Trumpet Repair

lukeypoo · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:58 pm Post subject: Trumpet Repair

I have my old crappy student horn that I wanted to get back into a playable state, and while it’s pretty ugly, it’s getting better. The only problem is that the tuning slide is completely stuck on both ends. I don’t have the time to get to a repair shop any time soon, and I lack the equipment to unsolder anything myself.
Any advice would be appreciated.
(Model is a YTR-2330 Yamaha, if you wanna know)

Christian K. Peters · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 5:35 pm Post subject: trumpet repair

Hello,
If you have not already tried penetrating oil on the slides do that and then lightly tap with a wooden mallet, at the same time pulling. Sometimes a little heat from a small torch helps the oil. May take a helper. I have heard of some who put the body in a freezer, but I don't think that really helps. But is might contract the metal just enough. If it is stuck a half inch out, just play. Repair guys have a tool that is plier like, but is really thin, that gets in the crack of the slide and ferrule.It usually leaves a slight mark though. Unsodering is the last resort.
_________________
Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976

TrumpetMD · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 5:46 pm Post subject:

It goes without saying, that we attempt home repairs at our own risk.

When I have a stuck slide, I'll loop a towel around the slide, and have someone hold the horn while I pull on the towel. I pull straight (not an an angle), and I don't pull too hard, to avoid damaging the horn. If that doesn't work, I bring it to a tech.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

lukeypoo · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:09 am Post subject:

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:12 am Post subject:

Try penetrating oil or something like BreakFree (check the auto parts aisle of Wal-Mart or an similar, or an auto parts store). Apply and let sit overnight, pull gently, repeat.
_________________
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

Mike Prestage · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:09 am Post subject:

I only do repair work on my own project horns, plus helping a youth music organisation with running repairs on their hire instruments, so please don't take my advice as gospel. FWIW though:

+1 for penetrating oil, doing you best to pull in line with the slide, and attaching the cord to something that won't move. (There isn't necessarily anything wrong with getting someone to hold it but it gives you less control over how much force and energy you're applying.)

If you're sensible, the potential damage will hopefully be limited to pulling the crook off the slide. This is relatively quick for a repairer to put right, and if the horn arrives like this it does at least put them in a good position to extract seriously stuck tubes. There's certainly the possibility of denting or distorting the crook but this is unlikely if you use common sense when choosing what to loop round the crook. I've used nylon rope on quite a few horns and never had a problem but if you can get the job done with something properly flexible, even better. I've sometimes used a rolled up strip of an old bedsheet but never thought of a towel. That sounds about as low risk as you'll get using household items.

The bigger risk is distorting part(s) of the horn beyond the crook, or breaking soldered joints other than those that hold the crook to the slide tubes. You'll want to take a lot of care to hold the horn so that you're applying the maximum force along the slide's outer tubes while minimising any forces that will tend to move those tubes in relation to the rest of the horn. It would take me a while to describe my preferred grip and I'm not certain there isn't a better one anyway. Hopefully someone with proper credentials will chime in but if not, I can post a photo.

Mike

harryjamesworstnightmare · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 167

NO BANGING OF MALLETS ON SLIDES!!! I'm repairing one right now for someone who bent the daylights of the slide with one hit a little too hard. If penetrating oil and hand pulling does not work then sometimes a gentle twisting motion while pulling will do the trick. If not then it does need to be sent to a pro to avoid further damage.
_________________
Brian James
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King Super 20 Symphony
Bach Strad 43 Sterling Silver Plus
Getzen Proteus
Yamaha 6335HS
Olds Super
Olds Mendez
Getzen Custom 3850 Cornet
Conn 80A
Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

TrumpetMD · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:05 pm Post subject:

Mike Prestage · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:48 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure if the OP is still following but FWIW I've re-read my post above and noticed an issue. My suggestion that with care the likely damage will be limited to pulling the crook off are more applicable to valve slides. Owing to the width of a tuning slide crook, there's a risk of badly bending it if only one end breaks away from its tube. This has never happened to me, and I've never seen a horn where it had happened, but it seems like a real possibility. I'd be interested to hear any other thoughts/experiences on this.

Mike