guitarsrmine

I have a Jupiter trumpet that has sticky valves. I've cleaned it, re-oiled and they still are sticling WAY to much. The problem only recently started. There arent any dents in the valve casing,and there doesnt seem o be any burrs on the valves themselves. I use Al Cass oil.(This topic was pobably already covered. If so, sorry)

bobd0

I'm sold on synthetic oils. I use Hetman because they offer several grades of oils and slide grease for various instrument requirements.

Hetman Lubricants

Ultra Pure is another excellent choice for synthetic lubricants.

Ultra-Pure Oils Home Page

If your valves and casings are OK, clean them very well to remove all traces of the previous lubricant and give the synthetics a try.

ComeBackKid

There are several threads here dedicated to sticky valves. But, to boil most of them down to a couple of key points, the question is whether the issue is in the metal or in the oil. One way to start the analysis is to remove, wash and dry all pistons and also the casings. Then insert the pistons and feel for interference. If you detect that, try 'painting' the piston with a black marking pen. Then insert it as closely as possible to the correct alignment taking care to avoid rotating it in the casing and then remove it again. You will see areas where the ink is rubbed off. That is where the interference is. Even though you don't detect any dents, it does not take much force on the slide pipes or even much hand pressure to distort the casings and cause this interference. I had one horn where the tech simply applied some pressure (the correct amount in the proper direction - that is why he is paid the big bucks) on the 2nd valve slide and the sticking immediately disappeared. Most techs have a set of tools with machined steel inserts (I don't know the technical term for them) that they can put into the casing to return it to round condition. But, it it is some sort of pressure that has caused the casing to go out-of-round, you need to figure out what it was to avoid a repeat.

Good luck.

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guitarsrmine

The funny thing is, they dont hang up on a regular basis, like it was a mis-alignmet, or the valve casing bent. SOmetimes, I can play my whole 1 hour session and it will be fine, and other times, they hang up repeatadly. Maybe I need to try some of those synthetic oils mentioned above.I know I'm playing on a student horn, but it still is a bummer!

Brekelefuw

Your hand position could be changing and you are pulling or pushing on the valve as you play.

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Chinese custom horn
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guitarsrmine

I'm very careful about my hand to valve positioning-I've always been fussy about proper hand position.

rowuk

Sticking is a mechanical action. I recomment that you take the valve out, clean it AND the casing, then "paint" the valve with a magic marker. Do not oil, but insert it in the casing and play 5 minutes. The magic marker will get "scratched" off where the problem is. Post where that is. Do not try and grind or sand that area off. It can be one of many things. That is why the magic marker can save time and speculation!

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

tedh1951

I'd like to suggest that you follow ROWUK's advice but also consider that you may be gripping too tightly with your left hand - this may change depending on your stress levels. Some of us have big hands, some have tradesman's hands with "extra" grip and it may be that the valve housing is just a little "light" in structure.

On the other hand, a good cleaning of the valves, the valve casing, and some synthetic oil has worked really well for my B&H Regent, which also exhibited 'sticky' valves.

__________________
.
Ted

SpiritDCI08

Rowuk,

What kind of marker? Brand? Type?

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King Model 601 (my favorite horn so far)
Vincent Bach 3c and 5c
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Choctawhatchee Stylemarchers 07,08
ROLL TIDE!!!
"The Blue Devils could run out on the field, take a dump on the 50, flick off the judges and still get a 95" -- Alex Blue

Sofus

I had a very thin mineral deposit on my third valve.
It came from the third slide, and it didn´t go off
by regular washing. When I discovered it (it looked
like a dark ring on the valve) I scraped it of with my
finger nail and washed the area in thinner (tolouen etc.)

After that my third valve almost was OK, but the
final touch was when I found out the following:
If I after every trumpet cleaning oil my valves with an
oil containing silicone, then I can use one without
silicone all until it´s time for the next trumpet wash.
Since the oil containing silicone that I have isn´t a
synthetic one, it smells a bit. The method of oiling
the first time with that one and then use a synthetic
one the other times is what I do regularily ever since
I found out how well it works (for me). The silicone
seems to stay in place all that time!

__________________
" There are no secrets to trumpetplaying - except Practice Your Head Off - and that´s no secret! "

Bud Herseth 1977 in Hamar, Norway


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