Re: valves wont move!!!!


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Posted by Smart guy on August 18, 2000 at 12:43:47:

In Reply to: valves wont move!!!! posted by yes on August 18, 2000 at 11:23:49:

Learn bugle calls??

My daughter's school french horn had the same problem. Take off the back caps and the levers, leaving the valve free to turn other than being frozen. Get some penetrating oil, put it on the back of the valve, on the bearing (in the middle). Let it sit for awhile (an hour, at least). Then get a hair dryer, put it on its hottest setting, and play it over the valves for a couple of minutes. The idea is to heat the casings more than the rotors, so don't do this for too long! After a couple of minutes, use pliers (with a rag over the jaws) to GENTLY rotate the valve. Still no go? tap on the 'stem', try it again. Once you get them moving, they will be really stiff, because they've had no oil on them. Put valve oil down the leadpipe as you work the valves. Then, once they're moving, clean the horn and re-oil the valves as usual.

No matter what, DON'T force the valves! If you can't get them moving without forcing, take it to the man.



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