RhumbaJazz

I just bought an Old Mendez trumpet on ebay and I'm trying to figure out if I have a problem with it. The first and third slide triggers are sticking. When the slide is pushed out and released, it returns some but does not return to its initial position. This is not too bad on the third valve slide because the ring allows me to pull it back to any position. But, the first valve slide trigger is more of a button and does not allow me to easily to pull the slide back in, so the trumpet gets "out of tune".
The springs seem strong and I tried oiling the slides, but it did not help.
Is this typical of these slide triggers or is this a serious issue that I should ask the seller to fix (the seller's ad claimed that the trumpet had no serious issues)? Any guesses of what the possible causes and solution to this problem is?
p.s. this horn sounds great, so I'd really like to resolve the problem. Thanksl

RAK

I would wash the valves, dry them, oil them, then try to see if they work. Make sure the springs are placed correctly. If that doesn't work I guess you can just go to a music store.

MFfan

What would this have to do with trigger's not moving properly?

It is possible the 1st and 3rd slides are a bit out of alignment(inner and outer) I would have tech check it out . Maybe they got that way from some mis-adjustment and years of using them in that condition.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?)
Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan)

Besson 609 Trumpet
1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet
1948 Besson cornet
1946 King Master Cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

RAK

well anything could be possible. They could be bent a little. I got an old Russian baritone with triggers. It makes a clicking noise every time i press the valves. Is that supposed to happen?

veery715

When you keep the valve in question depressed while releasing the trigger, does it return to "home" position better?

Often there is a fair amount of compression on those valves and if you release the valve before the trigger, there is a cushion of trapped air in the tube which holds the slide out.

If this is the case with your horn, you can either release the trigger more quickly (practice) or have the valve vented, where a small hole is drilled in the piston to let the trapped air escape with the valve in the up position.

veery

A.N.A. Mendez

Sometimes the rods, yokes, screws get messed around, there are adjustments on all these points, also the 3rd slide has two different screws, one long, one short, the throw rod can be upside down AND backwards and they can be bent. Also if the tubes inside and out have built up gunk on them, they need clean and light oil, make sure you have all four bumper rings too. Have fun...........
By the way, I LOVE these Olds horns, they are VERY versatile .
If you have trouble after all this, contact me and I can send you some info and maybe some photos.

__________________
(Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960

"Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love

"We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee

Bob Grier

You may have some corrosion in the slides or they may be out of alighnment or out of round. make sure the screw connecting the elbow of the two rods or the rod to the slide is not too tight. Or your slide greas is too thick.

__________________
Bob Grier, An Old Pro
Web Cam trumpet & jazz improvisation lessons
bgrierjr@triad.rr.com
Schilke B5 GB bell
NY Bach ML 37GB Bb 1949
Benge 7X 1985
Conn 22B 1940s
King Liberty Silversonic 1975
King Master Model Siversonic cornet 1975
1985 Bach C L 229GB 25A
1985 Bach D ML 239
1985 Bach Eb ML 239
1967 Martin C ML rose brass bell
1985 Selmer Paris Picc with Osmun A pipe
& Blackburn Bb pipe
1975 Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn
1985 Yamaha YFH 635T Flugelhorn

dhbailey

Sometimes all that's needed in this instance is a drop of key oil or automatic transmission fluid (don't laugh -- it cleans, it lubricates, it lasts for good long time and I got the hint from Gary Ferree of Ferree's Tools) at all the joints of the trigger mechanism. It also works really well as a lubricant on the slides in such a mechanism.