Posted by Dale non-anon on May 30, 2001 at 16:43:18:
In Reply to: PT-6P Valve problems posted by Mike Silvagnoli on May 30, 2001 at 15:15:09:
Mike,
One of my favorite phrases for people doing aerospace mfg for my work
is "Clean clean clean" - cannot do reliable work with less than super clean conditions.
On my PT4P the valves sometimes seem more temperamental than on my other tubas,
ironically (and usually) 1st valve. What works for this is remove and wipe
using a lint-free cloth on the valve, and also peering down
into the valve casing and (sometimes) having to scrape away a very small deposit,
USUALLY close to the valve guide groove. I use Al Cass Fast on this horn, and squirt
a bit in the bottoms of the valves every day first time I pick the horn up. Also,
it seems that anything less than clean mouth - be it coffee or popcorn (j/k)
effects - so I brush before playing and ESPECIALLY rinse that toothpasty reminder
outta my mouth w/clean water. A lot of hassle perhaps but the clearances are tight
and thats just the way it goes.
Oh one other thought, when I first got the horn it seemed nothing I could do to keep
clean valves kept them from sticking...until my teacher suggested I wasn't pushing the valves straight down, f.w.i.w. hearing that and being mindful of that helped!
dp