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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
39 posts
Jul-16-06, 10:12 AM (PST)
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"Windsaver valve replacement on chromatics"
 
   LAST EDITED ON Jul-16-06 AT 02:59 PM (PST) by webmaster (admin)
 
Got a Hohner64 chromatic which i've had for not quite 3 months and play it at least an hour a day.On hole 6 blow ,it has that irritating clicking from the windsavers.I tried tapping it clear,then i took off the covers and tried to blow them clear,no good so i then got some paper towel and wiped between them.Seemed ok that night but the noise was back the next day.
What can i do?remove it?

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
686 posts
Jul-16-06, 02:58 PM (PST)
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1. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #0
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-16-06 AT 03:01 PM (PST)
 
Andy,

(This is more of an Advanced Topics post. I will move this post to that forum fairly soon.)

You can't remove the windsaver valve without replacing it with a new one -- you will get a ton of air leak and make that note virtually unplayable. Here's a good book with some more info on chromatic repairs and maintenance-

Repair book- "Make Your Harmonica Work Better"-
http://www.harmonicastore.com/instruct_books.shtml

Online info-
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/maintwind.html#top
(some good homemade alternatives here)
Site homepage- http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/index.html

You will need to contact the Hohner company and order a small box of replacement windsaver valves (I bought one 25 years ago and still have plenty, so this should be a one time purchase).
Hohner contact info-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID5/39.html

To glue them back on, I use what Hohner uses which is standard Duco Cement (available at most drug stores and home improvement centers).

Sometimes by playing the chromatic for a few minutes the windsaver valves will warm up and work better. Not always, but this is the lazy man's cure and what I do mostly these days to avoid actually dealing with it.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
39 posts
Jul-16-06, 11:20 PM (PST)
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2. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #1
 
   Thanks Dave,i gave it another clean out late last night and will see how it is later today.I did'nt realise you had to have them.Although i've played it loads i can't beleive that they would need replacing already so i started to question whether i cleaned them properly.
Will keep you posted on the outcome.
Thanks again.

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
686 posts
Jul-17-06, 00:05 AM (PST)
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3. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #2
 
(Hopefully you noticed I moved this post)

Windsavers aren't the kind of thing that cleaning will help with (sort of like when your car tires have no tread, cleaning won't make them better). In fact, it's liable to make them worse. Take a look at the online info from my last post before you do anything else to it.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
39 posts
Jul-17-06, 04:43 AM (PST)
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4. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #3
 
   Will do matey,cheers.

www.surreystrongman.com


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
39 posts
Jul-20-06, 11:01 AM (PST)
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5. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #4
 
   Just to let you know the following day i took my harp apart again and gently pushed the read.Since then its been fine,so it was'nt a windsaver after all.
Thanks again.

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
686 posts
Jul-20-06, 02:34 PM (PST)
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6. "RE: Windsaver replacement on chromatics"
In response to message #5
 
Excellent. You can talk about this kind of stuff all day, but as long as you're careful, you need to get in and see how things work. Harmonicas are basically simple creatures and the learning curve for minor repairs and maintenance is pretty reasonable.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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