Hi all,
I started my tuba journey about 1,5 years ago by buying an old Amati for 150 euros. It's been great fun learning to play, but now I have a problem: the clock spring of the fourth valve broke.
I have disassembled the lever assembly and separated the problem lever/spring barrel from the shaft. But how do I continue from here, how do I get the barrel open? I don't see any other way than to use a suitable sized piece of rod or wooden dowel to push the center piece (the one with a star shaped hole at one end and round hole at the other) to force one of the barrel lids open. But which side should I try to open? And should I try to hammer it or use some kind of vise to push?
Also, should I try heating the barrel and cooling the lid to help loosen the joint?
Any other advice or suggestions?
Thank you in advance!
How to open this rotary valve clock spring barrel?
- bloke
- Mid South Music
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Re: How to open this rotary valve clock spring barrel?
The sides are friction fit.
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- York-aholic (Sat May 09, 2026 2:36 pm)
- bloke
- Mid South Music
- Posts: 24467
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
- Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
- Has thanked: 5251 times
- Been thanked: 5912 times
Re: How to open this rotary valve clock spring barrel?
If everything seems clicky and worn, maybe look into a decent quality set of Chinese exterior sprung linkage.
When when the links themselves are replaced with European links, the rest of that stuff is usually pretty good.
When when the links themselves are replaced with European links, the rest of that stuff is usually pretty good.
