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Hello. I have a Yamaha YFB-822 f tuba. I have been loving it until today when I noticed a strange noise in the valve. I was able to figure out that it was the hole on the bottom valve cap thing. When I press the valves down, there is a "whoosh" as the piston pushes the air out and another "whoosh" when the piston sucks the air back in through the hole. Is there any good way to remedy this?

-daflyingtubaman

The purpose of that hole in the bottom cap is to allow air in and out of the casing. There is also a vent hole in the top and bottom of the piston itself. The vent through the piston may be full of gunk or the top hole is partially blocked by something. You should be able to take the piston out and blow air through it.

I know how to take the piston out, but where do you blow the air through? And also, if I found out how to, how exactly should I get the gunk out?

I've used an ear syringe to flush out pistons; beats blowing on them 'til your cheeks are sore, plus you can blow hot soapy water through them that way. Neat suggestion about the mouthwash. Any idea if those whitening/anti-plaque mouthwashes with peroxide might help loosen any "gunk" from the valves?

I tried blowing through them and here's the strange thing. All 4 pistons were just fine. It's still making the whooshing noise and it's so annoying I can't even practice.

A dental "water-pik" is good for cleaning the gunk out of the inside of a piston. If you submerge the entire piston then it doesn't spray all over you. Squirt water into the holes at the top and bottom of the piston, and also into the vent hole if it is vented. (The water-pik also good for cleaning your teeth; use it after every meal when you can!)

Another possible source of that "whoosh" sound is your felt bumpers at the top of the piston. Sometimes they can get stuck to the inside of the top valve cap, so the valve stem feels friction as it slides through. That is more likely to happen if you are using synthetic rubberized felts.

Art Hovey wrote:A dental "water-pik" is good for cleaning the gunk out of the inside of a piston. If you submerge the entire piston then it doesn't spray all over you. Squirt water into the holes at the top and bottom of the piston, and also into the vent hole if it is vented. (The water-pik also good for cleaning your teeth; use it after every meal when you can!)

Another possible source of that "whoosh" sound is your felt bumpers at the top of the piston. Sometimes they can get stuck to the inside of the top valve cap, so the valve stem feels friction as it slides through. That is more likely to happen if you are using synthetic rubberized felts.

I actually do have rubberized felts, so I will check that out. If that is the problem, is there any way to remedy it?

It's the felts. I was able to catch it red handed with the felt stuck to the casing top so I'm gonna try to get the felts replaced. Thanks guys!

-daflyingtubaman