How to align the valves on my trumpet?

How can you yell the valves in a trumpet work without using a mouthpiece?

• i just bought a junky trumpet, didnt come with a mouthpiece... how can i tell that the valves work? They press in and dont stick, but im not sure about their functioning. Also there are no caps on the valves, will this affect playing? lastly, it has a stuck tuning slide, how can i get this to work again?

• Answer:

  Try to turn the valves clockwise (turning the counter-clockwise can unscrew the finger button and or the stem). Any valve that you can rotate more than one complete rotation has a valve guide problem. You'll have to replace or properly reinstall the valve guide. Valves my "click" into place when you rotate them, and that MAY mean they are properly installed--some valves can be installed backward. Anyway, after checking the valve guides seal your lips around the receiver (where the mouthpiece goes) and blow. Air should flow freely--if it doesn't your valves are improperly installed. Remove the 1st valve (nearest the receiver), it should be numbered with a 1 and the number should be facing away from the bell. Do the same thing for #2 and #3. If you can't find numbers remove all the valves. Insert one valve in the 3rd valve casing (closest to the bell). Gently blow, if it is the 3rd valve the air will flow (you have to do this twice if the valve guide can seat in two different positions). If it's not the right valve, try another until you find the one that works. Repeat the process with the 2nd valve, etc. By the way, after removing the valves make sure you oil them before you reinstall them. And even if they work you should oil them liberally with valve oil--some of which will run out the bottom of the valve because it doesn't have valve caps. That's one of the purposes of valve caps, they collect excess valve oil and condensation so it doesn't run out and make a mess. Not having valve caps does make a difference in the tone of the instrument, but it doesn't make it unplayable. About the stuck tuning slide--try cleaning the horn with dish soap, warm water and a snake. Slide still stuck? Try soaking in warm water, dish soap solution for 30 minutes. Still stuck? Take it to a repair shop. There are ways to remove stuck slides, but without special tools and a bit of touch you are likely to damage a horn beyond repair. Make sure you rinse the horn out thoroughly before you play it. Good Luck.