TubeNet

I'm positive given the wealth of knowlege and experience on this forum, I'm sure someone has the right idea on this...

Last weekend I gave my Jupiter 482 a bath (4 piston valves). Did the quick vinegar dip, followed by rinsing and soak/snake/rinse in warm (not hot) dish soap. I followed all of the conventional wisdom regarding the process - I've been playing horns (and consequently bathing horns) for over 25 years, although recently I'm getting back to playing after a hiatus - but I digress...

The valves on the horn worked really well - very fast and quiet - prior to the bath. During the vinegar soak I did keep the valves IN, but removed them when I removed the slides prepped for the tub soak in the dish soap.

I did carefully break down the respective valves (even to the point of not mixing the springs up and laying out the felts in order).

Upon finishing, drying, and re-lubing all valves and slides - everything goes back together fine. I even went so far as to try the Hetman's Light Oil (the horn is less than a year old and the valves are not "tight" but they seem to move betterwith the lighter oil).

Then I notice as distinct CLICK in the 3rd and 4th valve! It doesn't sound like the spring is unseated - the sound is identical on both valves, and the CLICK is on the bottom of both the down and up strokes. It almost sounds like the valve cap is not screwed down all the way, but far less pronounced. By the way the buttons, top and bottom caps are all secure (first thing I thought of).

Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful. Taking the horn in for a service wouldn't be an immediate option as I have gigs the next two weekends.


Thanks in advance to all of you!

I've checked both of those items.

The felts are not only on the same valves, but in the same order as I took them off (I'm a little bit detail-oriented about things like that)...

Thanks though...

*Make sure the valve stems are screwed in all the way.
*Take out each piston and carefully shake up and down to see if water or debris are trapped in the inside of the piston. My Olds had a "knockout" (small piece of metal from a prior repair) rattling around inside a valve - still does.
*Check valve guides?

Eric "love-hate relationship with pistons" L.

of the top and bottom valve screw caps. These will clank if they are loose. Make sure they are tight without over tightening them. Sometimes it helps to put a little oil on the threads of these parts when you re-assemble the horn.

Roger

This is a wild shot, but on each of the affected valves remove the springs and turn them over. It's possible that there is a top and bottom to the springs and you installed them up side down. You may be hearing them slip in and out of their seats.

I can't tell from your post just how audible the 'click' is. It could be that your valve guides are simply 'slapping' the sides of the guide slot. The nature of the spring is that it tries to rotate the piston one way going down and the opposite way coming back up. Take a look at your valve guides. Are they worn and producing excessive side-to-side clearance? Are they screwed in all the way? If all is well, put a few drops of oil in the guide slot to 'cushion' the 'slap'. See if the noise goes away.