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Because your piston valve instrument is a
precision piece of equipment, proper care and maintenance should
become a regular routine before and after playing. See your teacher
for more information concerning the care and maintenance of your
instrument. Once a month,
flush out the entire instrument. Remove the mouthpiece and
tuning slides. Unscrew top and bottom valve caps, and remove valves
from casings. Flush interior of instruments with lukewarm water-never
hot. Scrub the bore and tubing with a bore brush, rinse with cold
water and drain thoroughly. (Care should be taken in the use of
soap-never use detergents on lacquered finishes.) Dry valve casing
with a cotton flannel cleaning cloth. Use your bore brush, as well, to
periodically remove particles of dirt in slides or tubing. You may
finish the drying process with a hair dryer on warm.
When the instrument is new, clean the valves and valve casings
frequently. Use a cleaning rod to guide the cloth through the
valve casing, making sure the end of the rod is completely covered
with the cloth. Then use a pumping action, or simply pull the cloth
back and forth in the casing. Use the cloth only to clean the
portholes on valves. Do not use your cleaning rod for cleaning
portholes, as their corners are sharp and easily dented.
Apply valve oil sparingly (1 to 2 drops) to each valve
piston, use your finger to spread the oil over the valve piston,
remove any excess oil from the valve and return the valve to its
casing. (Look for and match each valve number on each valve - See
Figure 2 below) Approved valve oils include UMI Valve Oil and Conn
Formula 3 for monel pistons or plated pistons. Be aware that some
trumpet valves are oil free and therefore need a very small amount of
oil. Apply tuning slide
grease to tuning slides before reassembling the instruments.
Wipe off excess. After each
playing:
- Blow out the moisture.
- Wipe the moisture from the valve casing and the valves.
- Use a polishing cloth to wipe off perspiration / fingerprints. DO
NOT use a lacquer polish cloth on plated finishes.
Clean your mouthpiece at least once a week, brushing out the
inside with the mouthpiece brush and warm soapy water. Rinse with cold
water and dry. After each use, you should rinse the brush thoroughly.
Remove the mouthpiece and place it in a mouthpiece pouch when not in
use. Clean the valves and
valve casings frequently. Pull the large valve casing brush
back and forth in the casings and if necessary while flushing with
lukewarm water. If the valves do not move as freely as they should,
the valves and valve casings need to be completely cleaned and oiled
(See below for more details).
How to Correct Sticky Valves
- Valves are marked 1,2,3 with number 1 closest
to the mouthpiece.
- On one valve at a time, remove the valve and
bottom cap.
- Using a large valve casing brush, run the
brush in and out of the top and bottom of the valve casing four or
five times.
Figure 1 - Clean casing
with valve casing brush
- Wipe the valve off with a clean cloth and
brush off with the brush.
- Be sure that the valve portholes are also
clean but be careful not to damage the edges.
- Blow through the valve and the chamber to be
sure no bristles or other particles are present.
- Replace the valve while being sure to put the
proper valve (1,2,3) in the correct chamber.
- When the valve is replaced correctly it
should "click" into position.
- After the valve is replaced, if it is
difficult to blow through the horn or if the valve does not move
freely, your probably have the valve in backwards. Rotate the
valve 180 degrees (line up the number on the valve with the number
on the chamber) and replace the valve.
Figure 2 - Line up valve
numbers with numbers on the chambers
- Replace the bottom cap.
- Perform the same process with all valves.
- When you remove and replace the valves and
bottom caps, be very careful with the threads. Do not over tighten
or force them on.
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