Leaking tuning slide

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drpmorris99
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 08, 2025

by drpmorris99 »

Wasn't sure where best to post this one. Hopefully here is good!

I've noticed when I play I sometimes get a drip or two coming from the tuning slide at the top end of the instrument. Over the course of a rehearsal I might notice 3-4 drips. I'd not really spotted it before, is it a sign of an issue?

I do find the tuning slide a bit of a pain, between all the way in and about an inch out it typically moves very freely, too freely perhaps as I have had it drop under the counterweight. Then it gets a lot stiffer. Might they be related?

Is this kind of leak likely to affect sound (can't say I've noticed anything)? Is it worth having it "looked at"?

It's a besson sovereign 941 straight small bore tenor. Leak is on the gooseneck side of the tuning slide.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Paul
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ithinknot
Posts: 1339
Joined: Jul 24, 2020

by ithinknot »

Test the fit of the TS legs individually and you'll know more... they may both be loose, or just the neckpipe side. Loose at one end of travel and stiff at the other suggests that the alignment is out... the tuning slide legs may be out of parallel, or the bell section, or both.

Short term, use heavier grease so that it doesn't migrate or leak. (Counterintuitively, it'll probably move more smoothly at the stiff end of the travel too, as you'll be less likely to pull one side more than the other and get bound up with diagonal tension.) Then get someone competent to resize the legs and true everything up. It'll play better without leaks and excess tension.
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drpmorris99
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 08, 2025

by drpmorris99 »

Thanks! Any advice on the grease? I always just used a bit of vaseline in the past. I have some silicone grease for my (pedal) bike that's a bit thicker? Something like that or is there an official "tuning slide grease"?

A quick test shows both sides are very easy to slide in and out individually right now.

Thanks

Paul
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

There is official tuning slide grease that's really thick, but I think the silicone grease would be good too. About the same thickness.
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CharlieB
Posts: 434
Joined: Mar 29, 2018

by CharlieB »

[quote="drpmorris99"]Thanks! Any advice on the grease? I always just used a bit of vaseline in the past. I have some silicone grease for my (pedal) bike that's a bit thicker? Something like that or is there an official "tuning slide grease"?

A quick test shows both sides are very easy to slide in and out individually right now.

Thanks

Paul[/quote]

This stuff:

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-p ... QiqihSOdkh">https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-page/ultra-pure-heavy-tuning-slide-lube-upo-heavy?srsltid=AfmBOoo7yQpWj83NpAETdi00lYlLIkgebg-wdc8lQOKZpGQiqihSOdkh</LINK_TEXT>
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drpmorris99
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 08, 2025

by drpmorris99 »

Thanks!
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BPBasso
Posts: 96
Joined: Mar 31, 2025

by BPBasso »

I'm dealing with a similar issue, though my tuning slide moves easily from end to end. In fact all three of my bassbones tuning slides leak moisture during play. I'm currently using Hetman Tuning Slide Grease (#8) until I can have a tech look over my horn. The Hetman seems to be reducing the leaks, and definitely holds the slides where you set them.
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drpmorris99
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 08, 2025

by drpmorris99 »

Just to update. I tried the bike grease (teflon based, not silicone it seems in the end). It helped the leak, but was too slippery, so the slide just dropped easily under it's own weight (worse than the old Vaseline!). The Ultra-Pure Heavy seems to have done the trick now though. That is seriously sticky! Wish I'd looked for that before!

Thanks all for the input!