TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - Martin Commitee with a stuck tuning slide

veery715 · 07-07-2008, 01:01 PM

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.

07-07-2008, 01:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
veery715 Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ithaca NY Posts: 586	Re: Martin Commitee with a stuck tuning slide 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 Trumpets: Lawler Bb / Olds Recording / Schilke B2 Selmer Rad 2 / Yamaha 8310Z Holton MF ST 550S / Stage 1 California C Easyplay mini-trumpet (????) / Chinese Special / Benetone 1934 Cleveland (HN White) 603 Silver Plate w/ Gold Bell Kanstul ZKT 1525 Flugelhorn Cornets: Conn 36A / King Super 20 Master Olds Ambassador / Conn 18A King HN White 1904 Bb+A / Ohio Regent Soloist Conn 16E Eb/F Mellophone Piano, keyboards, vibes, congas, guitars, yada yada