leaky valves

crowmadic · 10-05-2006, 04:16 PM

I know i'm opening myself up for some radical responses to this question. Like get rid of the horn, but I like this vintage C/Bb C.G.Conn horn and would like to give it another chance. Can anyone suggest an inexpensive way (less than $300.00) to remedy the leaky valves on this old girl?

Dale Proctor · 10-05-2006, 04:37 PM

I would guess that a proper valve job by a reputable shop wouldn't run any more than that. I had a valve job done on a J.W. Pepper cornet about 18 months ago for about $250 with the plating/honing by Anderson's. Problem is, I still didn't like the horn, even with great valves.

Vulgano Brother · 10-05-2006, 05:00 PM

How's this for radical: pour water through it and wiggle the valves. This sometimes helps old rotary trumpets that haven't been played for a while, and is dirt cheap!

crowmadic · 10-05-2006, 07:52 PM

Do you know any details about the plating and honing? Are layers of plating put on the existing valves to make them wider or thicker?

crowmadic · 10-05-2006, 07:55 PM

This trumpet has been thoroughly cleaned. How can "water and wiggling" correct leaking valves that I assume is caused by excessive wear?

nieuwguyski · 10-05-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowmadic

Do you know any details about the plating and honing? Are layers of plating put on the existing valves to make them wider or thicker?

Exactly. The valves are plated with nickel until they are slightly oversize for the casings. They are then honed down to modern tolerances. It's a good idea to specify that you want the valve ports sealed, so the nickel plating doesn't deposit inside the valve ports and reduce the effective bore through the valves -- particularly if your Conn has the .438" bore.

I had the valves on my 1923 Conn Victor cornet rebuilt about 10 years ago and am very pleased with the results.

brian moon · 10-05-2006, 11:26 PM

If you want to go really cheap to make sure that you still like the horn just use a thin amount of tuning slide grease on your valves. If they stick (they will) oil them until they don't. This should last a couple of days. I have seen it last for months.

rowuk · 10-06-2006, 02:30 AM

Replating is the only way to get them back to decent condition. The problem with old horns is that the casings are not evenly worn because our fingers do not push the valves straight down. The valve pistons stay pretty "round". Many times the plating can't be thick enough to seal the valve as the casing is too thin and unevenly worn. Then it is not possible to get them really airtight without replacing the whole valve block (then it is not the same horn any more). A good shop can tell you this before they start......

TrentAustin · 10-06-2006, 06:00 AM

Jim Becker at Osmun suggests Hetman Classic and then a couple drops of Paxman Spindle and Bearing oil.

It does the trick on my old Cornet with slightly leaky valves!

-T

brian moon · 10-06-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrentAustin

Jim Becker at Osmun suggests Hetman Classic and then a couple drops of Paxman Spindle and Bearing oil.

It does the trick on my old Cornet with slightly leaky valves!

-T

Yes, that is a much better idea than a couple drops of STP in your valve oil; which I have seen as a remedy also.

10-05-2006, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
crowmadic Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 539	leaky valves I know i'm opening myself up for some radical responses to this question. Like get rid of the horn, but I like this vintage C/Bb C.G.Conn horn and would like to give it another chance. Can anyone suggest an inexpensive way (less than $300.00) to remedy the leaky valves on this old girl?

10-05-2006, 04:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dale Proctor Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Posts: 704	I would guess that a proper valve job by a reputable shop wouldn't run any more than that. I had a valve job done on a J.W. Pepper cornet about 18 months ago for about $250 with the plating/honing by Anderson's. Problem is, I still didn't like the horn, even with great valves. __________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away." - Sir Thomas Beecham Olde Towne Brass www.otbrass.com Brass Band of Huntsville www.brassbandofhuntsville.org

10-05-2006, 05:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Vulgano Brother Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Home Posts: 3,265	How's this for radical: pour water through it and wiggle the valves. This sometimes helps old rotary trumpets that haven't been played for a while, and is dirt cheap! __________________ "A tool good enough to be so used and not too good" C.S. Lewis That Hideous Strength www.letsbuildhope.org

10-05-2006, 11:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
brian moon Mezzo Piano User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bloomfield Township, Mich Posts: 565	If you want to go really cheap to make sure that you still like the horn just use a thin amount of tuning slide grease on your valves. If they stick (they will) oil them until they don't. This should last a couple of days. I have seen it last for months. __________________ Revelation 3:20 Last edited by brian moon; 10-05-2006 at 11:27 PM. Reason: spelling

10-06-2006, 02:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
rowuk Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4,394	Replating is the only way to get them back to decent condition. The problem with old horns is that the casings are not evenly worn because our fingers do not push the valves straight down. The valve pistons stay pretty "round". Many times the plating can't be thick enough to seal the valve as the casing is too thin and unevenly worn. Then it is not possible to get them really airtight without replacing the whole valve block (then it is not the same horn any more). A good shop can tell you this before they start...... __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

10-05-2006, 07:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
crowmadic Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 539	Do you know any details about the plating and honing? Are layers of plating put on the existing valves to make them wider or thicker?

10-05-2006, 07:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
crowmadic Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 539	This trumpet has been thoroughly cleaned. How can "water and wiggling" correct leaking valves that I assume is caused by excessive wear?

10-06-2006, 06:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
TrentAustin Moderator Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,601	Jim Becker at Osmun suggests Hetman Classic and then a couple drops of Paxman Spindle and Bearing oil. It does the trick on my old Cornet with slightly leaky valves! -T __________________ Trent Austin lurking around. If you want to chat PM me. http://www.trentaustin.com http://www.onlinejazzimprovisation.com

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