Sousaphone--Stuck Bits

[largobone]

I'm not sure if they're stuck because they corroded together, or they haven't been taken apart for a long time, or because someone stuck a Jupiter bit into an Olds neck, but one of my bits is stuck in the neck (everything else comes apart). Is there some form of thermal expansion trick or easier way to get them apart? As they are, they're at an uncomfortably high angle and I don't think I can put up with it for more than one or two rehearsals. Thanks!

EDIT: I will be taking them to a tech (hopefully today) but it would still be nice to know of a way to seperate them in an emergency (ie. at a marching competition or an hour before a football game).

[Donn]

Don't use pliers.

[largobone]

Update: The bit was separated by the tech this morning. IT must have been really stuck because he told me to come back an hour later...

[Rick Denney]

Update: The bit was separated by the tech this morning. IT must have been really stuck because he told me to come back an hour later...

He didn't want you to see how easy it was when he presented you with the bill, perhaps.

Rick "who keeps a small rawhide mallet at the top of his frequently used tuba tools" Denney

[Rick Denney]

Update: The bit was separated by the tech this morning. IT must have been really stuck because he told me to come back an hour later...

He didn't want you to see how easy it was when he presented you with the bill, perhaps.

Or just maybe he had to complete some other task before doing it.

Yeah, that's it.

Rick "maybe" Denney

[Three Valves]

This is why I take my cars to the same guy for 15+ yrs even though I moved 40 minutes away.

The last time something like that happened I gave him $10 for lunch, otherwise, no charge, even though he put my car on the lift and spent 20 minutes of his time.

[largobone]

I really hope he wasn't charging me for nothing, although this shop has a habit of marking up repair prices and overcharging for simple things...Unfortunately I only know of two other places to take my repairs in the area, but one is the same way from what I've heard and the other is 2 hours away, which is definitely too far for some stuck bits. If anyone knows a tech in the Des Moines area that does good work and doesn't overcharge, I'd love to get a name and address (or something along those lines). The tech I mentioned is Merlin Grady in Waterloo, but he's too far for most stuff.

[Rick Denney]

Or just maybe he had to complete some other task before doing it.

Yeah, that's it.

Rick "maybe" Denney

Good thing you have bloke to do all of your repairs. That, and your hammer...

Bloke only does the repairs that are extensive enough to be worth driving to Memphis from northern Virginia.

Rick "who can handle most routine things like this at home" Denney

[Rick Denney]

well...
There's always the "sand method" when things are stuck together...

You fill the two stuck-together items with sand, and then pound sand until they are forced apart.

I used to drive out pilot bearings for transmission input shafts by filling the cavity with grease, inserting a bolt that I had dressed on the grinder to just fit easily into the pilot hole, and then whacking it with a hammer. Two whacks (refilling in between) was usually all it took. But those weren't tapered parts. For tapered connections on cars, including things like steering linkages, whacking the side with a hammer (backed up on the other side with a hunk of iron) is standard practice, and works especially well when pullers won't fit in the space.

Rick "who would write 'hydraulic removal of pilot bearing' on the work ticket" Denney

[windshieldbug]

You fill the two stuck-together items with sand, and then pound sand until they are forced apart.

I've had enough people tell me to go pound sand, thank you very

[Rick Denney]

You fill the two stuck-together items with sand, and then pound sand until they are forced apart.

I've had enough people tell me to go pound sand, thank you very

He got the joke...and even though he's a tuba player...

Everyone got the joke, but some tastefully ignored it.

Rick "how droll" Denney

[iiipopes]

For a stubborn pair, has anyone ever run hot water on the outside of one and ice the other, and then tap with the proper accoutrement? That has worked for me on a couple of occasions over the decades when they got really, really stuck.