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I have a Meinl-Weston 2145. The 3rd and 4th valves both have a spit-valve on the corresponding removable bottom slide. They also have a top and bottom removable slide. Every time spit in the horn disrupts the sound, no matter how many time I turn the horn, (and yes, I DO push down the corresponding valve while emptying the spit valve), the spit will not come out of the spit valve. I have even tried doing it without depressing the corresponding valve. I always end up having to turn the horn upside-down and pulling the top slides out and emptying the spit from the top slides. For you owners of the 2145's (or anyone else in the know), do you have suggestions as to thing you may have found with regards to the 3rd and 4th valves to make spit come out of the spit-valves?
Thanks,
Gray Bach

Every CC that I've ever owned (2145, HB-50, 2155) has had a similar design to this. Without fail, the water just doesn't ever want to drain out of the water keys. My suggestion: keep your 3rd and 4th slides well maintained and get used to yanking them when you can.

This happens on my conn56j, I hate having to yank the top slides and drain during rests.

This happens on my Baer 6/4.

I had push button water keys installed on a different location on the slide. No more spinning, twisting, flipping. I now have water keys where the condensation gathers. I find the stock 3rd valve spit valve to be useless.

If you logically look at the top tubing you should be able to figure out how to "spin" the horn so that the water will come out the spit valve at the bottom. Thus making it where you don't have to pull out the slides to get the water out. ie, point the bell down to the ground slightly, tilt the horn toward or away depending on the wrap and then sit up in your lap again. I have to do that twice for my 4th valve to get the water all the way to the bottom tuning slide with the spit valve.

The water is "stuck" on top of the valve, so you will have to spin the horn to get it off the top of the valve and to the bottom tuning slide with the spit valve.

wchoc86 wrote:press down the valve and open the spit key at the same time, blow.

works if there's no time to get the water out, but it's better to tilt the thing over and drain it.

I completely agree. I had one for awhile. Its the surest way to get the water out. Besides, Id rather tilt and pull a slide than risk denting it during a rotation.

I own a 2145. I press down the third valve, tilt the tuba forward while holding the valve down, bring the tuba back up, then open the water key on the third valve slide while still holding the valve down and let the water out. it seems that water gets trapped in the fifth valve and this method moves it over to the third.

I have this problem on my horn, Sam Gnagey horn, but I found the best way was to actually do what someone listed earlier. You take a look at the tubing and figure out where the condensation is gathering. Next, press down the valve while tilting the tuba so that the water will "fall" towards the side of the tubing where the water key is located. Then, slowly rotate (In the opposite direction you just came from) the tuba upright and release the key. I can't really pull my 3rd valve slide since it's kinda close to the other slides and this is the best method I have found.