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Whistling valve
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:19 pm
by Chadtuba
I'm having some issues with the first valve of my borrowed Holton 345 whistling everytime it goes up or down. I've taken the tuning slide out and moved the valve, checked for any blockage (to the best of my unskilled abilities), and checked everything that I can (once again to the best of my abilities) all to no avail. Any suggestions?
Re: Whistling valve
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:35 pm
by Dan Schultz
Chadtuba wrote:I'm having some issues with the first valve of my borrowed Holton 345 whistling everytime it goes up or down. I've taken the tuning slide out and moved the valve, checked for any blockage (to the best of my unskilled abilities), and checked everything that I can (once again to the best of my abilities) all to no avail. Any suggestions?
Take the piston out and force water up through the hole in the bottom through the vent hole in the top.
Re: Whistling valve
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:38 pm
by JCradler
Have you checked the bottom valve cap? That's usually where such noise comes from. Make sure that vent is open as it was designed. It also may be whistling if it is close to your clothing while you are playing, preventing the air from vacating the bottom of the piston.
JC
Re: Whistling valve
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:39 pm
by bort
Ditto. There's probably some green slimy crud somewhere. Check the bottom valve cap too, or if the piston is vented, check that hole too. My old 1291 used to whistle now and then.
Re: Whistling valve
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:46 pm
by dwerden
bort wrote:Ditto. ...or if the piston is vented, check that hole too.
Usually there is a hole in the top and bottom of the piston. In most pistons the bottom hole is large and does not clog easily, but check it anyway. But the top hole is easily overlooked. Make sure it is clean AND make sure the cork/felt/rubber washer at the top of the piston doesn't partially block it. On one horn I had it was necessary to cut part of the felt washer away (making a small flat spot on one side) and making sure that flat spot lined up so the hole was fully open.
Re: Whistling valve
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:27 pm
by Chadtuba
Well not sure what did it but I was able to get the whistling to stop. I did what you suggested and flushed the valve as best as I could using a micro thin brush (baby bottle nipple brush) on the wholes on the top and bottom, put the valve back in and good to go. Very glad I didn't need to trim the rubber washer on the top of the valve.
Thanks all!