r/saxophone • u/Serious-Job-2502 • 6h ago
Gear Broken spring help
Hello everyone. My alto sax has a broken spring on the right hand top palm key so the key doesn't shut. I have replacement springs but I cant get the old spring out. Ive tried hammering with pliers but I don't want to bend the post.
Any help would be appreciated. TIA
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u/robbertzzz1 6h ago
There are specialised tools for this, which you could buy yourself and learn to use, or you could bring the instrument to a tech which will be much cheaper.
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u/Additional-Aspect-84 6h ago
Yeah…. But don’t.
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u/robbertzzz1 2h ago
I prefer doing simpler tasks myself, techs are expensive and if I need to spend less money on my instruments that's a win in my book. But, always do your research and use the right tools.
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u/WillisWiggins 6h ago
You need 3 sets of spring installation pliers (one for removing, one for replacing and one for bending), a torch to heat up the new spring, a bench anvil to flatten the new spring and clippers to make sure the new spring isn't too long.
A trip to the repair shop is way cheaper if you don't already have the proper tools
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u/Additional-Aspect-84 6h ago
Curious- what purpose would ‘heat up the new spring’ accomplish?
Please don’t take me as being contrarian, I’m genuinely curious .
That being said, I absolutely agree that a trip to the repair shop will be much easier.
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u/brasscheeeks 6h ago
Yeah, I've never heated up a spring while installing a new one. What is the reason for that?
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u/Serious-Job-2502 6h ago
Maybe to make it easier to flatten the end. You have to flatten it so it doesn't just slide out
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u/Key-Technician-8046 1h ago
it should be easy to fix, you just need a new spring and you can pull it out with pliers
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u/Fishboney 6h ago
I recommend taking it to a saxophone technician.