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O-Rings:
I have noticed a lot of tubas around that have rubber o-rings on the tuning slides. Why? I can't seem to think of any real reason to have them. But who knows maybe there is! I know this might be a dumb question, but I've been wondering this for quite some time.

come on...can't you see the obvious? They look AWESOME!

They prevent the "clank" noise when you push your tuning slide down all the way. And they look cool!

Also helps keep slides from getting stuck when pushed all the way in. Slight gap helps between metal surfaces.

I've seen O-rings on the kicker slides. I thought that was to help prevent leaks since you needed to use a thinner lube.

I don't need them, but while they're there, and if you're one who turns your piston valve horn upside down, bell on your knee to empty the top slides of water, then for the slides you don't move (for tuning purposes), it gives me a quick reference of where I like to keep the slides. I just keep the 0-Rings there as a marker.

Sorry for the ignorance, but these o-rings are just normal, go-to-your-local-hardware-store style o-rings, right? I've seen them on horns, but never really thought about it.

Bill Troiano wrote:I don't need them, but while they're there, and if you're one who turns your piston valve horn upside down, bell on your knee to empty the top slides of water, then for the slides you don't move (for tuning purposes), it gives me a quick reference of where I like to keep the slides. I just keep the 0-Rings there as a marker.

Agreed. Also a quick reference for me, and as my Nirschl is perfectly in tune once the slides are set , the O-rings become a semi-permanent marker. Additionally, an over-zealous repairman once buffed away on my slides, resulting in the ghostly phenomenon “slide creep.” The rings on my top slides keep them from making me increasingly sharp, (possibly) seal any residual leaks, and leaves my left hand free for other duties.

Karl “hopefully passed the Alex C intonation inspection” Hovey