Got a squeaky valve rocker - wood to wood. Should I use oil or something else? 10w 40 ? Some kind of powder?

TJ, you sure it's the rocker itself and not the spring? If it was tight enough that wood to wood was squeaking, I'd think it would feel sluggish, or be hanging up. Check the spring. Don't put petroleum oil on the wood, wood don't like that.

It's definitely the wood. Rocker Expanded in the groove after cleaning. Now it's dry but squeaks.

I'd recommend taking a lead pencil and trying to rub some graphite on the wood to the sides of the rocker arm on the inside portion of the fingerboard and rocker arm if you depress the button completely in. That usually helps smooth things along.

John

Pencil fine, or graphite powder meat for locks. Also tallow, or non perfumed baby powder will do the job, maybe Good Ole Rick can bring you some from Texas on a sunny day? - Nout

Cleaning? hopefully not with fluid substances ... Pencil is fine, or graphite powder meant for locks. Also tallow, or non perfumed baby powder will do the job, maybe Good Ole Rick can bring you some from Texas on a sunny day? - Nout

PS Tom, something went wrong, can you remove the post above this one some day, thnx.

Thanks ! Will try tonight.

You can get powdered graphite in a tube that may work for that. Hard part will be getting it in there.

Spills of graphite powder can foul up the white leather on the flappers easily, and attach itself on too rough paint surfaces, hard to cleanup maybe. To be safe i would disassemble the whole keyboard and remove the nasty rocker from its slot. Keep track which rocker fits which slot by numbering them; with hand made instruments sometimes the width varies a little. - Nout

Ok. Couldn't get the powder to to the area but was able to get Howard's wood wax in the crevice using a metal ribbon ruler. Worked perfectly! Thanks for the suggestions!