In need of help with tuba valves

someguy0105 · #1 06-20-2008, 06:42 PM

So I took my valve out to oil it and the few pieces on the valve fell off (the felt pad, the small washer, and a white plastic piece). I'm not sure how it was assembled but I've tried various combinations that seem the make sense but when I put the valve back in the housing it spins and becomes unaligned. Any suggests as to what I should do?

Wootsticks · #2 06-20-2008, 06:59 PM

You got any pics? Is it piston or rotary? EDIT: Obviously, it's not rotary, I'm dumb and misread it. Well I don't know what a white plastic piece is, but a small washer COULD go right underneath the finger button, and the felt COULD go at the bottom of the rod connecting the valve and the finger button. (Don't know the technical term, sorry.) Pics would help though.

For other tuba needs, check out forums.chisham.com. Great site, if the occupants are a little bit tongue-in-cheek.

lemur821 · #3 06-20-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy0105

So I took my valve out to oil it and the few pieces on the valve fell off (the felt pad, the small washer, and a white plastic piece). I'm not sure how it was assembled but I've tried various combinations that seem the make sense but when I put the valve back in the housing it spins and becomes unaligned. Any suggests as to what I should do?

Based on my trumpet, there should be a notch on the white plastic piece that needs to fit into a notch in the valve casing to prevent spinning.

EDIT: I'm assuming piston valves.

Wootsticks · #4 06-20-2008, 07:17 PM

Lemur is most likely correct, but unfortunately I don't own any more piston instruments, so I can't check.

someguy0105 · #5 06-20-2008, 07:22 PM

Well after cleaning the housing I found the notch. It had a chunk of gunk right at the top hiding it from view. Thanks for the help though.

Wootsticks · #6 06-20-2008, 07:27 PM

Maybe you ought to pull out the old garden hose and give it a bath.

Tejano Joveno · #7 06-20-2008, 07:46 PM

Order is washer, white plastic cap and felt pad. At least I'm relatively sure, I haven't touched a tuba in nearly a month.

kissmybASS01 · #8 06-21-2008, 01:58 AM

If that "little white piece" is the one that has the "tongue" that slides inside the groove, it's the nylon valve guide. Yamaha instruments (especially their student model tubas, and euphoniums) were notorious for this small cost savings device. They wear away quickly and then they are totally useless because the valve can spin and become un-aligned.

I've been told that if you are storing brass valved instruments for a while, prep each valve with gun oil. It's thicker than valve oil and will prevent oxidization and valve seizure. Just make sure that when they come out of storage, clean that heavier oil off and apply valve oil as required.

**Pacman** · #9 06-21-2008, 09:15 AM

This is why solid state tubas are so much easier to maintain.

Munjibunga · #10 06-21-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

This is why solid state tubas are so much easier to maintain.

Now that's good.