How To Remove Stuck Valve Tuning Slides

This is a "How to" video about pulling the small valve tuning slides on trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, and baritone (do not try this on tubas). Although this repair appears to be a little violent, it is safe and should not hurt your instrument if it is done correctly. However, do not try it if you are not comfortable doing it. Also, it is always good to practice on a junk instrument first if possible.

Here is the link to "How To Make A Tuning Slide Pulling Tool With A Drum Stick" :

Here is the link to "Stuck Trumpet Valve: How to Use Ground Casing Mandrels"

Here is the link to several videos that I have in the play list,
"How To Repair Stuck Tuning Slides"

Do you want to leave a tip so Art can continue to make more quality videos?

[bengtthulin]

Thank you for showing things the way they really are!! It would have been so easy for you just to show a "polished" version where you had already released the slide before filming. Showing us how things went wrong at first is brave of you, and that should make any customer trust you!

[vroomoon]

Thanks for the screwdriver tip! I just freed a first valve slide that had been stuck for at least 100 years!

[kenstephens]

Watched your video, got a seriously stuck tuning slide unstuck with some penetrating oil, heat, and patience. Thank you so much.

[kriztiannuevita]

Thanks!! I freed a stuck slide from my flugelhorn, and now I can finally play it in tune

[ryebread]

I just noticed that almost all the parts of my trumpet are stuck

[abstrathmeyer]

Great video! In our shop, we use an industrial penetrating oil called Kroil. It has a corrosion busting formula that really helps loosen a corroded slide. Apply to the ferrule slit, hit the tubes with a torch to create thermal expansion, tap sides of tubes with light mallet to open microscopic cracks in the corrosion, wait a day while the oil seeps into the cracks, repeat as needed. Same process as taking a rusty muffler off a car. Usually takes about a week to loosen up and much less brute force needed!

[LookSharpFeelSharpBeSharp]

Wow, I give you great credit for demonstrating with such a difficult slide!! Thanks for such a great video!!

[tristanschaper]

Amazing video! I did something similar with a screwdriver up against the inside of the bend, and then used a hammer with gentle taps. I think the solid vibration/mechanical taps work well. And heat with penetrating oil, too. I'm learning a lot!

[SB_HAEX]

Thanks for the help! I used some thin paper although probably not ideal. Did it on my 2nd valve for my baritone, held the part for the valve then pulled out the tuning slide. Gotta watch your videos more often for instrument help.

[dollycase]

Worked like a charm on the second pull! Thanks!

[farquell]

Thank you for the screwdriver trick! I just used it today on a piccolo trumpet 4th valve slide!

[JustClaude]

I made levers out of 1/2 inch oak, sprayed some penetrating oil, then used a het gun to draw the oil into the joint.
After some time spent tapping with a rawhide mallet to break the crust, I pried the valve slides of fairly easily.
Thanks for the tip. The only thing left is the main tuning slide, and I suspect that's going in to the shop.

[ticklemesenpai]

Thank you for this video, this technique worked really well for clearing the third tuning slide, didn't really work out for the 2nd, but honestly I don't care that much about that yet, I'm just starting to learn and got an old trumpet that needed some serious cleaning, got it fully functioning and cleaned the 2nd valve slide with a custom tool. mine was very stuck so I had to use a torch and penetrating oil but it was eventually free with the pull method, did hurt the laquer a bit but the thing had bare patches and cosmetic dents all over so no real harm done.

[bigshell]

Thank you so much for your videos, I got the valve slides unstuck on a used baritone I just purchased.

[MrStarbor]

great explanation!!!
That's why when I used your method I did not prevent slide from flying on the floor .but the worst thing that happened was two valve casings were kinda damaged so i had to use another approach

[nef]

Wow; this was a wonderful tutorial. Never seen such a stuck valve. Wow. I was cringing the whole time. 😬

[LaurasLastDitch]

Nice video, Art! That was a little scary looking! I thought you were going to pull the vise off the workbench.

[beaujangles]

Thanks for the video, sorted out my stuck slide

[jimritter]

Dear Mr. Arthur, Can you advise of the type of wick to use for clean and buffing the slides? It comes in cotton and fiberglass. Thank you in advance for your answer. Jim

[nate-]

Thank you! Heat and oil with a pull got the 1st valve unstuck. Now to conquer the 2nd...