align valve slides
Stuck slide- use a rag or a belt — if no go, to the shop align valve slides prevention grease move parts sticky valves- wash casing and valve w/ hand soap – slide hammer (watch pinky!)
oil- replace valve guides( more common on low brass)
valve casing may be slightly bent gently push valve slide in different directions while moving valve up and down to see if there is any replacement; if so, push a little more in that direction consider which direction is most likely where it got hit
replace or stretch springs, springs should be able to stand upright- replace if bent(they scrape sides) valve should not bounce on the rebound- should stop instantly
valves should not wiggle side to side- take off button cap to see the wiggle expensive to replate
temporary solution is to use a heavier oil- most valves are now moved, which virtually don’t wear noisy piston — usually a wore or missing felt match with other felts
to check down stroke — check alignment through 2nd valve(slide removed) match 1st and 3rd valve with same thickness
To check upstroke- shine light into 3rd valve slide with valve up use same thickness on 1st and 2nd valves Valves won’t move- take it to the repairman — won’t happen with proper maintenance unless damaged Option- if valve sticks up, look for damage — if none, hit, not too hard, the valve down- take it out, clean it and oil it
if valve- stuck down- unscrew the top cap forcing the valve up
Rotor valves- check alignment on rotor- be sure bearing cap is in place, and check marks for proper bumper thickness- use 40*1 test nylon fish line(pre-stretched)
align valve slides- be sure each tube is free to move, look for damage(flattened ends) work them dry,ie check for parallel: by alignment, by matching ends gently bend and see if it gets better or worse
frequently bend with one tube inserted- take your time and be gentle
spit valve corks- if leaking, they cause an airy tone remove old cork with a screwdriver, remove glue, press cork in (no glue) test by blowing
other possible cause: leak in solder joint at receiver or at any point in the lead pipe/ tuning slide
Dents- normally don’t effect instrument except in lead pipe but, psychological advantage to a dent free horn( fairly new dents most dents removed without a trace)(old dents lacquer cracks off)
stuck mouthpiece- use a mouthpiece puller
Thomason the best — uses adjustable collars- always work
Magnum Farres- not good only works for a few times another good one looks like a pair of vice grips never fails
Dented mouthpiece ends- get a mouthpiece tuning tool and a rawhide hammer(or another mouthpiece glancing blows only so it doesn’t thin the metal
Trombone- dents in slide to repairman most slide problems caused by dirt must be kept clean with snake and cleaning oil
Flush- once a year. Hydrochloride acid (muriatic turns it black) single most important thing for brass:
cleaning adds to life and response keeps slide from getting stuck. Clean in bathtub monthly.warm water
nly never hot water on lacquer- strips lacquer off. Silver polish to remove tarnish(or tarnex — not on satin silver)
use SOS or comet on valve slides to clean up.