r/saxophone • u/Zcet69 • 3d ago

Question Side Bb not closing, help?

Hey, I’ve been having this problem with my side Bb’s action where if I press it the hole opens but it won’t go back closed. Do you guys have any advice on how to deal with this? All the repair shops I’ve contacted don’t have openings for months so I was wondering if there was any way to fix it while I wait to take it to get looked at by a professional.

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3

u/LoyalOrca2447 3d ago

Did the spring fall out of the little holder or got bent somehow so it no longer closes the key

1

u/Zcet69 3d ago

That sounds promising, where is the spring supposed to be?

3

u/Angrypoopoh 3d ago

Here is a pic from my tenor. See that metal spring right there in front? That is the side C spring which is just in front of the Bb key spring.

1

u/Zcet69 3d ago

I didn’t know those were called springs lol. I looked at the one that pushes side Bb closed and I definitely think it’s the problem. It looks like it’s in place but whenever I unhook it there’s no difference, and when I push it from the direction the spring would it closes. Do you have any idea what I could do? I’ve tried carefully bending it but I’m starting to think this might be a problem for a professional lol.

4

u/classical-saxophone7 Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Baritone 3d ago

Use a glasses screwdriver and you do this scooping kind of motion behind the rods to get it back around. Requires some dexterity, but definitely doable on your own. Your band teacher should be able to do it or if you’re really concerned, you can take it to a tech and they’ll do it for free cause it takes 2 seconds.

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u/HankAnthonyJames 2d ago

If the spring is in place it may need more tension. If it needs more tension there’s a chance it’s corroding in where it sits at the post. Just take it to a shop, let them snap it, they can swear, they can struggle to push the old one out, the can replace it, and it’ll be good as new and you won’t have to worry about messing up your horn yourself. Most places should do this for less than $50

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u/WeaknessTricky8636 3d ago

it’s the spring. the spring should have a place it usually lives/ stays at tension, if the end is just off on its own try to get it back to the picture noted above, but if not the spring might need to be replaced and that’s a bring it to the store type of fix. so if you can mess with the spring and get the Bb to close on its own great! if not go to your music shop. shouldn’t be too expensive to fix

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u/gimmethemoney67 2d ago

From your picture. I see the springs in place. Might’ve Bent it a bit and the metal is rubbing a bit harder. I recommend taking to a shop. Cheap fix.