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Thread: Broken 1st valve spring

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853

    Broken 1st valve spring

    Well, not a horror story, but sure could have been.

    During our concert last night I kept hearing my 1st valve spring rattling or clicking. During a break or long rest I loosened the valve's top cap and raised and lowered the valve while twisting it trying to re-seat the spring. This usually worked in the past, but didn't last night. I decided to ignore it and put up with the rattle.

    Today I pulled off the bottom valve cap and found a broken 1st valve spring! Sure glad I didn't do this during the concert as I might not have gotten the parts back in to make the valve work again. I had a couple of solos too. Whew!

    I keep spare springs at home but not with me at a gig. This is the first time I've ever had a broken spring.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  2. #2

    Broken 1st valve spring

    So just how fast were you playing to actually break a spring!? I think you're one up on me.

    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853

    Broken 1st valve spring

    Originally posted by: davewerden

    So just how fast were you playing to actually break a spring!? I think you're one up on me.
    Ha ha. Not anywhere near as fast as you play.

    My springs were about 3 years old but weren't worn on the edges. Maybe they did something in the shop that I'm unaware of. I had my horn in for ultra-sonic cleaning a week or so ago. They take out the valves and springs so don't think that would be it. Not sure. Never thought I'd have to carry spare springs with me.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  4. Broken 1st valve spring

    Wow...in 50 years of playing, I have never had a spring break!
    Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
    Concord Band
    Winchendon Winds
    Townsend Military Band

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