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Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Stuck on 11/9/2022, 9:49 am

Greetings!

I have 3 trumpets with mouthpiece practically embedded in the instrument. I have tried using the mouthpiece remover tool but all it does is gets to the point where I can't turn anymore and the mouth piece looks at me and laughs saying "you can't get me out!"

What other methods do you guys do to remove these pesky things? I don't want to go to the repair shop yet but if I must, I must.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Pancake Strad on 11/28/2022, 7:52 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

I never worried about a stuck mouthpiece as long as the instrument would fit in it's case closed. I would let the repair shop take care of the problem with Summer repairs.
On another note I did have a trumpet brought in that was flattened in it's case when the student left it behind her father's pickup and it got run over. I don't know how they did it but the repair shop made it work again and without much cosmetic damage. I told her her Strad was always a bit flat!

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Stuck on 11/10/2022, 10:16 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

Thank you all so much for the advices! I got 2 of them free from the suggestions made (Rawhide mallet with the bobcat worked, just had to be patient), about to work on the last one.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Stoopid Trumpet Player on 11/10/2022, 3:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

After you get the mouthpieces pulled, check the shank to see if it is out of round (kids drop mouthpieces often). I ream the shank to help prevent further sticking problems.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by horn playa on 11/10/2022, 8:27 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

Sometimes when we have a mouthpiece stuck this badly I use plyers to turn the mouthpiece puller. This is with a bobcat mouthpiece puller.

good luck!

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by retireder on 11/9/2022, 11:31 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

Put the mpc in a vise and twist the trumpet until the lead pipe twists and/or breaks. Then take it to the repair guy to have the lead pipe replaced, and they can just cut the mpc out of the wreckage.

At least that is the method three trumpet player dads (actually two dads and one mom) used during my career.

In seriousness, the method described below works and is what I have seen repair guys do. Tighten the puller, tap the pipe with a rawhide mallet. Another slight turn, tap tap tap. If you are able to heat it up a little it helps, but be careful to not do it too much or you might melt the solder of the mpc receiver.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Unstuck on 11/9/2022, 11:24 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

If the mouthpiece is that stuck, it's probably gunked up and corroded inside. The other posts are good ideas, but also try these methods.

Get some penetrating oil (Corrosion Cracker brand is great, but anything at the local hardware store is good). Put a few drops where the mouthpiece enters the leadpipe. If you have a torch, heat up the leadpipe a bit to help draw the oil in. Let the oil work overnight and try again tomorrow.

Put the bobcat on, turn the screws to apply pressure. Leave overnight and see if it's out tomorrow morning.

Once you get it out, clean the mouthpiece shank really well. Rubbing alcohol can help. Steel wool is the next step up. Clean inside the leadpipe as best you can.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Old dude on 11/9/2022, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

I agree 100%

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Who... on 11/9/2022, 8:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

do you agree with?

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Please... on 11/9/2022, 12:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

do not use steel wool on the mouthpiece shank or inside the receiver. You may change the shape/contour so that a mouthpiece will not seat properly. Also, removing the silver plating on the mouthpiece will make the two brasses of the mouthpiece and receiver will make them more likely to stick or fuse together.

This is not a corrosion over time problem. It is from being dropped or some other kind of forced pressure. Just putting a mouthpiece in without a gentle twist will cause them to get stuck too.

Not a gunk/corrosion problem with a mouthpiece, tuning slides, yes, mouthpiece no.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by Trumpeter on 11/10/2022, 8:56 am, in reply to "Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

Never use an abrasive cleaner or cleanser of any kind on any part of an instrument unless you absolutely know what you're doing.

That includes using Scotch-Brite pads to clean valves or pipes, too. Or any sort of soap with "microbeads" or corrosive elements like bleach or the like. Anything at all. Clean water, PLAIN SOAP (like bottom shelf Ajax) and soft cloth is all a non-repair-shop-trained person EVER needs to clean a brass instrument.

Nearly all brass valves are PLATED, not solid metal. If you wear down the plating, it will either no longer fit in the valve casing properly or it will no longer fully seat correctly - meaning it'll get stuck more often.

If you use it on the piping, you can wear down or deform the metal with scratches or microabrasions. You're doing more harm than good.

To OP: If a mouthpiece is stuck THAT badly, it either fell off of the stands or was somehow kicked. They SHOULD come out easily - unless something is misshapen. Your repair shop is going to use heat and penetrating oil to remove it, not pressure that may deform the lead pipe. You should absolutely do the same.

If you don't have a heat gun (everyone should, they're about $20-30 at Home Depot, or you could buy the Valentino kit that comes with one) then even a hairdryer on "hot" aimed at the leadpipe and gentle taps with a rawhide mallet *at the point of entry* should be enough to remove even the most stuck mouthpiece.

If it's not - if it's in 1/8th of an inch or more "too far" then you've likely deformed the lead pipe and need to get it repaired or replaced ANYWAY, so send it to the shop.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by You need... on 11/9/2022, 10:18 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

one of these: https://www.amazon.com/JEWELERS-RAWHIDE-MALLET-GARLAND-LEATHER/dp/B00WGZRQVS/ref=sr_1_21?crid=2BJMKV0C69UK9&keywords=rawhide+mallet+for+leather+working&qid=1668010280&sprefix=rawhide+mallet%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-21

a 4 or 6 oz. rawhide mallet will work-they are also on Ebay and leather stores sell them

Use the mouthpiece puller to put pressure on the mouthpiece, then tap the mouthpiece receiver lightly with the mallet. Tighten the puller a little more if it doesn't come right out. Tap again, it may take several times to get them to pop. Don't tap so hard that it might bend the lead pipe.

Re: Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help

Posted by stick waver on 11/9/2022, 9:58 am, in reply to "Trumpet Mouthpiece removal help"

Heat up where the mouthpiece connects to the trumpet. It should help the bobcat remove the mouthpiece.

The problem I've had in the past is the plates fall off of the leadpipe, never not able to turn and add tension.

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