How to Adjust French Horn Valve Levers

The valve levers need to have a smooth action.

The French horn has a complex array of tubes and valves. The main tube is connected to the mouthpiece and the bell. When open, the valves effectively elongate the main tube. Because the air passes through a longer distance, the pitch of the horn is lower. To open and close the valves, you depress the valve levers. The valve levers are connected by a string to a lever arm, which opens the valve. The tension of this string determines the feel and response of the valve lever. To adjust the valve levers to your preference, restring the valve.

Things You'll Need

• Valve cap dowel
• Flat head screwdriver
• Valve string

Instructions

1. Place the French horn on a towel or sheet, to protect the brass from scratches.

2. Remove the bell, if removable. If the bell is fixed, position the horn so the bell hangs over the edge of the table. This way it won’t obstruct you from moving the horn.

3. Attach the valve cap dowel to the valve cap and rotate it counter-clockwise. This loosens the valve cap. Lift off the dowel away from the valve cap.

4. Lift off the valve cap to expose the valve lever, stop arm and string. The string is attached to the lever. The tension of the string determines the action of the lever. Tight string results in a stiff lever, but quicker response. Loose string results in a slack lever and slower response.

5. Unscrew the valve lever screw so it is at approximately half of its original tension. Don’t remove the screw, just relax the tension sufficiently to remove the string fasten underneath it.

6. Unscrew the stop arm screw to the same extent.

7. Remove the valve string, which is wrapped in a figure eight pattern around the valve lever and stop arm. The string determines the tension of the valve lever. Over time the string wears out and becomes slack, which influences the response of the valve lever when depressed.

8. Cut an 8-inch piece of valve string.

9. Tie a ball-knot 1 inch from the end.

10. Feed the non-knotted end through the hole in the valve lever.

11. Wrap it in a figure eight pattern around the partially loosened screw on the stop arm. Tighten the stop arm so it clamps the string.

12. Feed the string back under the valve lever arm and wrap it around the screw. Tighten the screw to hold it down.

13. Press the valve lever arm. If it is too slack, unscrew the screw on the valve lever arm, pull the string so it is tight and refasten the screw. If it is too tight, pull the string the other way to slacken it. Adjust the length of the string between the screws to set the tension how you like it. When you’re happy with the tension, trim off the excess string.

14. Fasten the valve cap back on using the dowel.

Tips & Warnings

• Singe the end of the string with a lighter to prevent it from fraying.

References

• Mouthpiece Express: Caring for your French Horn
• Lyric Brass; Stringing Rotary Valves; Andrew B. Spang; 1997

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish