[Cepages]

When I lift my LH 3rd finger the valve for the "A" tone hole opens sluggishly like there is some form of friction. Without the octave key - it is smooth and no feel (and sound) of friction. I took apart the octave mechanism and the only thing I could find that was maybe the culprit was the plastic sleeve that is on the tiny rod that ties the two rods together. The plactic sleeve seems worn. Probably a poor explanation but all my saxes have that or similar sleeve on the octave mech.

Any ideas or thoughts? I put it back together and it is still the same. I oiled the usual joints in the octave system.....

 

[martinm5862]

Do you mean the arm that closes the lower octave pad when A2 and higher are played?

 

[martinm5862]

Do you mean the arm that closes the lower octave pad when A2 and higher are played?

I think that should be "is played"?

 

[Cepages]

There are two parallel bars. The inside one has the lower octave arm attached to it. The two bars are connected in the center by that little arm that has the plastic bushing.... So I think the answer is "yes".

 

[abadcliche]

If I understand what you mean: with the octave key pressed, the G key (which covers the A tonehole) doesn't open smoothly when you release it to go from octave G to octave A.

If this is what you mean, then:

With the neck off, finger octave G (123 ok). With your right hand, move the octave lever to and away from the body. Does it move easily with NO friction whatsoever? If no, you've got binding somewhere in your octave mechanism. Its a complicated mechanism and there are literally dozens of reasons it could be happening, so I'd say try to figure it out yourself by isolating moving parts or just take it to a tech.

If yes, then finger octave G (neck still off) holding the octave actuating lever against the body lightly with your right hand. Then slowly release the G key to finger octave A., keeping the body octave lever pressed to the body with your right thumb. Does the motion of the G key pressing down on the body octave key smoothly translate into force pushing outwards on your right thumb, pushing the body octave lever open? If you release the octave lever with your right hand does the G open up quickly just like any other key, and the body octave pad closes while the body octave lever opens quickly and smoothly? If no, you've got friction between your G key and your body octave key, probably due to a poor material choice or damaged adjustment material on the G key foot. If yes...

Attach the neck and repeat the A-G test. Is everything completely smooth, no problems? If yes, your problem has disappeared. If no, probably there is friction between your neck octave key and the octave actuating lever on the body- probably as a result of a bad material choice for the actuating lever.

If none of this works, let us know what you find.

(edit: as Stephen says below {good call!}, your G spring could also be too weak. )

 

[Stephen Howard]

You say you dismantled the octave key mech - when you removed the octave key rod screw (and just to be clear, this is the rod on which the crook pin, the body octave key and the touchpiece link are mounted), did you push the rod through the individual pieces and check for binding...by pushing the rod all the way through and by rotating it?

A quick and dirty test for a bent octave key rod screw is to give the screw a couple of turns while keeping an eye on the mechanism. If you see the mechanism rise and fall as the screw is turned back and forth, it means the rod screw is bent.

Regards,

 

[Cepages]

Stephen: Yes to your description of what I removed and replaced, but I didn't check for binding (that did not occur to me) but I will test what you suggested - it makes sense and I should have. Thank you!

 

[martinm5862]

When I lift my LH 3rd finger the valve for the "A" tone hole opens sluggishly like there is some form of friction. Without the octave key - it is smooth and no feel (and sound) of friction. I took apart the octave mechanism and the only thing I could find that was maybe the culprit was the plastic sleeve that is on the tiny rod that ties the two rods together. The plactic sleeve seems worn. Probably a poor explanation but all my saxes have that or similar sleeve on the octave mech.

Any ideas or thoughts? I put it back together and it is still the same. I oiled the usual joints in the octave system.....

I see the small plastic sleeve. That tubing is also used in mechanisms for the right hand side keys. I would think if the tubing is worn that's the problem. Replace it?

 

[Cepages]

I checked the rod screw thoroughly and it is fine. No movement at all - it is very free.

martinm - I agree; I am thinking it must be that sleeve. To the shop tomorrow..... I will post what the tech says after he looks at it.

 

[Stephen Howard]

A worn sleeve usually only leads to a bit of noise and some free play in the mechanism - unless it's broken up and has jammed the mech.
If everything else checks out as per above then it might boil down to a spring imbalance, with the G key spring being a tad too weak.

Regards,

 

[Cepages]

Stephen: you are correct. The G spring was weak; but also the neck spring was too strong; The tech greased a couple of joints while he had it, but it was the springs.