max3k

I have a martin commitee with a stuck tuning slide. Any thoughts on how to get it unstuck without breaking it?

__________________
Jesus Christ is Lord!

Stage 1 California Custom - Now Here!
Benge 90B
Yamaha YTR-232S

Schwab

Take it to a repairman!

__________________
Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

max3k

not happening.

__________________
Jesus Christ is Lord!

Stage 1 California Custom - Now Here!
Benge 90B
Yamaha YTR-232S

veery715

Do you mean you can't take it to a repairman? Before I suggest options, may I respectfully suggest that if the horn's in good shape otherwise, a bill for repair is a small investment to preserve the value of a relatively rare and in-demand collector's item.
That said, here is what you can try:
Use a soft large sock to pull on it. Wrap the sock through the slide (wrap it more than once to distribute the pulling action over the whole bend) and clamp the loose ends in a vise. The using your right hand around the valve block and your left on the bell give it a steady pull (watch that you don't bend the leadpipe braces). While you are pulling have another person pour very hot water slowly over the outside of the tubing (but not on your fingers) that contains the slide's greased portions. The idea is to expand the outside tubing to free up the inside. You can wrap those tubes with pieces of old towel torn into strips, and the material will keep the heated water in contact with the tubing.
You can try this after first putting the horn in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will increase the clearance when the hot water is applied, because the inside tubing (which is supposed to move, but isn't) will shrink from the cold, and when the outside expands it will be even looser.
WD40 may facilitate the process - applied both from the outside and sprayed down the leadpipe.
If the slide loosens a bit, it is a good idea to spray on more WD40 and try to work it back in before further pulling out. Push-pull repeatedly until it comes out all the way.
If this fails (try over several days w/repeated soaking with WD40) then you'll need to go to the repairman anyway.

__________________
Music = Love

Toobz

Time for a new horn. And I just might be the one to help !

PB Blaster does a good job of loosening stuck slides for me. Much more capable then WD 40. The stuff is pretty smelly though. Being a Martin, I'm sure the laquer is crap, so you don't have to worry about marring the finish. Although, I freed up the slides on a Yamaha with no issues to the laquer.

You can find PB Blaster at most hardware and auto parts stores.

__________________



Conn 10B New Era trumpet
Martin Committee cornet
And lots of other old and smelly stuff !

veery715

I forgot about PB. I have used it forever and it works - it is especially good at penetrating, which will get it between slide and tubing.

__________________
Music = Love

MFfan

I vote for PB Blaster , also. OLDLOU gave me the tip on that one and it works well. Bought mine at Pepboys.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
07 Barrington Trumpet, 1972 Reynolds Medalist
55 Besson 8-10 trumpet
55 Roth by Reynolds Cornet
73 Olds Ambassador Cornet
30's Czech small bore Trumpet
Getzen 80 cornet, 33 American Standard cornet
66 Olds Ambassador Trumpet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

max3k

PB Blaster did the trick! THanks for the tip. BTW it is a 1956 Deluxe. THe lacquer is in great condition. THe other 2 slides work amazingly well.

__________________
Jesus Christ is Lord!

Stage 1 California Custom - Now Here!
Benge 90B
Yamaha YTR-232S