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Originally Posted by aaron1964  My daily user trumpet has a bad slow valve problem. I have had it chemicaly frushed, cleaned and even had the valves "re-alligned" Whatever that meant, but 1st and 2nd valve are still sticky. I use plenty of good oil and its been cleaned professionally. Is there a prucedure that they do to either re line the valves tubes or I've heard of re lining the valves. Is this something that is common? |
"Plenty" of oil may be too much. Chem cleaning doens't usually help the valves. Try cleaning them yourself by soaking the valves (not so the felts get wet) in warm water with a drop or two of dish soap. While they soak, rinse out the rest of the horn, and then wash the cylinders with a bit of the same soapy water, using a soft brush (from your music store). Rinse with clean water and dry with a lintless cloth (an old necktie works great).
You can push the cloth through with a chopstick - a couple of times - so when you look through the cylinders towards a light everything is dry and shiny.
Take the valves and rinse them, one at a time, in warm water, and then dry with the same necktie material. Inspect the valve pistons for vertical lines and pits. There may be some staining, but if there are vertical lines or pits you can fell with your fingernail you may need to have them re-plated - Andersons can do it but it's a couple hundred bucks.
If there is no visible damage to the pistons lubricate them with just a little oil - 1 line down each piston, and no more than 1 or two drops in the cylinders and reassemble. If they still stick, redo the whole cleaning and try another oil - perhaps one of the newer synthetic ones.
Has your horn slowly developed this problem or suddenly? If slowly you may need to look at your finger motion - are you pushing them sideways? If suddenly - did you change or mix oils? Some don't mix and there are lots of different weight oils to be had.