A slide that falls out

[Dean]

Hey all.


I have an issue with my 3rd valve slide--the compensating slide. Though still functional and airtight, it is rather loose. When that tubing is engaged, eliminating its negative pressure, it will sometimes fall out from its own weight (and its a short slide, so it doesn't weigh much). For those not familiar with this slide, it is pointing at a downward angle.

What is the accepted way to "rough up" an interior tuning slide so that is requires a bit more effort to move, but is still usable?

[The Jackson]

Perhaps a heavier grease could fix this? I use car oil treatment for my YCB-621's slides, and it was very thick stuff. I have never tried this on that short compensating tubing, but I think it's worth a shot. It's cheap stuff, too (I use generic brand).

Another solution is to give it a once-over with some steel wool, but that may be a bit too much. I only say that because I have seen that being done. It does work, though.

[iiipopes]

A good tech will have a progressive set of iron ball expanders that can be used to slightly expand the slide to the desired tightness.

Steel wool will only screw things up even more.

[SplatterTone]

Sort of along this same line: If you unscrew your belly button, your butt will fall off.

[Dean]

Its a Willson 2900 euph. The 3rd valve compensating slide on the back.

I never "use" it--it stays all the way in, though I do have to empty it of water from time to time.


Thanks all for the advice!

[Steve Inman]

On topic: Thicker grease, but beware over-oiling the associated valve as this may act to thin the slide grease, depending on various factors. (from personal experience, I had my old Besson 983 main tuning slide fall out and hit a cement sidewalk years ago on a warm, outside gig after thoroughly oiling the valves ....)

Not completely on topic: My YEB-381 is pitched so that I must pull the main tuning slide fairly far out, risking the same dropped slide as happened in the account above.

My solution -- insert a single, sousy "tuning bit" inline with my mpc. This allows me to only pull the main slide about 1/4" AND GREATLY IMPROVES the angle of the horn with respect to my body, making it much more comfortable to hold.

Cheers,

[Rick Denney]

A quick and dirty solution is to make good use of a piece of monofilament fishing line. If you do it right, you can slide its tie point around the side of the crook, which provides enough slack to pull and dump it, and then you can slide it back to the center of the crook where it will prevent the slide from falling out.

Rick "who tied the main slide on the York Master this way" Denney

[Dan Schultz]

A quick and dirty solution is to make good use of a piece of monofilament fishing line...... Rick "who tied the main slide on the York Master this way" Denney

Just thought I would expand on this a bit.... to anyone who thinks they can 'improve' on the fishing line material by using rubber bands. DON'T DO IT! The plasticizers in rubber bands and other 'stretchy' materials can (will) damage silver plating and some lacquers.

Stick with the monofilament or other inert material. Cotton twine is also good.

How would I fix it? I know Bloke (and others) frown on using tube expanders. But.... a tubing expander properly applied to about 1/4" of the inner legs farthest away from the crook will keep the slide in place and do no harm. Besides... if the slide is loose enough to fall out for no good reason, it's probably leaking, anyway. Might account for that 2nd valve being a bit 'stuffy'.