Sticky Conn short action valve?

manatee · Post by **manatee** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:14 am

Not having a full knowedge of how these work, is there anything down that pin hole that would cause stickieness? I have cleaned the valve casing, and oiled and oiled the valve itself to no avail. This problem appeared out of nowhere after ten months of trouble free service. Any help? Thanks!

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:38 am

Assuming everything is all 'squeaky clean'.... check that pin to make sure it is perfectly straight. Also, check for burrs on all of the parts and insure the key on the bottom side of the cap fits nicely into the notch in the top of the casing. All the parts have to work nicely together. You might have a look at the piston stem, too... to make sure it has not been bent.

twoconnguy · Post by **twoconnguy** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:45 pm

Everything the "Tinker" said, and, when I've had stickiness appear out of nowhere on a valve on my 2XJ's, it was usually because the tubing got slightly rearranged, from a bump or picking it up in the wrong place. You might want to VERY gently push or pull on the tubing going to the casing on the sticky valve and see if it suddenly frees up when slight pressure is applied. If that fixes the stickiness, you should probably take it to a tech to get things put back into alignment. Just my 1.5 cents worth.

manatee · Post by **manatee** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:33 pm

OHhhhhhhhhhhhh. I had forgotten all about that tubing out of alignment thing. That happened to me on another horn and it drove me nuts. Thanks.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:11 pm

Last month, I had a valve sticking badly for no apparent reason. After taking the valve out, cleaning, oiling, cleaning oiling, looking for dings, etc., under a bright light closeup I finally found the smallest of places on the valve itself where an almost microscopic bit of plating had corroded itself off the valve. One more thorough cleaning of the valve casing and tubing, one more oiling, and the valve was unstuck. I looked through the casing, the tubing, the residue in the valve caps; I never did find that flake of plating!

manatee · Post by **manatee** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:13 pm

...(Asking the obvious has been neglected here.)...Is it possible that the valve stem was inadvertently bent - going through a doorway at *TubaChristmas, etc.?

No. I have been VERY careful. But picking it up by the valves. . . yes

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iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:17 pm

bloke wrote:
iiipopes wrote:Last month, I had a valve sticking badly for no apparent reason. After taking the valve out, cleaning, oiling, cleaning oiling, looking for dings, etc., under a bright light closeup I finally found the smallest of places on the valve itself where an almost microscopic bit of plating had corroded itself off the valve. One more thorough cleaning of the valve casing and tubing, one more oiling, and the valve was unstuck. I looked through the casing, the tubing, the residue in the valve caps; I never did find that flake of plating!
Let me guess...

Uh, no...my Besson! But fortunately Mrs. Murphy did not visit this one. It was right at a valve port on the off side to the throw, so there is no leak or intonation problem as a result. Whew!!