I'm to the point in my piano restoration where I'm now replacing the
zillion short lengths of rubber hose connecting the tracker bar to the
lead tubing (for the transposing function).

Talk about your limited working space!  After shoehorning on all
of them (literally -- using a feeler gauge as a sort of spatula),
I decided to test them individually by pressurizing each run of tubing
with a rubber bulb while stopping the individual tracker bar hole with
my finger.

I've already found several that don't hold pressure, and I'm not sure
why, since I made sure all the tracker bar nipples were clean before
reinstalling it.

I'm wondering if there is some sort of sealant/lubricant out there that
can be used to make the hoses go on easier, and also seal the hose
connection.  With an eye to posterity, it should also not degrade
either part _or_ weld them together forever.

Is there any such material out there, or is this one of the inescapable
'character-building' aspects of piano restoration?

Dan Harrett