How to Fix Stuck Rotary Valves

This video shows 2 ways to loosen stuck French Horn rotor valves.
I'd like to give a special thanks to Birdy for the use of his drum stick.
If you have any suggestions for future videos feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

[@JBRicks-qi7uy]

Great, now my director won't kill me 🤧🤧

[@torydriskill5157]

This was a godsend. I’d tried everything but had never heard of the drumstick trick. And it worked like a charm after a few minutes. Thank you!

[@GlendonGross]

Thanks a million! You saved me an expensive trip to the shop with my German made rotary trumpet. The trick of pouring oil down the valve slide while moving the rotor is what worked for me, and the technique of gently tapping with a drumstick worked to free the stuck valve slide.

[@mitchellsommer893]

My horn's been unused for over three years, and the 2nd valve would NOT budge. Just a few light taps with the drum stick and hammer and we're back in business. Great video; you saved me quite a headache.

[@quickfixtips2030]

Hey Mitchell. Thanks for using my video. I’m really glad you had success.

[@Foreverinmybag]

Haven't used my French Horn since school days in 2017, the valves weren't moving at all. The drumstick method worked perfectly, thank you!!

[@firedarkdragon1]

Thank you so much i was worried I had to take it into the shop and get a whole new valve

[@spencerwolverton8482]

I used the drum stick method. Work in 20 seconds. Thank you!

[@quickfixtips2030]

Spencer Wolverton Yup. A real time saver.

[@violagang842]

Exactly what I needed! I didn't have electrical tape but putting a tea towel between the grips and the valves did the trick. Thanks!

[@shivtekoriginal]

Used this to fix the trigger on my trombone! You've saved me time and money, and just in time for a little audition yesterday! Thank you!

[@quickfixtips2030]

Shivam D Phew!! Glad it helped.

[@mariekraftner923]

OMG I owne a brand new frwnch horn and I was away on holidays for about 5 weeks and I nearly started to cry when I realised that how stuck all the valves were. I just got two of them working and I am sooo happy thank you!!! 🙈🙈

[@quickfixtips2030]

It’s a good idea to pour valve oil down the tuning slides into the rotary casing before you go on holiday.

[@2winceball]

Exactly the same happened for me lol

[@papaduck1954]

Thank you!! I had just purchased the same model and had no idea you put the valve oil down the slide. It worked!!

[@drwho5252]

Good informative video. When pouring oil down the slide tube there is a possibility of the slide grease going down into the rotor. You can avoid this by holding the horn so that the slide tube is perfectly vertical and pouring the oil down the center of the tube and taking care that it doesn't run down the sides of the slide tubes. Another way is to remove the slide, pour oil into the slide then put it back into the slide tube and invert the horn so that the oil goes into the rotor.

[@quickfixtips2030]

Those are great suggestions. When re-oiling after a bath, it would be a good idea to do it that way too. Thanks

[@garynolastname6766]

Dude, you’re a lifesaver. This worked for my tuba!

[@niie1091]

Thanks, i cant believe I never thought of this! I used an unsharpened pencil and a 10 pound weight and it worked

[@quickfixtips2030]

That works too. Good job.

[@bridgethoward9940]

My two previously-stuck horn valves and I thank you for the video !

[@elijahsmith8592]

Thank you so much lol my French horn has been stuck for a while and i didnt want it breaking

[@AngelaGosseTrumpet]

Thank you so much for saving the day! The wrapped pliers worked perfectly!

[@Coco-kr7dz]

Thank you so much! I was able to get my valve to work. I'm going to use this forever now.

[@moabShirts]

I grew up playing horn but never got any of the repairing skills down - just fixed a school horn and now they’re ready to go!

[@Ryan-lv9zp]

This is a huge life saver, thank you

[@CS-xl5cl]

Thanks so much! That was a huge help.

[@jdn1331]

Thank you so much! The pliers and electrical tape fixed it right away on my trigger trombone!

[@quickfixtips2030]

Excellent!!!

[@brendonwilliamson]

Same here

[@markashford8802]

My French Horn is played and maintained often enough to stay in shape. But my wagner tuba (cheap, cheerful and D one side only) gets played about as often as a total solar eclipse! Maybe I need to persuade some people to write more parts for it... Drum stick (very gently) did the job - thanks!

[@quickfixtips2030]

Mark Ashford Ha! I’ve heard from trombone players and tubists but you’re the first Wagner tuben player. Thanks.

[@hamilton3875]

thank you so much man!! i was kinda suspicious but it really worked so thanks so much!!

[@bladestreams]

The pliers worked ty so much

[@corneroth]

Thanks, you helped me out!

[@quickfixtips2030]

You’re very welcome.

[@mattadamson2417]

I found another way that works well. Use a flat head screwdriver and place it in the groove. Turn the screwdriver and it's fairly easy to move the jammed valve

[@Doc__Vegapunk]

Thank you!

[@andthen6066]

Thank you so so much!!

[@quickfixtips2030]

You’re welcome.

[@S13Trev]

You are a SAINT

[@quickfixtips2030]

Thank YOU!

[@Anonymous-qr4ev]

Thanks a ton

[@quickfixtips2030]

Glad to be of help

[@jahnnyquest]

thanks.

[@Jaymac720]

Does this also work for other instruments with rotary valves like trombones?

[@quickfixtips2030]

I would assume so. I haven’t tried it but I’ll check it out.

[@spencerwolverton8482]

Worked for my tuba.

[@williamwallace3785]

What about the slides being stuck I’m new and working on how to take care of my horn

[@quickfixtips2030]

For stuck slides I recommend a 1” wide strip of leather about 2.5 - 3 ft long. Put it around the end of the slide and wrap the ends of the leather strip around your hand. Pull on the slide with just your arm strength. This can be done with paracord too. BE CAREFUL. you can break solder joints or bend the slide. If the slide doesn’t move, take it to a professional repair person.

[@williamwallace3785]

@@quickfixtips2030 tysm for the info

[@NickShollMusic]

I really appreciate this video - as obvious as it seems, I'd never have thought to put tape over the pliers to save the metal. Many thanks! Consider checking out my channel for brass related content.

[@gavinvonmeyer3746]

Pliers & Drum Stick bad ideas if the valve is really stuck like mine was. The best and simplest solution was to hit the valve out and then lubricate it nicely. And apart for the fact that the pliers did not manage to get the valve to rotate, it went and deform the shape of the screw hole of the valve and luckily, I has able to eventually get the screw back inside by filing the end of the screw to be narrow and sharp.

[@quickfixtips2030]

Gavin VON MEYER Yeah there is that invisible line where one has to decide when to bail out and take it to a pro. For me that line is when gentle pressure or tapping doesn’t move it.

[@jds6206]

That's a bingo...

[@altriplett9099]

NEVER PUT OIL DOWN THE VALVE SLDES!!! Why would you not oil them where they actually MAKE CONTACT? Remove the back caps, one at a time, and put the oil WHERE IT ACTUALL DOES SOME GOOD!!! Remove the screws holding the linkage arms onto the rotors, and put several drops of oil in the hole! BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FREE THE ROTORS! It's not rocket science!

[@quickfixtips2030]

Amendment to one sentence. The sound is allowed through the slide by rotating the valve open and closed so the valve rotor is accessible via the slide.

[@flamestonesmokeray1505]

Thank you!