How to Oil Rotary French Horn Valves

Rotary valve oil is being applied with needle applicator to the French horn valve.

How often should you oil your valves?

New French horn players often wonder how often they should be oiling their valves. The good news is, your instrument will tell you! If your valves are coming up slowly, or not at all, it's time to oil them. This can happen without warning, so make sure you have oil in your case at all times.

Equipment

Oiling French horn valves requires using an oil that's specifically designed for rotor valves. It’s handy to use an oil that has a needle applicator so that it can get into the smaller areas without making a mess.

The Process

Rotary valve oil is being applied with needle applicator to the spindles.

1. To apply the oil to the spindles, we just need to put the needle in between the rotor arm and the rotor and squeeze. Then we move the valve back and forth to disperse the oil.

French horn is laying on table and the valve cap has been removed.

2. To oil the face of the rotors, turn the horn over and remove the valve cap.

3. Put a drop of the oil in the reservoir.

Valve slide of the valve that has just had oil applied is being pulled out of the instrument.

4. Slowly pull out the corresponding slide without depressing the valve. This will create a vacuum and pull the oil into the right places.

The slide is being pushed back in while the corresponding valve is depressed.

5. Depress the valve whilst pushing the slide back in so that the oil stays put.

Valve cap of the valve that has just been oil is being screwed back on.

6. Screw the cap back on.

The fourth valve slide has been removed and the needle applicator into the receiver.

7. Optionally, you can also place oil onto the valves through the slides.

Be careful to place the oil directly onto the valve, avoiding the inside of the slide tubes.

The fourth valve slide has been inserted back into the instrument.

8. Press the valve down again when putting the slide back on.

And that's it! All of the valves on your French horn should now be moving smoothly.

As always, if you have persistent issues with your valves after following these steps, see the qualified technicians at Windcraft Repair for further assistance.