My crazy valves part deux

Water Music · Post by **Water Music** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:40 pm

Well, I got my Tuba back from Baltimore Brass earlier this week, and before my valves stuck, all 4 of them, but now 1, 2 and 4 are all better, but 2 still tends to stick. The repair man there said he would try his best, but he did not get the 2nd one from not sticking to the sides. I'm not sure what he did to the valves, but he said my hand position was the problem which i fixed when I got it back, but it still sticks, even when I press down in the middle. I do think it might be the valve guide slot, and some excess brass in there, or it just might be the valve. I play a MW 2145 BTW.

Here are some pictures of the valve and casing (sorry about the quality)

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rudleyib/album?.dir=/1b40

Anybody have anything they may think could be the problem?

Water Music · Post by **Water Music** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:13 am

I wasn't at the shop, because I was on a trip, and it was the perfect time to take it, because I wouldn't be home to practice on it. So my parents took it, and none of them have any knowledge of Brass Instruments, so they didn't know. And Dave was there, and he helped the repairman do some stuff my parents said. But I will call, or maybe I'll call a local repairman, because BB is too far to travel.

Daniel C. Oberloh · Post by **Daniel C. Oberloh** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:52 am

Can you give details on when and the problem started? Has it been dropped or damaged in the past? Obviously, something is not straight or is out of round. The valve guides are a common issue with these horns. Did the guides get properly inspected? Anyone mess with your horn that should not have been doing so? Did the repair shop measure the pistons and cylinders to determine if the pistons were bent or cylinders distorted (i.e. use a bore gage and micrometer)? Piston valves are a precision mechanism that should be treated as such and correcting there problems requires a precision approach.

Daniel C. '' who thinks it is important to know what the problem actually is before trying to repair it.'' Oberloh

Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
Seattle, WA
206.241.5767
www.oberloh.com

Water Music · Post by **Water Music** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:24 am

It has never been dropped and no one else has touched it besides my teacher and the BB guys. I will take it to a pro nearby.