Sticking Second Value

[Pallady]

I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right place, but I've recently noticed a new problem on my instrument that has never happened before.

With the second value, once it goes halfway down, it refuses to go back up unless I pull it up myself. The thing is, I don't know why it keeps doing this.

Valve Oil doesn't seem to work.
Cleaning my instrument doesn't seem to work.

The spring within the valve works smoothly.
The chamber for the valve is clean and hollow.

Any ideas of the possible cause before I visit my music store?

[Ronnman]

For some ideas already posted, see thread tilted “Any Thoughts?” Under Fundamentals. Link below.
Ron

https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154071&highlight=
_________________
Martin Committee #2 1954
Leblanc “Al Hirt” Model 1966
Olds Custom Crafted Ultra Sonic 1974
Edwards Gen II 2014

[plunkett]

I'd almost guarantee that you bumped the middle valve slide at some point - it doesn't take much. To see if that's what's causing the problem, just pull up on it (gently!) while working the second valve. If it cures the problem, take your horn to a repairman. If it doesn't, take it to a repairman! I got a little lost reading all the stuff about 600 grit in the linked post above, btw.

Pat
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Pat Plunkett

[cheiden]

My son had the same problem with his horn. A shop confirmed that the 2nd slide had been bumped enough to distort the cylinder. Wasn't an expensive repair.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[MrOlds]

This is one of the top 5 things that happen to trumpets in the hands of young students. Your valve casing is deformed. Likely because the second valve slide got whacked (maybe imperceptibly).

Take it to a local shop that does repairs. They do lots of these every year.

Do not ever use abrasives to try to fix this yourself.

[Brad361]

As others mentioned, sounds like a second valve slide was bumped. But trying to correct whatever the problem is yourself is probably going to at best frustrate you, or even make the situation worse. Take it to a tech, a horn with a valve that will not rebound is basically unplayable.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

[Heim]

Do not set your trumpet down on the side where the 2nd valve is. That is a common cause of 2nd valve problems.

[Beyond16]

I realize the second valve is a special case due to the short unbraced tubing, but it is worth mentioning other causes of this problem. I just bought a 1951 King Silver-Sonic with this problem on the third valve. It was pretty easy to diagnose and fix. I found the third valve had been dropped on a hard floor in a way that dented the bottom. Sometimes a dent like this doesn't ruin the horn and other times it causes the problem described here. Another problem I found was a casing ding. I fixed both these dents enough to eliminate the problem. Here are before and after pictures of the valve. I didn't remove the smaller dent because it isn't hurting anything:




The casing dent looked like this. Fortunately I had the needed mandrel to push it out:

[etc-etc]

Very nicely done and clear with overlaid graphics!

[Andy Cooper]

Just something to ponder - do slide bump induced 2nd valve damage problems affect Bb trumpets more often than C trumpets. (C 2nd slides are straight 90 degree from the valve rather than slanted.)

I wonder if the dents in my C's 2nd slide tubing have protected the valve. I had been considering having a reinforcement rib soldered on to protect the tubing. Perhaps that would save the tubing but transfer the impact to the valve.

(Why do you dent your slide, you ask. Arthritis.)

[etc-etc]

There was once upon a time an invention where the valve slide was not external to the casing, but instead internal to the piston, going up as in a spiral staircase. The horn looked very unusual with no external slides attached yet depressing each valve resulted in desired lengthening of the air column.

[Funknfritter]

Years ago i used to store my music folder in my case on top of my trumpet, i think that may have caused my second valve to be slightly sticky. I never made the connection before, but it's kind of smacking me in the face right now.

[Crazy Finn]