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Since the vent hole on a rotary valve is open to the outside of the tuba, does the valve have a greater chance of collecting dust, grit, etc.?

Mark wrote:Since the vent hole on a rotary valve is open to the outside of the tuba, does the valve have a greater chance of collecting dust, grit, etc.?

Mark,

Since Dan Oberloh vented valves 1 thru 4 on my 188 last summer, I've noticed no problems at all. If you decide to have it done, I'd certainly recommend him. I called ahead a few days in advance, then arrived there on a Sat. afternoon when he opens at 2:00. I watched him do the work. He was extremely careful. And it took about an hour.

Mark wrote:Since the vent hole on a rotary valve is open to the outside of the tuba, does the valve have a greater chance of collecting dust, grit, etc.?

I dunno, do you store your horn in a lot of dust , grit, etc.?

(Since the valves are normally enclosed, I would actually suspect rather the opposite, given how often you remove and re-insert piston valves, which also need that big open hole in the bottom cap!)

Most often, the vent holes simply plug up with gunk.

I've had my 184 for 33 years, and all 5 valves were already vented when I got it. No problem. Ever. I've heard a few horror stories, but not once have I spoken with an actual victim. Urban legends, perhaps, or maybe I've led a sheltered life.

At any rate, I just got a Neptune, and I've experienced occasional compression blurps from the un-vented valves (only 2 is vented). I'll be getting them drilled. With no hesitation or reluctance whatsover.

A few years ago I had my first valve vented. I heven't noticed that it's any different from the other four. One time the vent hole got a little obstructed with a mixture of dust and oil. A moment with a toothpick fixed that.

To help keep the hole clear: Push the valve paddle down, pull the slide all the way. Let the valve paddle up, then vigorously push the slide all the way in. That causes a good blast of air out through the vent hole.

Cheers,
Allen

bloke wrote:bloke "A vent hole might possibly get clogged if someone is addicted to the practice of eating corndogs and playing the tuba at the same time.

Joe, I respectfully submit that it's not possible.

You take a bite of the cordog, have a swig of beer, and then play. Lather, rinse, repeat.

roll up a tiny piece of felt, place it in front of the hole... no build up.

Our community band rehearses in a large rehearsal hall that has all the temperature vagaries of any large not well regulated room. So as I alternately play and rest, whether for the music or the conductor working on a sectional issue, with the horn getting alternately warm and cold, I then go to play and get the usual thumps from delta air pressure from temperature change and routine slide pulls for the usual culprits.

So, who in southwest Missouri can do a good job of venting Miraphone 186 rotors (standard 4 @ .770 bore)?

iiipopes wrote:Our community band rehearses in a large rehearsal hall that has all the temperature vagaries of any large not well regulated room. So as I alternately play and rest, whether for the music or the conductor working on a sectional issue, with the horn getting alternately warm and cold, I then go to play and get the usual thumps from delta air pressure from temperature change and routine slide pulls for the usual culprits.

So, who in southwest Missouri can do a good job of venting Miraphone 186 rotors (standard 4 @ .770 bore)?

unless i misinterpreted your post, you can solve that problem by depressing your valves before you play right?

Of course! But I'm also getting the thumps after long intervals from temperature changes that I would rather not thump as I'm preparing to play! Before I move slides!

I know I should be glad that it still does that seeing it's now @ 36 years old, but it is annoying.