Slide bumpers, cork barrels
- Macbone1
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Oct 01, 2019
How do you know when it's time to replace the bumpers in the cork barrels? I have two instruments that sound rather loud on the slide return. Not the really loud clank of metal on metal but still kind of loud. And what about the practice of only putting one bumper on? Would both be better?
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
My rule of thumb is if you have screwed the slide lock pawl (arm) all the way in and it still doesn't lock the cam you need new bumpers. Of course if you have no slide lock, this test doesn't work.
If you are talking about putting bumpers in only one of the two cork barrels, my thoughts as an engineer is "don't". You will introduce a bending moment on the slide brace each time you ram the slide home. This can't do any good.
If you are talking about putting bumpers in only one of the two cork barrels, my thoughts as an engineer is "don't". You will introduce a bending moment on the slide brace each time you ram the slide home. This can't do any good.
- Macbone1
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Oct 01, 2019
Thanks much Bruce. Slide locks still work, so far so good <EMOJI seq="1f44d" tseq="1f44d">👍</EMOJI>. I had read about the one cork barrel approach on this forum somewhere, and was rather surprised.
- ithinknot
- Posts: 1339
- Joined: Jul 24, 2020
I don't play against the bumpers, so the loudness is irrelevant to me. I replace if they're crumbling, if they might be harboring smells (buying a used horn with a stanky case), or if there's too much play above the slide lock.
Bruce is right from a theoretical perspective - though I imagine the risks are minimal compared to the forces introduced every time you go anywhere near 7th - but why "ram the slide home" anyway?
The advantage of only doing the lower side is that there is a noticeable difference between directly and indirectly smacking yourself in the teeth, though neither is recommended.
Bruce is right from a theoretical perspective - though I imagine the risks are minimal compared to the forces introduced every time you go anywhere near 7th - but why "ram the slide home" anyway?
The advantage of only doing the lower side is that there is a noticeable difference between directly and indirectly smacking yourself in the teeth, though neither is recommended.