Another question about valve problems.....now solved
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 7:11 am
I use a converted tuba (York with Meinl Weston 2165 valve cluster, installed around 2000).
The valves (mainly 1st, after a while followed by 2nd) get slow and sticky after a few hours of use. Recently I had them buffed and polished, (nylon) guides were replaced as well. The situation has improved somewhat. But now again these valves "ask" for oil after 2 rehearsals or even earlier. (By the way, I always see more water gathering on the bottom of the valves than I would expect to stay there.)
Please, would you be so kind to comment on possible causes and remedies? Thanks a lot in advance,
Hubert.
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april 16th, 2014
After reading the reactions to my question, it seemed to me, that "suction" was the most probable cause of the problem, perhaps combined with the water driving-out the oil rather fast.
The tuba has front valves. When playing/holding it on my lap, the water that gathers on the bottom of the valves (1 and 2) cannot flow off through the opening in the bottom valve caps, because the instrument is in an inclined position. So, I looked what was the lowest point of the bottom valve caps, when holding the instrument on my lap. I drilled a tiny gap on that spot in the valve cap, just on the edge. Now the water can find its way out, while I am playing. It seems to help: the valve movement is OK now, the need for frequent oiling has diminished to normal proportions.
Thanks for your reactions and suggestions.
Hubert
The valves (mainly 1st, after a while followed by 2nd) get slow and sticky after a few hours of use. Recently I had them buffed and polished, (nylon) guides were replaced as well. The situation has improved somewhat. But now again these valves "ask" for oil after 2 rehearsals or even earlier. (By the way, I always see more water gathering on the bottom of the valves than I would expect to stay there.)
Please, would you be so kind to comment on possible causes and remedies? Thanks a lot in advance,
Hubert.
-------------------------------------------
april 16th, 2014
After reading the reactions to my question, it seemed to me, that "suction" was the most probable cause of the problem, perhaps combined with the water driving-out the oil rather fast.
The tuba has front valves. When playing/holding it on my lap, the water that gathers on the bottom of the valves (1 and 2) cannot flow off through the opening in the bottom valve caps, because the instrument is in an inclined position. So, I looked what was the lowest point of the bottom valve caps, when holding the instrument on my lap. I drilled a tiny gap on that spot in the valve cap, just on the edge. Now the water can find its way out, while I am playing. It seems to help: the valve movement is OK now, the need for frequent oiling has diminished to normal proportions.
Thanks for your reactions and suggestions.
Hubert
. I used it for many years (piston and rotor), but more recently have been using the Yamaha synthetic valve oils. For my newer instruments I use Yamaha Synthetic Light Valve Oil. So you might try that.
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