Sticky Valves?...it worked for me

[8vabasso]

I have a Conn 52J that I play on occassion but a couple of the valves were somewhat stubbornly sluggish at times. I have tried gently lapping them but it didn't quite solve the problem. It seemed to be an issue with the valve guides side to side play as they moved up and down. As a whim, I took the two valves out that were the offenders and turned the springs upside down. Somehow it made the problem go away. Not sure how, but I think it might have something to do with the way the spring torques as it pushes up, or maybe I'm losing it in my old age.