BPinard

Yesterday, I bought a Besson 1000 student model trumpet for $5 at a yard sale. It was badly tarnished, and the bell has a pretty significant dent in it (I intend for this to be my "throw-around" trumpet for marching and the like.)

I did a really thorough cleaning of it in the tub when I got home (some of the stuff that was inside it was pretty yucky), and found that the 1st valve was missing it's spring as well as the small slider thing that goes right under where the spring should be. I'm hoping that my local music store has replacements; I'm pretty sure they do, at least for Bach instruments.

Here's my real problem - all of the valves, even after brushing the valve casings, aren't sluggish, but feel as if they're "catching" on something.

I cleaned the valves as best as I could (taking a brush to the valve ports and running them under hot water then wiping them off with a towel).

I'm clean out of ideas with how to get these valves moving smoothly. I'm hoping someone else has gone through a similar experience and can offer their insight.

mike ansberry

There are a couple of possibilities here. One would be dents in the valve casings. Even the smallest dent in the casing will make the valve hang up. Another is gauling. Some of the brass instruments I've seen in the last few years get a nasty yellow-brown tarnish on them when they are played a bit. This is caused by bits of brass from the casing sticking to the valve. It is caused by the alloy that the valves are made from. This can cause the valves to stick. I have also heard that some brands of valve oil are causing a very similar effect. Not having seen your horn, my bet would be dents in the valve casings. Take it to your local instrument repair technician. They can tell you what is up with the valves.

BPinard

I guess it's the dents then. There is a small dent in each of the valve casings.

crap!

Thanks a lot for the advice.