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LP Gear "Black Oil?"

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Posted on June 21, 2017 at 17:26:18
Wilson
Audiophile

Posts: 316
Joined: May 24, 2001
Hello. This may have been discussed, but I did a search and didn't find much.

Who knows something about the Black oil sold by LP Gear? Is it the same as the "genuine" Linn Black Oil? My LP12's serial # is 84k+. So, it should use black oil. (I know there is a debate about whether I could use another oil, but I'd rather stay with the Linn recommendation.).

Anyway, I haven't found the Linn black oil sold in the US. Today I found this: https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGZBEAROIL.html

Should I feel good about this?

I welcome your thoughts. Thanks very much!

Sam

 

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RE: LP Gear "Black Oil?", posted on June 21, 2017 at 20:00:27
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10257
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
Any authorised Linn dealer stocks the proper oil.
I get mine from my dealer:
Accent on Music:
914-242-0747
music@accenthifi.com


 

These guys too, posted on June 21, 2017 at 21:04:03
Batman
Audiophile

Posts: 4188
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Joined: March 31, 2000
Contributor
  Since:
June 16, 2000
Got parts for my Linn Axis here. Nice guys!

MD MUSIC SYSTEMS
10406B Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD. 21042-2171
Phone: (410) 480-9763


 

Black oil?, posted on June 21, 2017 at 21:10:17
Cuernavaca
Audiophile

Posts: 878
Location: NW
Joined: December 23, 2011
I thought you had to stay away from that stuff, at least that's what Fox Mulder always said...

Sorry, couldn't resist. Currently doing a 9 season X-Files binge.

Thomas
"I've never owned a firearm, but I do have an attack parrot!"

 

RE: LP Gear "Black Oil?", posted on June 22, 2017 at 00:35:55
PAR
" Is it the same as the "genuine" Linn Black Oil?"

According to the vendor this oil is suitable for Linn...and Thorens....and Oracle....and "other exquisite turntables". I am not aware of all of these brands of turntable, including those unidentified, using the same specification bearing oil. So I am sceptical. All I can say is that it appears to be oil and that it is coloured black.

If you need some Linn oil then I would suggest contacting a Linn dealer. See the link ( USA is included on the map if you scroll).

 

exquisite turntables need oil, posted on June 22, 2017 at 02:31:16
beach cruiser
Audiophile

Posts: 7018
Location: so cal
Joined: September 24, 2003
My slight contribution is not about linn oil and is off topic unless you want to open the discussion to oils in general.

I don't know if my table passes for " exquisite" , since I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to buy the thing. It's a Michell GYro se, a demo from a supporting vender, the needle doctor. A fine transaction for me, and trouble free , right down to the shipping.


Now that I have made fun of using "exquisite" , to describe product, I'll get to my point.

The michell uses a platter bearing that pumps oil as it rotates, and they include a little bottle of dedicated michell branded oil for assembly, which is also available separately.

It might be the history of the company that makes it so consumer friendly, it started as a hobby, and grew into diy kits sold from the back of his garage, before the design was finalized. (All those different ears and listening spaces over time working on tweaks paid off in sound, according to me. )

Anyway, not being snobs, they offer that the dedicated oil can be replaced by high quality synthetic oil. Which makes sense, long chain oil molecules are required for most advanced lubrication today, and a turntable should use sota oil. . ( natural oil has a mixture of sizes and broken chains among the long stable molecular chains, which can cause molecular gaps in the lubricating oil structure, and resultant lubrication failures, on a molecular level first, than grows to complete failure, as more chains break.

Anyway I called the mobil 1 oil advice line and asked if zero thirty viscosity would be a better turntable oil than the 5-30 weight I was using. No advantage, was the report. the answer was delayed because they had to call the lab , for the unusual question.

With my next required platter bearing oil change, I will switch to high mileage 5-30 mobil 1. Oils have a combination of additive packages, and modern cars are designed to lubricate with oils that promote catalytic converter health. Older, high mileage , oil packages have more anti shear additives, rougher on converters, that are not in the new regular oil formulations. .

I really don't think it makes much difference, at 33 1/3 rpm , the stuff that lubricates supersonic engines in combat should be able to handle it.

If I owned a linn I would probably use the "black oil" on the very slight chance that they listened to a selection of oils . I would also have a deep hunger to find the construction of black oil.
I know none of these guys operate an oil refinery.

 

RE: exquisite turntables need oil, posted on June 22, 2017 at 10:51:38
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: April 14, 2009
My pore old Thorens which I bought new in '72.. has been subjected to * lotsa * oil types.
Dependant on the Flavour of the decade being Shilled :-)
From Sewing machine to Full synths of varying viscosities to Phils' Tenacious oil (hypoid sans the smell).
NONE made any audible differences of note.
(A better cleaning job on the Lp prior to playing it was far more productive)
But Hey! Oil fooling amused me, and likely many others.

Just MY 2 cents.

 

What is "Black Oil?", posted on June 22, 2017 at 12:35:38
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6588
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since:
July 4, 2007
Somewhere in my parts collection I have a small plastic bottle of black oil. I believe it came from a Linn dealer years ago when I was restoring an AR table.

I've never owned a Linn table but always wondered about the black oil. Does it contain liquid graphite to somehow assist the bearing lubrication? It appears about the same as the liquid graphite as sold to lubricate door locks and handles.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: LP Gear "Black Oil?", posted on June 22, 2017 at 13:09:57
docw
Audiophile

Posts: 8115
Location: So. California
Joined: July 23, 2004
Contributor
  Since:
November 29, 2004
Interesting question.

I was told to go to a Linn dealer also. I have ordered parts and stuff from a UK modifier. He sells good oil per his testimony. I am not able to find the link presently, but I did buy it on ebay. Found another one linked (I am NOT affiliated).

As the poster bare indicated, not much sonic difference no matter which oil I use before. I have an LP 12 with Basik LVX Plus.

 

PTFE "Black Oil?", posted on June 22, 2017 at 13:38:46
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
which turns out to be TEFLON. i have some liquid teflon in a manual squirt bottle with tube like wd40. i don't have my house settled from my recent move.

it is called tri flow and comes in a 2 oz bottle for ~ $6.
...regards...tr

 

RE: exquisite turntables need oil, posted on June 23, 2017 at 03:02:48
beach cruiser
Audiophile

Posts: 7018
Location: so cal
Joined: September 24, 2003
Thanks for the info, without a listening test, I would still be guessing that the type of oil couldn't possibly make an audible difference.

Seeing the sewing machine oil as platter lube is a pretty far our suggestion, I agree. It triggered a memory. When I was a kid, we always had three in one oil, which was sold as a household and sewing lubricant, my mom used it on her sewing machine.

As a kid, I sometimes wondered why the spout would get gummy . Now I know it was because it was a vegetable based oil, packed in the same distinctive shaped dispenser car as singer sewing machine oil , which was petrol based, and which could only be purchased at the sewing machine place. Three in one oil you could buy at the family market, and it became a popular product, by mimicking a better product that most people needed at the time. Kind of like Budweiser beer.

Three -N- One has since changed formulations. Budweiser has started flag waiving on beer labels as the answer to a more sophisticated consumer. Whatever works.

Dang hard to post without talking about my turntable bearing. I love the design. With modern oils, the thing should last forever at 33 1/3 rpm's.

 

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