The Steel Guitar Forum

What is the proper way to lube the changers on a pedal steel. I don't see any way anything can "seep" between the tightly placed changers. Do I pour from the top or do I turn it over and pour from the bottom? Thanks in advance for your input.

Here's what I do:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Lubricate/Lubricate.html

Greg nails it.

Tony Edwards wrote: I don't see any way anything can "seep" between the tightly placed changers. Do I pour from the top or do I turn it over and pour from the bottom? Thanks in advance for your input.

No, never "pour" anything! As the song goes..."just a little goes a long way". Capillary action will "pull" oil (or any liquid) into incredibly small spaces. That's why I prefer liquid lubricants instead of dry lubricants, which cease to migrate once their vehicle has evaporated. Any good lubricant should be used sparingly; once every year or two. I prefer synthetic sewing machine oil or gun oil myself, but anything is better than nothing.

Good info. Maintenance is critical.

Greg Cutshaw wrote:Here's what I do:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Lubricate/Lubricate.html

You can't beat the lubricant that Greg is telling you to use. I am a professional locksmith with over 23 years in the business and Tri-Flow is the the stuff. In my opinion, Rem-Oil is the next best thing to it, if you can't find Tri-Flow.

I like a drop of Marvel Mystery Oil

Bobby Bonds Sr. wrote:I like a drop of Marvel Mystery Oil

...probably tastes better with a bit of soda, though....

I learned about Tri-Flow from my kids, who are (now adult) skateboarders. The received wisdom was that it was the only proper lube for wheel bearings. Clean them first with white gas, then lube with Tri-Flow and you're good for a long time.

I have yet to do this on any of my changers, but I wonder whether or with what to clean the changer before applying the Tri-Flow. My experience with typewriters tells me: Naphtha. Not sure I want to pour white gas into a changer.