Victor V Horn is sagging

[jimmantwo]

Hello - I know this had a previous discussion but no suitable solutions except using tape or a pipe spreader - so I am asking again. I have an oak horn which does not sag because it is lighter weight - I cannot get either elbow/coupling off either horn to swap. I am guessing I need to replace the elbow that is attached to the horn but any solutions other than that or using tape would be appreciated. I am going to try to find a couple o-rings and try that. TIA - Jim

[Zwebie]

Hi Jim,

I had a similar problem with a Schoolhouse elbow sagging. My fix was to use a small section of an old curved flat phonograph spring to shim it up.
It may take a couple of tries to get the right length of the shim, but once installed it worked like a charm!

Cheers, Bob S.

[jimmantwo]

Thanks Bob - good idea - I think I can use one of those cheapo Harbor Freight hole saw sets if they still sell them for material as I do not have a piece of phonograph spring without taking something apart. Best - Jim

[JerryVan]

The only real solution is to make the base of the elbow round again. Barring that...

The idea of using a cutaway section of a hole saw most likely will not work well, or at all. The HVAC section of your hardware store will have metallic aluminum tape used to seal off duct work, (no, NOT duct tape). Buy some of that. Add it in incremantal layers to the area of the elbow that's bent/worn out of round. It should not be necessary to wrap it completely around, just add it to the worn/flatted area in the lower back end of the elbow. Build it up gradually until you get the fit you need.

[JerryVan]

Hello - I know this had a previous discussion but no suitable solutions except using tape or a pipe spreader - so I am asking again.

Those were good suggestions. Why ask again?

[jimmantwo]

I used chuck on my lathe to ‘spread’ and made base round again and that did not work as well as hoped - the original metal on the elbow just failed again under the weight of the horn. I think earlier suggestion of using spring steel as a shim was good and was better than anything posted in previous inquiry - that is why I asked again. Cheers

[Curt A]

My "opinion" only (I may be wrong), but your horn looks too big (long) for your machine and the weight is dragging it down... a shorter horn or a lighter weight horn would probably correct the problem. If you can't remove the elbow - buy a replacement... problem solved.

[Zwebie]

The idea of using a cutaway section of a hole saw mosy likely will not work well, or at all

Jim the shim needs to be very thin!

[jimmantwo]

Hello - this is the same as cheapo harbor freight hole set except now it is Great Neck from Amazon - When I referred to the HF hole saws I don't think it was understood what I was thinking about. These are very thin and flexible and do not function well at all as a hole saw.

I cut a piece out of one of the thin hole saws to insert into the inside of the elbow after re-rounding it (the end of the elbow) the best I could - this is to make it structurally overall more substantial. It is much tighter now in the bottom of the arm bracket and will/should be less prone to bending. It is made to be pushed in flush with the end of the elbow - I pulled it out a bit to photograph it. It may not need to be shimmed.

Thanks Bob for your ideas which led to this possible solution - I have some thin governor spring steel pieces around I can fool with if I still need to shim. Best - Jim

[Zwebie]

Jim,

You miss-understood my fit for your elbow.
What you need to do is use a small ½ inch to 1 inch piece if spring steel in the location indicated by the arrows when you press in your elbow.
You'll be amazed how well it works!

Bob S.