TromboneChat

Does anyone have an idea of how to fix my Williams slide lock with a temporary DIY solution until I can visit my tech?

The problem is that it is too loose. When I play, it slowly moves to the locked position (due to the vibration) and sometimes the slide gets stuck then if I play in 1st position. As far as I can see, you cannot take off the slide lock. It just moves from 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock and I don't want to break it with pushing or pulling it too much.

Any ideas are much appreciated. I need that horn a lot atm.

Put some heavy grease on it

I sort of have the same problem. I think the little round knob is actually the head of a screw, although I haven't taken mine apart to verify. I'll check.

I've used thread tape in the past.

Careful with the heavy grease route. Less is more. Keep it off that inner slide.

hornbuilder wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 1:36 pm Put some heavy grease on it

This. Hetman 7/Josef Meinlschmidt 7 is great for this.

I was correct that the small round ball is the head of a tiny screw. If you grip it with pliers you can unscrew it. Then the ring can come off and you can clean and lubricate it. But... with my fat fingers and carpal tunnel issues it was nearly impossible to put that screw back in - I dropoed it several times in the process.

Doug Elliott wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 12:13 am I was correct that the small round ball is the head of a tiny screw. If you grip it with pliers you can unscrew it. Then the ring can come off and you can clean and lubricate it. But... with my fat fingers and carpal tunnel issues it was nearly impossible to put that screw back in - I dropoed it several times in the process.

That's great to know! Didn't know that! Will try that just need to find good pliers for that.

hornbuilder wrote: Fri May 30, 2025 1:36 pm Put some heavy grease on it

Seems like that helped as well. I have tried this for today and will see later at a gig how it goes. Didn't have the heaviest grease but it still helped I think.

Plumbers tape on the threads will work. I have done this on my early Minick/Conn 100H

It doesn't have threads.
The screw extends into a slot and that's what controls the rotational travel.

Must be similar to Olds slide locks?

I don't know how Olds slide locks are put together, but it wouldn't be too surprising since Earl worked at Olds.

Both Earls... Earl Strickler too.

Apparently the Olds slide lock knobs were soldered instead of screwed in:

viewtopic.php?p=256747&hilit=olds+slide+lock#p256747

Mine became loose, and I think my tech just flattened it a bit so it would fit tighter. Eventually, the little screw/knob thing got to be loose, and I just took the whole thing off so it wouldn't get lost. I almost never use a slide lock anyway.

And yes, the Olds lock is the same idea, but it can't be easily removed.

1. Remove outer slide.
2. Unscrew slide lock and drop it off the end of the inner tube.
3. Pick it up and chuck it across the stage, saying, "F%&king thing!"
4. Never miss another entrance.

Leanit wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 9:35 am 1. Remove outer slide.
2. Unscrew slide lock and drop it off the end of the inner tube.
3. Pick it up and chuck it across the stage, saying, "F%&king thing!"
4. Never miss another entrance.

5. Pick up your dented slide off the floor when you inadvertently let go of it, and accept your tech's gratitude for helping him make a car payment when he repairs the outer slide.

Doug Elliott wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 12:13 am I was correct that the small round ball is the head of a tiny screw. If you grip it with pliers you can unscrew it. Then the ring can come off and you can clean and lubricate it. But... with my fat fingers and carpal tunnel issues it was nearly impossible to put that screw back in - I dropoed it several times in the process.

I avoid doing this kind of repair if I'm alone in the house.

"Daddy dropped a screw again" is a common refrain in my house. And they aren't all magnetic, especially the very small ones.

timothy42b wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:51 am "Daddy dropped a screw again" is a common refrain in my house. And they aren't all magnetic, especially the very small ones.

Just do this kind of thing sitting on the floor... nothing falls too far or bounces, thus easy to find.

timothy42b wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:51 am ...

"Daddy dropped a screw again" is a common refrain in my house. And they aren't all magnetic, especially the very small ones.

You think that's bad, my father sold small diamonds -- the kind you use to bulk around larger ones in rings or pins. He'd be sitting at a table sorting and suddenly "nobody move!". He'd dropped a tiny diamond that was worth $100 and you could barely see it.

Posaunus wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:07 am

Leanit wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 9:35 am 1. Remove outer slide.
2. Unscrew slide lock and drop it off the end of the inner tube.
3. Pick it up and chuck it across the stage, saying, "F%&king thing!"
4. Never miss another entrance.

5. Pick up your dented slide off the floor when you inadvertently let go of it, and accept your tech's gratitude for helping him make a car payment when he repairs the outer slide.

That would be weird. Playing since 1978 and never dropped my slide. Can't imagine.