Altering a tuba 4th valve from right hand pinky operation

[Tubaing]

Piston or Rotor?

[imperialbari]

Has the tuba in question pistons or rotors?

If it has rotors, your repairman may find inspiration in the way Scherzer piccolo trumpets as of 20 years ago came in an alternative version with the 4th valve operated by the left index finger.

If it has pistons, your best bet is to reach around and operate the 4th piston with your left index.

Klaus

[NDSPTuba]

I've long thought that a thumb operated forth valve would be easier to use than the pinky operated forth. I would think you could create some linkage that would allow that to happen on that tuba.

[imperialbari]

Where do you have your left hand when playing?

Do you hold your tuba very upright or very tilted when playing?

And this question assuming you may actually operate the 4th valve with the right pinkie:

Do you exploit the longer lever arm (the longer paddle) by placing your fingertip near the end of the paddle? The movement will be longer, but the force needed will be smaller.

Klaus

[Dan Schultz]

Is the problem a pinky length problem, or a pinky strength problem?

If length, solder on a quarter.

RC

Good answer. That quarter not only extends the 4th rotor paddle but it also increases the mechanical advantage... making the rotor easier to actuate... even though the paddle has to travel a bit farther.

My 'pinky' is clearly well over an inch shorter than my ring finger so I've put a quarter on the 4th paddle of my Marzan.

[imperialbari]

If the tuba is held rather upright, it may be worthwhile jury-rigging a test set-up:

Attach a thin string (woven nylon) to the S-link just behind the expansion for the crank-screw. Let the string end in a padded sling for the left thumb or index to pull the rotor to engage the valve tubing. The current spring will return the valve if the string doesn’t interfere with the crank joint.

My suggestion is not very original. It is the way the F valves on old German trombones have worked for at least a century. They used to come with two tuning slides, one having the valve sitting just ahead of the bow. I have used the same system on my long sold first generation B&H Sovereign large tenor trombone. When the clumsy lever system for the tuning slide valve failed, while I worked on the Faeroes, my only option was to raid the sewing materials of the house.

Klaus