[JavaWolf]

Reoccuring leak - Update.. They're back

A week or so ago I noticed some resistance on low C & below and checked for leaks -- found two enormous ones in the bell keys. Coincidentally, I was planning on heading to the shop the next day and took it in. Got it back; no leaks. A couple days later, I take it out and surprise, surprise - They're back, as bad as ever. I don't recall dropping it down a flight of stairs or any similar accidents, so what could be the cause of this? Bell bending to one side? Weak brace? I'm not so sure about the latter, it seems strange that this would crop up so suddenly if that were the case.

 

[Bernards20040]

It could be a loose bow to body conection (if it's not soldered) the glue may have cracked and when you take your horn from the case i assume you lift it by the bell and this may move the joint.

Disclaimer
I am not a tech. but i had this happen to a horn of mine. you could not even feel it move but it was enough to cause a major leak.

 

[hornimprovement]

It could be a loose bow to body conection (if it's not soldered) the glue may have cracked and when you take your horn from the case i assume you lift it by the bell and this may move the joint.

This is my guess, too, and I am a tech. I assume this is on your Vito. The joint on those is glued with epoxy, which is a bit brittle and prone to cracking.

 

[ShedShark]

What is the best way to take the horn out of the case to prevent this?

 

[Bernards20040]

What is the best way to take the horn out of the case to prevent this?

Carefully

Seriously I don't know of any way other than by the bell I sure ain't gonna grab it by the rods:shock:

 

[aikisax]

Take it out by holding the end plug and the bell. Lever it up onto the bow and then lift it by with the fingers on the metal loop that holds the LH pinky cluster and thumb around the back.

I had two horns that both had twisted bells and leaking B Bb pads due to lifting by the bell.

And yes, i did handle it carefully.

 

[clarnibass]

IMO if you do it carefully you can hold the sax almost anywhere when you take it out of the case.

 

[griff136]

I agree

 

[Dr G]

If the horn is coming apart and needs that kind of coddling to avoid leaks, the best way to take it out of its case is at the repair shop.

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this."

 

[Martin Williams]

I agree, it is more than likely the bell brace. I had the same thing happen a few times with the selmer USA bari I played in HS before we figured it out.

Julie, take it back to the tech, let them know what you think might be happening, and ask them to go over it and make sure there arent any other possible causes

 

[Wind_Mill]

A week or so ago I noticed some resistance on low C & below and checked for leaks -- found two enormous ones in the bell keys. Coincidentally, I was planning on heading to the shop the next day and took it in. Got it back; no leaks. A couple days later, I take it out and surprise, surprise - They're back, as bad as ever. I don't recall dropping it down a flight of stairs or any similar accidents, so what could be the cause of this? Bell bending to one side? Weak brace? I'm not so sure about the latter, it seems strange that this would crop up so suddenly if that were the case.

Aside from what others have already mentioned, another possibility comes to mind. You took the horn in and the shop attempted to reseat the existing leaky bell key pads, and possibly even clamped them. After a couple days, the felt under the pad leather has returned to its previous shape, allowing the once "repaired" leaks to return. This can happen if the attempted reseating procedure didn't get past heating/softening the shellac or glue in the pad cup. Some effort has to be made also to physically re-align the problem pads.

 

[Saxdaddy]

Could be loss of a seat or a bad body to bell seal, which should be repaired if it is, since this would mean that you also have a leak where the body meets the bell, that could be one cause of a weak low C. One other thing to consider is metal memory. If the bell had to be aligned in order to level the bell keys to the bell, or if key posts had to be align for the same reason, then metal memory may also be the cause of the leaks returning.

 

[milandro]

I am not a technician, but, could it be that your horn is in a tight case or worse a soft bag? placing your horn in such a case might warp our bell and causing a leak.

 

[JavaWolf]

I don't think it's being caused by the case. My contoured case is a bit of a tight fit, although I haven't used it for months. The one I'm currently using is hardly snug.

I'll take it in ASAP and mention the possibility of a loose joint connection, then have them go over it thoroughly. Hopefully the problem can be easily fixed. Thanks all.

 

[JavaWolf]

Took it in on Tuesday, had the tech go completely over it - checked the keys, pads, brace, joints, everything.

I take it out today.. The damn leaks are back. I've taken this thing in twice now, and the problem still isn't fixed. My tech has done a fantastic job with everything I've thrown at her in the past, and really seems to know her stuff. Could there be another possible cause, or is it time to find a new tech?

 

[milandro]

must be that somebody has been given you the evil eye....an exorcism would be appropriate, try holy water or garlic

 

[Wind_Mill]

Took it in on Tuesday, had the tech go completely over it - checked the keys, pads, brace, joints, everything.......

With regard to the problem pads, did "check" = "replace"?

 

[JavaWolf]

Yes, she replaced the pads.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

Perhaps she did not attend to such things as sloppy pivot tubes, sloppy fit of stack key pivot rods in stack key posts, and non-level tone holes, which can be every bit as important as good pads.