TubeNet

You didn't mention that you clean the valve cap. After several months of a similar problem, I discovered that a gunky valve cap was the culprit.

Stefan Antwarg

The techs at Shires trombones are loving Zaja oils for all kinds of valves. They particularly like the Zaja Blue, which has some kind of teflon suspension in it. The trumpet players who work there are using it on their piston valves with great success, and it's working better on my tuba pistons than the oil Dave Fedderly sent me with the horn. Yesterday I put it on the rotary valves of my bass trombone, and so far it feels great.

My first valve (tuba) is still a little sticky, but I think it's mostly because of a loose guide. Also, it seems to have been broken in a little funky - it seems to work better if I kind of flat-finger it on the front of the valve cap.

Steve Shires recommends oiling valves before you put the horn in the case, to help prevent corrosion.

Les, I had the same problem with my first horn, an Amati; nearly identical symptoms (except my worst offender was #2), I tried nearly the same fixes, no success. Granted the Amati is a bottom of the line horn, but usually those have loose fitting pistons, not tight. One day in desperation (during a performance!) I pulled my valves appart, wiped the pistons off with my handkerchief, and swabbed the casings out too. Problem solved! From then on lubrication consisted of oiling, then wiping off. I'm strictly amateur, but if the good advice the pro's have given you doesn't work, as a last resort maybe this will.

***

A very simple solution to your sticky situation can be found when you remember that oil and water do not mix. Trombonists use this principle to get their slide to move smoother & faster. If you need a fix in a jiffy, try borrowing a spray bottle from a trombonist, or even just pour some water over the already oiled valve.


Simon McCauley