Find something with a smell you can tolerate (mineral oil is almost odorless). I would stay away from silicones, as they have been know to build up, gum up, and do other, bad things. ATF has some pretty effective solvents, so it might clean up gunky valves, but I wouldn't want that stuff around where I was breathing.
If you need a pretty thick mix to seal and your valves get sluggish, consider putting in stronger springs, if they don't make your fingers too sore.