are we not straying off the point?
(EDIT: yes mea culpa for going off-topic, don't tell me I already know and apologise.)

the objective is to return it so that it passes an inspection at school.

the objective is not necessarily that we return it in good condition, only that it passes the test of perception of good order for one day only and that is the day the youngster hands it back and the parent gets a receipt for an instrument returned in good order.

the effect of this is that for all we care the bloody thing can turn to dust over the school holiday, it was in the school's care then, so if it happens it's their fuck up.

WD40 may for all I know dissolve the rubber (never heard of that but I'll take it on trust) but it'll take months to do it, so any deterioration will not be noticeable in just a couple of weeks.

my plan of campaign would be, not nore than a week or two before handing it back, to to strip it with WD40, then wash in soapy water a couple of times, then rinse a few times, then reassemble and go over the outer metalwork with the recommended metal polish.
the polish will cover up any residual smell of WD40.

job done, box ticked.

No, we'd actually like it clean and not to seize up before the big duet next month, but we want to get it done without asking teacher for help/revealing the neglect ;)

gotcha, hadn't picked up on the "needing it for the duet" bit.

what about methylated or surgical spirit (or whatever denatured non-potable undiluted alcohol is called in your country)?
alcohol to dissolve the organics from spit and sweat that are clogging stuff up, plus is miscible with water to rinse away fully and easily.

There is the small point, Molasar, that in the UK (and I doubt the US is any different) the school/education authority doesn't have a budget to service. overhaul or even inspect instruments between pupils and it'd be nice if the instrument were playable for the next user ... [/rant] :tuba:

good point well made limey.

in that case my useful contribution is #33 and you can forget anything before that.

there is also the counter argument which is that the lack of budget is made up for by the punitive fines levied.
so, if there's no need to spend on repairs then it doesn't matter there's no budget, and if there is need for repairs then the income from fines covers it.
no need for a budget either way !

unless anyone knows what the effect of alcohol is on the artificial/natural rubbers used as seals
?

and now I feel even guiltier :( Even though we would never return it in worse condition than we got it if humanly possible

despair not, unless someone has given you a right answer then start at Defcon-5 warm soapy water and then escalate through the other answers to Defcon-1 WD40 if the previous stage didn't work.

my son used to have a school trumpet, I'll ask him tonight if he has any answers and post them if he has.

As far as I am aware the instrument is in at least as good condition as when we recieved it, which is to say visually awful it's obviously the nasty one they lend out last, it's perfectly playable.

This is the first time he has tried to clean it, so these bits may have been stuck when we received it.
Do they they tear them down and inspect them between users, don't know.
I don't know anything about brass instruments, but something about corrosion, I don't think it got so bad in time we have had it, it's not just one, 5 of 6 valve caps and 2 of 6 (?) slides are stuck.

I'd prefer to be supportative of the schools budget and unstick and clean them and return it in better condition than when we got it.

Are there even any rubber seals in Brass instrumnet, I suspect not, brass instruments have been around longer than rubber, but they may have traditionally used leather or other materials?

I've tried WD40, and an improvised strap wrench with bicycle inner tub, no luck.

I'll get my hands on a proper strap wrench, plus bath time.

have you tried heating the metal? not a torch, but maybe a heat gun? the expansion may be enough to loosen the caps

When trying to loosen the stuck tuning slide of my daughter's trombone, I just held it under scalding running water. That loosened it up enough to wiggle it off, and I saw that there was lots of green corrosion that had been locking it solid. I used a scotch brite pad to clean off that corrosion, and then applied the special grease.

Anyway, the point is that hot water did wonders.

a hair dryer would do the same as hot water and avoid water adding to corrosion?

...read back :rolleyes:

Limey..........? We're Brassed Off....
 

Beest, there are rubber or plastic seals inside. What you'll find inside are felt washers (left), springs and rubber washers (right).Attachment 46617. As well as the pistons. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT MIX UP THE PISTONS when you take them out. They are likely not numbered and are NOT identical, but easy to mix up. Follow best practice as in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.


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Thanks, good to know, won't go spraying WD40 in there willy nilly.

Limey..........? We're Brassed Off....
 

You can buy replacement kits. That's what this photo is of, for my tuba. Cost around £25.


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