Tubist of Time wrote:After examining the problem more closely, I think it is more of a mechanical problem, rather than something like gunk in the valves, need oiling/cleaning, etc. The two problem valves are the 2nd and 3rd. The other two work fine. For the second one, it doesn't really "stick" you just can't push it in. And when you do, it takes a lot of effort. I'm not sure about the third, it may just need cleaning. When I hold the horn toward me and press the valves, they work fine. I've seemed to notice that the angle at which I hold the horn affects the valve function. Perhaps the valve is mis-aligned. Any ideas?
I was going to tell you about when I went from an old, leaky horn to a new, tight one and used heavy oil on the spindles and the valves just about ground to a halt; I had to flush it with lighter fluid. Since then I sucessfully use blue juice on it.
But yes this does sound positional; you really should be on the phone to the vendor about this. Shipping would be another concern, but when you buy mail order it's something you know you may have to deal with. A good flushing just may fix it, and may not. Many Holton French horns, in the past, arrived with valves that were TOO tight and had to be lapped before they would work right. They worked fine at the very beginning but then started to lock up. I've seen others that had construction grunk in them that was near impossible to get out....you'd wash it out, then two days later more grunk would be in the valves.
MA
