Something stuck in students bell. Need advise.

Cliff Fitch

I'm hoping someone here has a good trick for removing an object from a bell. A friends son came home from school today and found that someone had stuck something in his bell. It is lodged at the bottom of the bell curve and we have no idea what it is. Some water will trickle through when the bell is filled with water so, I dont think it is a marble or perfectly round object. Its a getzen Severinsen. Any ideas? Thanks, Cliff
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1977 Bach Stradivarius Model 37 (Lacquered)
1972 L.A. Benge 3X+ MLP (Lacquered)
Member: International Trumpet Guild

Trumpet Dude · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:34 pm Post subject:

I would suggest getting a snake with the rubber covering around the metal. Then take out the first valve and stick the snake through the hole in the valve case that leads to the bell. Good Luck.

TD
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NTlead · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:35 pm Post subject:

What's the finish?

The easy/hard solution depending on which way you look at it, would be to take the bell off and simply pull it out.

You could buy the bell crook dent removal thing from Ferree's Tools and push the obstruction into the valve casing.

I take it you've tried washing it out?

2ndchair · Veteran Member Joined: 04 May 2004 Posts: 352

I've also had fairly good luck using a snake. One end will have to be cut off. Leave a small hook one the end and turn the snake slowly. If the object is cloth or other pliabe material you can hook it out.

Otherwise the choice is to take the horn to a good repair tech. They can unsolder the bell and push the obstruction back through the large part of the bell. If the horn is silver plated there is an anti flux compound the tech can paint onto the soldered ares to minimize the cosmetic damage.

The bell tapers almost to the 1st valve so it might be difficult to push the obstruction through into the valve casing.

Good luck!

AverageJoe · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:32 pm Post subject:

TAKE IT TO A QUALIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIAN!!! As you know, brass is soft, and I wouldn't risk damage...especially the suggestion to push the object through into the first valve cylinder. The object is lodged because it doesn't want to go any further towards the valve block (smaller tubing). If it is coming out, it needs to head in the direction of the bell flair (larger tubing), not the valves.

Paul Poovey

trumpetmike · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:35 am Post subject:

How powerful is your shower?

If you have a decent power shower, hose, or other high pressure water pump, remove the shower head and attach it (hold it very tight - this might need two people) to the leadpipe. Turn it on to full pressure. The obstruction should just pop right out.

If this doesn't work - take it to your repairman.

_londonhusker · Heavyweight Member Joined: 13 Oct 2002 Posts: 658

Air compressor straight into the receiver! Remember to hang onto your slides unless you want them flying around the room!

gord-o · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:50 am Post subject:

The way I have done this in the past is similar to Trumpet Dude's suggestion. Take the valves and slides out. Get one of those plastic covered snakes and feed it carefully through one of the 3rd slide tubes. Use a needle nosed pliers to guide the brush tip through the staggered ports between valve casings and into the bell tail. Usually what ever is in there will come out without too much pushing. Most often whatever was in the bell was something that was in the case that just happened to fall in through the bell opening. I have seen plenty of paper clips, golf tees, and hair pins in trumpets because kids keep them in their cases during marching season. Candy wrappers also seem to collect there pretty easily.

Gord-o
Brass repair guy

Gilligan · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject:

Try this it will be a lot safe for the horn that what's been suggested already.

Borrow a shop vacuum
Fill the bathtub with luke warm water.
Insert trumpet into tub and fill with water.
Stick plastic round end of working vacuum tube gently into trumpet bell.
The water will help to increase the vacuum's suction as the marble or what ever is pulled out of the bell.

Good Luck!!!

cwerickson · Heavyweight Member Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 642

Wow.. sounds like some of you guys knew my buddy Billy from Jr. High.. shoot, maybe some of you guys *are* my buddy Billy from Jr. High...

Please -- listen to Paul, and

TAKE IT TO A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. Better to just do that now, than to take it to them after following some of these pearls of wisdom, and having to explain yourself..

Yikes...

Tina

Tom LeCompte · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:01 pm Post subject:

trumpetmike · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

Kazi · Veteran Member Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 210

If it's a skittle, it might come out if you tap the metal around it, and poke it with a snake. From personal experience.

Tom LeCompte · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 5:08 am Post subject:

gord-o · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:07 am Post subject:

The advice I wrote above comes with 10 years of full time experience in brass instrument repair. I think I'm qualified. If Cliff follows my advice and uses common sense things will turn out well.

Gord-o
Brass instrument repair guy

JasonHarrelson · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:12 am Post subject:

Did you remove the object?
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Harrelson Trumpets
www.whyharrelson.com

cwerickson · Heavyweight Member Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 642

308WIN · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 12:23 pm Post subject:

Chuck an M-80 down the bell.

R

MarkNiehaus · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:53 pm Post subject:

my advice is

Bring the horn to the next trumpet conference.
Set up a table and charge people a dollar to try to blow the thing out of the bell.
With all the egos and testosterone in those trumpet try-out rooms you are gaurenteed to make a fortune.

If someone does blow it out...
put it back in and keep going, the sky's the limit

-mark niehaus

gord-o · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:48 pm Post subject:

After further thought, try the M-80. It should dislodge everything and clear up any intonation problems you may have been having. Cheers.

Gord-o
Brass repair guy