Re: Air leak


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Posted by Rick Denney on August 31, 2000 at 13:32:11:

In Reply to: Air leak posted by Fuzzy on August 31, 2000 at 10:01:46:

Upon removed the bottom bow on my Missenharter project horn, I found the shell of a disposable baby bottle, partly melted from the torch. Removing that solved a bunch of problems!

Are you sure it's a leak and not a rattle? It could be a loose valve spring vibrating against the casing. Thick oil temporarily in place of valve oil will test the valves for rattling or leaking. Of course, it's probably not the valves (based on your description), but it might also be loose bow guards. Bow guards have a nasty tendency to buzz unless they are installed by a real pro.

I used a roll of paper towel, wrapped in plastic, stuffed down the bell to seal up the horn. When I blew into the horn, the leaks became apparent (and I found several). You can do the same thing more easily just with the valve body by removing the tuning slide (if it's downstream of the valves) and sealing the tube with your thumb.

Rick "pressure building" Denney


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