ShoreMusic.org Forums ShoreMusic.org Blowing in the Wind Third valve

My trumpet has always had a problem with the third valve being sluggish. I've cleaned them and oiled them, but it still sticks on occasion. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Yeah, we have 2 trumpets and they both have that problem from time to time. The obvious thing to check would be a bent rod connecting the valve and tip. If not that, I,ve had good luck with this: Remove the valve. Clean the oil and residue from the valve and valve walls. Reassemble the valve dry and work it up and down quickly for a short time to wear it in. Oil the valve well and work it again. Clean the valve and valve walls again and reoil. This should work well for a good while. Also when pressing down on the valves to play, press straight down and not at an angle. Pressing from the side on a valve will cause it to bind/stick and be sluggish. Hope this helps.



Bobby

My goodness... don't y'all have and trumpet players in your band??

NEVER put a valve in dry. You will do permanent damage. Now if this is some old junker, then you don't have to worry about it, but if this is a good horn with Monel valves always have oil on it.

What kind of oil are you using? I recommend Zaja oil - available online. http://www.zaja.com.

You should take your horn to a repairman for a complete chemical bath and flush. If the valve doesn't work well then, you need some kind of repair - honing or relapping of the valve. Use a pro!

Michael Anderson

have you actually taken the valve apart itself. I mean unscrewed the valve so the spring comes out and you can clean the entire valve casing? same thing happened to me until i tried this on my own, solved my problem

I've never taken the valve completely apart, but will definately give it a try. Thanks!

what? theres a third valve?!?!?!?!


ive been kidnapped plz return me

when i played tuba in florida i used a tuba with 4 valves or whatever and i remember how i didnt use the 4th valve in till i was told that when u use it to replace this one note that it would be more in tuned then i started to use and now i miss it very much

wow sounds interesting....i wish i had a fourth valve on my trumpet ...you lucky people u

I do agree With Mr. Anderson, and his answer is really the best you can do an acid bath and an overhaul are the best ways to make an old horn work like new, BUT for those of us who DON'T have money pouring out of our ears This is by no means a perfect solution, but if you can't afford an acid bath try this, it has worked well for me in the past:

before you begin, do NOT do this without this necessary equipment onhand:
Slide Grease
Valve Oil

step 1 label a piece of paper with the numbers 1-3
step 2 remove valves and place on over corresponding number label
step 3 remove tuning slides
step 4 make up a tub or sink (whichever appropriate for your instrument size) of water just barely warm to touch (NOT HOT... I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH... HOT WILL STRIP YOUR HORN OF ITS LACQUER... DON'T!!!)
step 5 add a liberal amount of Dishsoap (Palmolive works quite well), then get some suds built
step 6 submerse horn and slides
Step 7 go to bed, play games, leave for about 5-8 hours
Step 8 remove from water (CAREFUL, they will be SLIPPERY), rinse (with trumpet best way is to run water through bell), then running water through each loose piece of pipe
step 9 allow all parts to AIR DRY... make sure it is totally dry before moving on... tilt and shake to free water from bends
step 10 grease slides and reassemble, NO VALVES yet
Step 11 oil valves (don't be stingy, slather it on), then reinsert into appropriate casings, make sure they are moving smoothly... if not, MORE oil, the water.