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I have a 191 that I purchased from a music store in Palo Alto, Calif. It was sent to me with a stuck 2nd valve slide. Before I travel to the nearest repair tech, can anyone help with some things I might try myself to free the valve? It also has a small dent in the bow near where your left leg might contact the horn. I was told this might cause more damage to repair it than what I would gain from the repair. Any ideas on that would be appreciated. I really like the sound of the horn, having owned a 186 4U since 89, which is now for sale.

Thanks,
Rick

Sometimes a stuck 2nd slide will respond to a small towel being run through the pull ring and given a bit of a 'jerk'.

As far as the small dent goes... it may come out easily by skilled hands using magnetic tools.

A picture would help.

One word: blowtorch!

BLOKE! I got one of those! Used it on my BAT!!!

Honestly now, I would take a light mallet, like the balsa wood mallet that used to come with Mirafones, and taking a light 1/4" wood dowel, I would tap lightly all over the slide. A light (weight, not color) rawhide chime mallet works as well.Then putting a rag through the SLIDE (not the ring) I'd try a few 'snap-tugs.' If that doesn't do it, do the tapping thing once more. Try the 'snap-tug' again. If that doesn't work, take it to a repair tech. DO NOT PULL, YANK OR FORCE ANYTHING. You could easily warp the valve knuckle and then you'll be in a WORLD of hurt.

Use an ice cube to cool the end of the slide while simultaneously warming the outer slide tubing with your hand.
The temperature change may be enough to loosen the slide.

Ferree's used to carry some stuff called "Corrosion Cracker." It comes in a glass jar with a big warning on the side, it's nasty stuff but it works.

TubaTinker wrote:Sometimes a stuck 2nd slide will respond to a small towel being run through the pull ring and given a bit of a 'jerk'.

This is the best advice, except I would run the fabric through the crook itself if there is enough room, pull it taught and then apply some pressure. Dan's a smart guy, nice too.

The following information is my opinion:
The bit with the ice cube probably wont work. You shouldn't buy and use corrosion cracker because you can make a big mess with it, and it is nasty stuff that involves clean up, and it works best with heat, which again, you shouldn't do. If the dent is small enough and not really noticable, you might just leave it alone.

tubamuphone wrote:Ferree's used to carry some stuff called "Corrosion Cracker." It comes in a glass jar with a big warning on the side, it's nasty stuff but it works.

This stuff WORKS! Given enough time, I've seen it loosen stuff frozen for a century. No exaggeration! Use a syringe or similar to apply it and capillary action will take care of the rest. Give it time. The century horn took 2 months. Most take less than 20 minutes.

Use sparingly.

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. So far, no luck, but I have not tried the corrosion cracker. Where can I buy it?

J.c. Sherman wrote:

tubamuphone wrote:Ferree's used to carry some stuff called "Corrosion Cracker." It comes in a glass jar with a big warning on the side, it's nasty stuff but it works.

This stuff WORKS! Given enough time, I've seen it loosen stuff frozen for a century. No exaggeration! Use a syringe or similar to apply it and capillary action will take care of the rest. Give it time. The century horn took 2 months. Most take less than 20 minutes.

Use sparingly.

I'd like to know exactly what's in that stuff. Smells like crap!

TubaTinker wrote:

J.c. Sherman wrote:

tubamuphone wrote:Ferree's used to carry some stuff called "Corrosion Cracker." It comes in a glass jar with a big warning on the side, it's nasty stuff but it works.

This stuff WORKS! Given enough time, I've seen it loosen stuff frozen for a century. No exaggeration! Use a syringe or similar to apply it and capillary action will take care of the rest. Give it time. The century horn took 2 months. Most take less than 20 minutes.

Use sparingly.

I'd like to know exactly what's in that stuff. Smells like crap!

I have no idea, but I get the little bottles from Allied with the needle cap, so it doesn't escape

To the OP; Corrosion Cracker is available from Ferries (sp?) Tools.