TromboneChat

I know we have a bunch of flugabone enthusiasts around here. What do I need to order to replace the valve felts? And does anyone know what to do about the guides? I've heard a kind of wacky solution over on the tuba forum, but I want to see if anyone has anything better over here. (they said to buy some really small plastic screws that fit [no size given, but i'd guess a #2x1/4"] and file/xacto the head down to fit the guide groove). The current guides are metal - a very small piece of flat brass is soldered on to the end of a #2 screw and screwed into a small hole in the side of the valve. I also have an Olds O-99 tuba, which has the same deal.

Is there just a set of parts that will fit? I'm using the Olds O-21. I refuse to take stuff to my local repair people because a simple thing like this would take a month.

There's a company called TOPE Band Supply that sells all sorts for felts, corks, and springs. They might be able to help you out.

https://topebandsupplyco.com/

When you figure it out, post the solution here so I can do my felts, too.

If they are guides that are threaded into the side of the piston, Allied Supply sells generic replacements in plastic and metal. You'll need to find out the thread pitch of the valve guide to ensure that they would work properly. They will require hand-fitting to the valve guide slot.

Not sure about the felts.

Blabberbucket wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2026 8:25 am If they are guides that are threaded into the side of the piston, Allied Supply sells generic replacements in plastic and metal. You'll need to find out the thread pitch of the valve guide to ensure that they would work properly. They will require hand-fitting to the valve guide slot.

Not sure about the felts.

They are probably a 2-56 thread, definitely smaller than a 4-40. I can't order from Allied unless I have some sort of dealer account, right? So I'm left right back where I started. Any possibility someone here would be willing to buy a few sets (I need 2 sets of 3 guides) for forum folks?