How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post Reply
User avatar
dbwhitaker
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu May 16, 2019 2:43 pm
Location: Berkeley, CA, USA

How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by dbwhitaker »

I just picked up late 70s Olds O-25 from someone who says the horn was played for about a year but hadn't been used since. I can't budge the F tuning slide. Any suggestions about how to unstick it? Maybe this is a task for a professional? I was able to pull off the main tuning slide with a bit of effort but the "grease" on it seemed more like glue.
pompatus
Posts: 400
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 2:19 pm

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by pompatus »

You could always try a bit of penetrating oil. I might even heat it, gently, with a blowdryer. Personally, I’d be scared to do any damage, and would let my tech free it up.

It’s probably a less than 30 minute job, and at least I’d have the peace of mind of having the tech to look it over while he’s got it.
Posaunus
Posts: 3424
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:54 pm
Location: California

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by Posaunus »

pompatus wrote: Mon May 02, 2022 9:41 am You could always try a bit of penetrating oil. I might even heat it, gently, with a blowdryer. Personally, I’d be scared to do any damage, and would let my tech free it up.

It’s probably a less than 30 minute job, and at least I’d have the peace of mind of having the tech to look it over while he’s got it.
Brad,

I agree with Pompatus - let a competent tech do this job and give you an overview.

The O-25 is a fine trombone - rare as hen's teeth - and you may love it (as I do) once you accommodate to its eccentricities. You may be experimenting for a while with mouthpieces.
User avatar
hyperbolica
Posts: 2792
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:31 am

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by hyperbolica »

If it's a long pull slide, there are a lot of possible hang ups. I've freed a lot of stuck slides with oil. If it's a wide slide, it might get racked, and you might try rocking it back and forth. Narrow slides don't do that as much. The blow drier is a good idea too. I loop a rag through the slide crook to get a better grip with less possibility of causing damage.
bigbandbone
Posts: 583
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:45 am

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by bigbandbone »

Leave it to a pro! Too much could go wrong.
User avatar
robcat2075
Posts: 1338
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:58 pm

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by robcat2075 »

My previous answer on the problem of a stuck slide...

Stuck Tuning slide

However, an F tuning slide is more awkward for either thermal or chemical cracking. You will need to be extra ingenious.
>>Robert Holmén<<

Hear me as I play my horn

See my Spacepod movie
User avatar
Backbone
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:46 pm

Re: How to unstick an F tuning slide? (Unused for 45 years)

Post by Backbone »



He has tutorials on how to remove them.
Post Reply

Return to “Modification & Repair”