None of my valves have ever spinned easily either.
Sponsor Banner
Collapse
Miraphone 5050 (2nd valve issue) Possibly Valve guide
Collapse
X
-
Another 5050 oddity as long as we're discussing them...My 5050 came with a tuning slide that was too long, so the horn played flat across the board. I liked the sound so much, though, that I was willing to ask Dan Schultz to work some magic on the slide and the tubing that accepts the slide to bring the pitch up.
But: I also sent Miraphone an email (in German) outlining the situation, and received a quick answer that they had a shorter slide available, so they must have been aware of the issue. I also mentioned it to the vendor from which I bought the horn. In any case, within a few days, the shorter slide arrived via FedEx.Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
www.soundcloud.com/jweuph
Comment
-
-
Well...as to the valves, it sounds as if it's time for another cleanout...I'd think, though, that all the gunk would be washed away after two years that included at least two or three trips to the bathtub and other conscientious euphonium hygiene. One of the baths was intended to remove the Hetman synthetic oil that left copious amounts of green slime in the valves. Now that I am "de-hetmanned," there is virtually no green slime in the valves or mouthpipe.Last edited by Snorlax; 10-15-2012, 08:21 PM.Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
www.soundcloud.com/jweuph
Comment
-
-
Received the horn back this afternoon. We did not do a lapping at this point. Jim (my repairman) took a closer look at the 2nd valve and discovered some build up along the outside edge of the ports of the valve that I had missed. He gave it a thorough cleaning and it seems to work fine now. I just got back from band practice and it played flawlessly.
In the meantime, I'm considering switching back to Blue Juice valve oil (my idea not his). I heard that Blue Juice keeps the valves cleaner. Myth or fact?
I'll keep everyone posted on the valve.
Thanks again for all the great suggestions.
DanEuphs:
Miraphone 5050 Ambassador
Wessex Travel (Tornister) Euphonium 'Maly' ER154
Yamaha 201 Baritone
Mp: Wick SM4 Ultra X
Groups:
The San Diego Concert Band
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by tonewheeler View PostIn the meantime, I'm considering switching back to Blue Juice valve oil (my idea not his). I heard that Blue Juice keeps the valves cleaner. Myth or fact?
I notice less residue than when I used Al Cass. Otherwise, it is hard to say if it does or does not help keep the valves clean based on just using it. All I can say for sure is that Blue Juice is the best oil I've ever used, and I've been using valve oil for a lot of years! (Maybe I should open a franchise!)Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by tonewheeler View PostIn the meantime, I'm considering switching back to Blue Juice valve oil (my idea not his). I heard that Blue Juice keeps the valves cleaner. Myth or fact?
On the other hand, with Blue Juice, I find I need to oil my valves every 3rd or 4th day; with Yamaha Synthetic, I only need to oil them every second or third week, and have occasionally gone over a month between oilings without experiencing a noticeable degradation in valve performance.
So it is true that my valves are cleaner when I use Blue Juice: but only because I have to oil--and therefore, clean--them much more frequently with Blue Juice.
Comment
-
-
Was Valve Guides---now valve oil
I orginally went with Hetman's (it came with my 5050) and then switched to Ultra Pure a few months later after I discovered the "green gunk" issue. I couldn't get the repairman to weigh in on the whole valve oil issue or make a recommendation (and he sells everything but Ultra Pure). He said it's "subjective" to the player and instrument. I've just switched to Blue Juice for now and well see if that helps.Euphs:
Miraphone 5050 Ambassador
Wessex Travel (Tornister) Euphonium 'Maly' ER154
Yamaha 201 Baritone
Mp: Wick SM4 Ultra X
Groups:
The San Diego Concert Band
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by tonewheeler View PostI orginally went with Hetman's (it came with my 5050) and then switched to Ultra Pure a few months later after I discovered the "green gunk" issue. I couldn't get the repairman to weigh in on the whole valve oil issue or make a recommendation (and he sells everything but Ultra Pure). He said it's "subjective" to the player and instrument. I've just switched to Blue Juice for now and well see if that helps.--
Barry
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by bbocaner View PostMy repairman found that the problem was the valve guide, so we filed it down a little but the problem recurred after a while. We had the theory that the ultra pure valve oil was reacting with the plastic that the valve guides were made of, causing them to soften and swell. .
Also, looking back now and wondering about the the valve oil issue, I did observe a film on the valves with the ultra pure. I'm not going to read much into it at this point. I'll just switch oil for a while and see if that helps.Euphs:
Miraphone 5050 Ambassador
Wessex Travel (Tornister) Euphonium 'Maly' ER154
Yamaha 201 Baritone
Mp: Wick SM4 Ultra X
Groups:
The San Diego Concert Band
Comment
-
-
Dan,
Please keep us up to date on this issue. Hopefully more cleaning and switching oils will be the remedy. If all else fails I'll trade you my horn straight up (Yammy 641) as my 2nd valve works great.Last edited by RickF; 10-19-2012, 03:31 PM.Rick Floyd
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
"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)
The Cowboys (John Williams, arr. James Curnow)
Festive Overture(Dmitri Shostakovich)​
Comment
-
-
Dan,
I had the same issue with valve guides for my old Willson. They had to be filed down to fit into the channel. I took great care to ensure that no filing dust ever got into the casing or the channel.
The Miraphone guides follow the same pattern, so it will be a matter of time and patience if I decide to replace any of them.
I am coming around to the conclusion that it's just some schmutz in the casing that's causing my issues.
PS--slide pixx coming.Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
www.soundcloud.com/jweuph
Comment
-
-
One month later and the 2nd valves are working flawlessly. It turned out that there was some "gunk" or debris in the 2nd valve guide/casing I had missed. I have attributed this problem to the tight tolerances of the valve guide and slot inside the casing. I also switched back from Ultra-Pure valve oil to Blue Juice and the problem has not reoccurred since.Euphs:
Miraphone 5050 Ambassador
Wessex Travel (Tornister) Euphonium 'Maly' ER154
Yamaha 201 Baritone
Mp: Wick SM4 Ultra X
Groups:
The San Diego Concert Band
Comment
-
-
Another update: Since switching to Blue Juice, I no longer have the leaking problem from the bottom ports on my my valves. I ordered a water catcher, but now it now seems unnecessary. I'm attributing the change to the switch in valve oils.Euphs:
Miraphone 5050 Ambassador
Wessex Travel (Tornister) Euphonium 'Maly' ER154
Yamaha 201 Baritone
Mp: Wick SM4 Ultra X
Groups:
The San Diego Concert Band
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by tonewheeler View PostAnother update: Since switching to Blue Juice, I no longer have the leaking problem from the bottom ports on my my valves. I ordered a water catcher, but now it now seems unnecessary. I'm attributing the change to the switch in valve oils.
I know I always dump a lot less water in winter than in other seasons of the year.
Comment
-
Comment