How To Fix a Stuck Valve: Bent Valve Stem

[@davemiller7633]

Art is one of the best in the business. He is also one of the kindest, most considerate people I've ever met. His work is 2nd to none!

[@moizpratapgarhwala5279]

S😊

[@ontime1969]

I am getting back into trumpet after years away and I picked up a nice Olds Ambassador with the 2nd valve sticking. I Have started looking at your video a few month back when I got another sad horn and I was thrilled when I found that you had a video explain this problem. I then checked the Olds and sure enough the top slide tube needed a small nudge. It works almost as good as it did when it left the factory in Fullerton CA. Thank You for the great videos, Chops engaged.

[@dottiestchain823]

Thank you so much, I have uil in a month and it was driving me crazy having a stuck valve.

[@jdtubaman]

I am glad to see there really are good tools to do this with. Will have to say that I have broken a valve stem on a Yamaha sousaphone because it was sticking, and I tried to manually bend it back in place while on the field.

[@ChrisSwafford1]

Thank you for all your wonderful videos! Can this method be done on a bent '68 Olds Ambassador trumpet valve stem too?

[@broom1065]

Worked like a charm, thank you so much!

[@rubensoliveira2704]

Esse canal é ótimo. Sou inscrito. Mesmo não entendendo a língua, só com a demonstração, eu já aprendo.

[@melissapeterson9046]

This really helped us, thank you!

[@TheRandomWolf]

My tubas 4th valves won’t move at all it’s like ice stuck... I didn’t use the 4th valve so I think it just got stuck over time

[@ilikechez5775]

I haven't played my baritone for about 2 weeks. The keys are stuck now, obviously. I attempted to pull them out after unscrewing the top. But the keys will not come out. Pleeassseeee help

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

The oil and stuff on the valves probably dried up and caused the valves to stick. You can try pulling a little harder on the valves first. If that does not work, you can try taking off the bottom valve caps, inserting a short section of dowel into the bottom and tapping it with a rawhide mallet. if you do this, be careful to check for any problems or damage you may be causing and stop if you see anything. Please let me know how the repair went. Art

[@ilikechez5775]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Thanks! I'll try it now

[@ilikechez5775]

Thank you sooooo much, this did work, and I have a concert tomorrow!

[@Vspsenju]

I know I’m years late but do you know how to get a piston out from a tuba mines is stuck

[@daveg_r6122]

My flugelhorn has a slight different problem. Here, the valve cap gets stuck when I try to put it on the valve (just half way through until it gets stuck). It looks like there is a bit of corrosion there, but corrosion breaker didn't help too much. Do you have a different solution for such a problem? PS: Great videos! They help me a lot when I'm repairing some things for our orchestra.

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

My first guess is that the valve cap is cross-threaded. Look to see if the valve cap is on straight and not crooked. If it is on there straight and there is still a problem, there is probably a dent or something is out of round. I will try to do a video on this problem, but my wife is expecting and due any day, so I am not sure when I will be able to do it. Please feel free to ask any more questions that you may have. Art

[@daveg_r6122]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Thank you for the quick answer. I will try it as soon as possible :) I will also answer about what happened and if there are more problems (or tips). The best wishes for you and your family! David

[@brooklynnbernhard4839]

Help! On my trumpet my 2nd valve gets stuck.. I can push it halfway, but it stops. I can put it all the way down, but in order to get it back up I have to unscrew the bottom cap and push it up.. how do I get it to work normally again? ( It was working fine, I was outside practicing and it suddenly stopped working.. is there any explanation on how or why that could happen?)

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Sorry it took me so long to answer your question. My first guess is there is a small dent in the casing that makes the valve stick when the bottom of the valve hits the dent. Pull the bottom valve cap off, push down the valve and check for a dent where the bottom of the valve stops. My second guess is the valve stem got bent. Remove the finger button and push down the valve. See if the valve stem goes straight up and down or if it goes off to the side and hits the side of the hole on the top valve cap.

[@brooklynnbernhard4839]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop I don't know how to check if my valve stem is going down straight or not. But I don't see any dents. It was working fine, as I said before. I've never dropped it or anything, it just suddenly stopped going all the way down. Like I said I can get it to about halfway but it stops. I've got my mom to check it and now the plastic piece under the spring to help lock the valve in place, has broke. My valve no Langer stays up like the rest.. it sit halfway.. do you have any suggestions on how I can fix, or where I can get a new plastic part thing?

[@asdcxxc]

Hi, can you let me know any good ideas for a homemade brass instrument cleaning solution? Especially one that does a good job of getting of the calcium deposits inside the tubes. Love you videos btw. Hope you make one about the stuck woodwind screws soon.

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I do not know of any homemade brass cleaning solutions. One of my viewers mentioned vinegar, but someone else said it would not be good for the lacquer. I have not done an experiment on it yet so I do not know for sure. I filmed a video about stuck woodwind hinge rods a few days ago, but the camera had some problems and the footage was not usable. I will try again later when I run into another stuck hinge rod.

[@thomasfadden3394]

Dawn and simple green is good. Do not use vinegar. I tried it and misjudged the time and all the lacquer came off one of my school Eastman baritone Horns. Or if you’re going to use vinegar just put it on the inside. CLR if you dilute it about 10:1 to start. I bought a quick horn rinse kit and that works pretty well. That has a sudser attachment to put the Dawn or simple green or whatever eco friendly degreaser in. I cleaned 10 horns, 16 baritones and 7 tubas with it with no problems.

[@kadinlugo363]

Would it be worthwhile to just replace the stem of the valve? I feel like this would save time and be a more long-term solution?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Yes, if you have a valve stem available, you certainly can replace it.

[@albinenstrom2411]

What do you think the common cause of the bent stem is?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Usually it occurs when the finger button hits a music stand or someone does something foolish.

[@breonnanared1465]

I need help my valve broke I’m half and is stuck inside the thing 😂

[@justicebrown4387]

I know this comment is from a long time ago but I’m in the same boat 😂

[@_.wholesome_stuff_uwu._5444]

I’m- im panicking because my third valve won’t come unscrewed for me to oil it and I’m a week seventh grader and like I- somone help

[@logi9271]

Same!

[@bbinatl6291]

same with me and we’re in quarantine so i can’t get my band teacher to help

[@_.wholesome_stuff_uwu._5444]

*you need someone really stronger to unscrew it and you need to unscrew the valve of valves beside it so the stronger person can get a good grip on it*

[@amandaabrego6460]

_.Wholesome_stuff_uwu._ bruv same with me and like i’m in quarantine so i can’t have my band director fix it. this is my second time getting it stuck and i’m freaking out cause i can’t practice .

[@warsmith1294]

You can use a wrench