5th valve conversion parts question

[contravic]

Hello all,

I am looking to convert my PT12's valve configuration from 4+2 to 5+1. I was wondering if anyone knows if/where I can get all the parts (linkages, spring, paddle etc) already bent and ready to simply solder in. Or is this something that my repair guy would have to fashion himself?

I had it done to a PT16 once, but that repair guru moved away and I lost contact with him. I don't know if he custom made everything or if he ordered a "conversion kit" of sorts from the factory...

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!!

[contravic]

Is the objective to free up a hand to manipulate a slide?

Yes sir!

[TheHatTuba]

.

[Colby Fahrenbacher]

I had some similar work done on my PT16 a few years ago by Dana Hofer in Chicago. He did some marvelous work on it, but from what I remember, he did the work using parts available in the shop - he didn't order any B&S specific parts to convert it. If you are in the Chicago area, I'd give his shop a visit. If not, you can always give him a call and chat with him about it so you can have a better idea what kind of work it would take. He has a website where you can get his info and check out his shop. I believe he still has pictures of my conversion up there.

When we were discussing the conversion, I initially thought the same way you did, that I would try to procure the 5th valve assembly for a similar PT horn (a PT15 for me, and PT10 for you) and have it installed on my horn. There are a few little differences between the PT15 and PT16 (and PT10 and PT12 for your case) that make this more than just a "purchase and install" job. Tweaks would have to be made in order to have the assembly actually work with the new horn. When we realized this, we decided it would be easier to just start from scratch.

That said, we theorized that we could order the assembly through Custom if we had wanted to go that route. We never got far enough along in the process to actually verify whether that was true or not, though.

Hope that helps.

* Side note: I had the conversion done because I found it uncomfortable to hold the horn in the only way possible to manipulate the 5th valve regularly. Putting it in the right hand let me hold the horn whatever way I found the most comfortable, and my arm hasn't been tired since.

[contravic]

Hi Colby. That does help. The pictures of your PT16 are still up on his site. I will contact him soon.

Thanks so much