Rotary Valve Back Caps on Tight

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:03 pm

Hmmm. Since most shops will unstick mouthpieces for free, and since you aren't having any "work" done, they should loosen them for you for free as a good will to get you to come back when you need some repairs or periodic maintenance. Just make sure you ask what to put as appropriate lubricant on the threads so you aren't going back every week!

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:10 pm

If you have any of the rubber sort of stuff you use for gripping and unscrewing tight lids on jars, you can snip off a piece of that and try it on the rotor caps before giving up and taking it to somebody with the right tools.

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:56 pm

Yep, that's Miraphone tightness for you. I've owned two new Miraphones over the years----a 186 CC and a 1291 CC (both are very good horns, BTW).

A strap wrench worked fine on loosening the valve caps on the 186. However, the space between the valve caps on the 1291 is almost non-existent---- I'm not sure a strap wrench can be applied there.

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:01 pm

I guess I should have pointed out that the bottom valve caps 1-4 on the Miraphone 1291 are piston valves if that makes any difference in loosening them. There is a bottom cap on the #5 rotor also.

prototypedenNIS · Post by **prototypedenNIS** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:31 pm

Rawhide mallet

tap directly on the edge of the cap with the followthrough going counterclockwise (to apply a little bit of force in taking it off)

this is the standard tool for piston valve caps as well.

PS. If you need to reech further, a small piece of wood (like a cut off blunted drumstick) can reach through tangling tuba tubing.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:41 pm

prototypedenNIS wrote:Rawhide mallet

ditto

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:16 pm

Glad you got tha caps off. But if you need a tool that will fit in tight places -- like valve caps on a euphonium or tuba, you can get the Zyliss Strongboy. Works like a charm.
http://astore.amazon.com/tubaeuphonium- ... B002O3Y7I2
...price $12.56

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:36 pm

bloke wrote:Use your teeth.

<img src="http://tinypic.com/intjyc.jpg">

Good to see that everything's staying on an even Kiel ...

prototypedenNIS · Post by **prototypedenNIS** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:07 am

Oh, while they're still loose

PUT SOME SLIDE GREASE ON THEM

so next time they'll probably still be loose.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:44 am

prototypedenNIS wrote:Oh, while they're still loose

PUT SOME SLIDE GREASE ON THEM

so next time they'll probably still be loose.

A bit of anti-seize works wonders also:

http://www.sacskyranch.com/antiseize.htm