TromboneChat

I’ve had my 88HCTL now since January and have been loving the CL valve, until today!

I’ve been using Ultra Pure Ultra Light valve oil every week as recommended by a few folks here, but have not played the instrument for about 2 weeks now.

I picked it up today after adding a few drops of oil to the valve and it seemed to be playing fine, but now the valve seems to be ‘sticking’ about 2-3mm into the transition between Bb and F. The valve fully engages, but it momentarily sticks, and for a short throw valve this is very noticeable!

Pretty sure I’ve read here that some folks have had issues with the CL that needed to be ‘tuned’ by a decent tech before the valve was perfect, but is there anything else I can check first?

I’m not confident enough to disassemble the valve so if there’s a need for that it’s back to the shop!

Thanks all.

It could be a couple things. The valve is tight tolerance, so there might be some food particle stuck in the valve, gunking it up. It could be that the ultrapure oil has a negative reaction with the tuning slide grease you use, which broke down and eventually worked into the rotor. It could be that you are not properly oiling the bearings (separate oil type on the spindle and bearing plate under the cap). Or properly oiling the ball joints with a heavier ball joint lube.

There's a lot it could be but if none of the above helps you fix it, take it to your tech

Thanks Harrison, I use light oil under the valve cap and a heavier oil for the linkage joints. Yamasnot is my goto for the slide and it’s never given me any issues before.

I’ll give the valve a wash through with warm water and see if it dislodges anything.

Thanks as usual for you advice

What tuning slide grease do you use?

La Tromba cork and slide.

May be worth using Ultra Pure tuning slide grease as well.

You're right - the CL valve properly set up and maintained, is smooth and quiet.
You seem to be doing appropriate maintenance.
I doubt that the tuning slide grease is responsible for your problem.
More likely some contamination (food particle ?) or invisible trauma.