Bach 42BO Linkage Question

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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

My Bach 42BO Trigger Linkage is really loud .

What`s the best and QUIETEST modification for that?

And where do I get the parts

Thanks
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calcbone
Posts: 225
Joined: Jun 11, 2018

by calcbone »

Others will have recommendations for actual mods, but we also need to know—is this the “old” Bach linkage (pre-1998 or so) with the large adjustment screw on the ball-and-socket joint at the top of the linkage, or the “newer” one that has a rod with a small ball at each end?

The old one got a lot of complaints, but it is possible to keep it quiet if the adjustment screw is kept at just the right tightness (no play, but not so tight that it binds) and that ball joint is very well lubricated with something THICK.

The newer one…yeah, if I still had one of these (I played one in college), I’m sure I’d want to change it also…
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whitbey
Posts: 654
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by whitbey »

I have been doing this with my old Bach bass since the 1980’s and with the new metal valve linkages as I have acquired them. I put a gob of Vaseline on the metal sockets, then hit it with a lighter just enough to melt in the lube. My old Bach bass is still quiet and fast. Also put a gob a Vaseline on the pivot and spring and hit that with a lighter. My Cerveny oval euphonium has linkage similar to the old Bach. It does really great this way too.
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tbonesullivan
Posts: 1959
Joined: Jul 02, 2019

by tbonesullivan »

How old is the Bach 42BO in question? They have used a few different linkages over the years. The more recent minibal linkages should be pretty quiet.
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Lastbone
Posts: 56
Joined: May 15, 2019

by Lastbone »

I have a 90s 42BO with noisy miniball linkages. I found that the noise came from the miniball being loose on the screw, not from the miniball itself. I used a toothpick to pack a bit of lithium grease into the hole and it quieted down. The fix has lasted 4 years so far.