Plastic piece stuck in first rotory valve

[jmerring]

I was putting oil (Cass) down the first valve of a Miraphone 186, when the plastic nozzle top came off and got stuck in the first rotor. Do I need to take this to a repairman, or is there a simple way of dislodging it, without a major hassle? By major, I am referring to a complete tear down of the valve. Shaking and light pounding (palm open) did not help.

Thanks for any information (drawings and/or instructions would be great, if possible).

[jon112780]

1.) I might take it out back and stick the (water) hose on where the main tuning slide is. Use low pressure and see if it comes out. If the rotar is turned halfway, there might not be enough pressure to get it out.

2.) Then perhaps I might use a snake (entering the same place as the hose) and try to push it out.

3.) If that dosen't work, take it to the gas station and use the air hose for tires.

4.) Still no luck? Then go to your music store and a technician should be able to get it out.

*You might want to remove all slides, just in case you move a valve while you manuever it into position (the water or air pressure might send it skittering across the ground)...

[SplatterTone]

If it isn't wedged too tightly, you can try plugging the vacuum cleaner hose into the blow end, remove the main tuning slide and blow into the tuba from the main tuning slide end. Hold down the first rotor. That will blow on one leg of the tuning slide. If the plastic isn't in that leg, then blow into that leg with the rotor NOT held down so that the air -- and maybe the plastic -- will come out the other leg.

[iiipopes]

Which leg of the first rotor slide? Depending on which leg, with the horn either upside down or tilted so the legs of the first rotor slide are generally downwards, have you simply tried either blowing on the leadpipe or removing the tuning slide and blowing upstream whilst wiggling the rotor paddle gently to see if it dislodges before going to the more extensive or intensive measures?

[Mark]

I was putting oil (Cass) down the first valve of a Miraphone 186...

Does Cass make a rotor oil?

[windshieldbug]

"valve, slide, and key oil"

Then it's OK... The cap is going through the valve, then will get to a slide! What key is the tuba?

[iiipopes]

For some reason, and even Roger likes it, Al Cass is considered a good maintenance oil to clear the decks with a few drops before you play.

For the same function, I prefer Roche-Thomas.

Singer sewing machine oil also works well, and it's less than two dollars for a 4 oz bottle at Wallyworld.

[jmerring]

Once again, you people have come up with great suggestions. Since the horn is a school horn, I won't get to try the dislodging measures until our next rehearsal (I have to play a 2 concerts on the big silver monster, that I thought was a Yamayork). My personal horn is trashed (as you might be familar, from a previous post of mine). I was hoping to use the school's Miraphone 186, but it's the one I have the problem with (not to mention the fact the th 2nd and 3rd valves are frozen). The horn has been played so seldom, that it gets almost zero maintenance. Pity too; it's a nice playing horn - when it works. The previous player is actually a trombonist, who is now playing french horn in the Community College Band (same one I'm in and that owns both the herin described horns).
I'll revisit this post when I have tried the suggestions received. Wish me luck!