How to Disassemble the Rotary Valve on a French Horn

The front of the horn is the part where you can see its keys.

Rotary valves in a French horn sit below the keys the player presses to play notes. These valves can become stuck or hard to press due to poor maintenance, and may require disassembly. Removing the valves to clean and lubricate them can be challenging, but it is a good idea for advanced players to familiarize themselves with the process. If you are unsure of your ability to remove your horn's valves, consult a repair professional to avoid serious damage to your instrument.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver set
• Small hammer or mallet
• Towel

Instructions

1. Loosen the lever screw and the stop arm screw, and slide out the valve's string. Do not remove the screws, and gently retighten them to avoid losing them.

2. Remove the center screw from the rotor shaft of the valve. Set aside the screw in a safe place.

3. Remove the valve cap from the back of the French horn by twisting it off with your fingers. Set aside.

4. Insert a thin, flat-head screwdriver between the stop arm and the rotor shaft, and gently twist to remove the stop arm. This should require just a small amount of force, and if it is stuck in place, consider taking it to a repair professional to avoid damaging the horn. Set aside the stop arm.

5. Place a towel beneath the horn, and tap directly down on the valve with a small hammer. The valve will drop out of the horn and onto the towel below.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are removing multiple valves at the same time, keep the valves' parts from getting mixed up by placing them in labeled plastic containers.

• Applying too much force when removing the valve can cause damage to your horn.

References

• TheFrenchHorn.net: Maintenance
• Horn Matters; How Do you Take Apart a Rotary Valve?; John Ericson; October 2007
• YouTube: How to Remove Rotary Valves on the Horn Part 1