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Chromatic Harmonica Slide Sticks

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Thu, 01/27/2022 - 20:43
dmenken
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Joined: 11/15/2018

Hi. It was suggested that I post my question/problem here, for your advice. I have a Hohner Cromonica 270 Chromaic in C. The slide has always been sticky, but today it wouldn't move at all. It now moves with some effort but still sticks. I don't overuse it, and it was sticky from the beginning. It feels like it needs a few drops of 3-in-1 oil (don't worry, I won't do that, but that's how it feels). Can you give me a tip to make it work again? Thanks.

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Fri, 01/28/2022 - 16:47
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Expert Winslow Yerxa
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Cleaning the slide

Slide will gum up from mouth debris, and need to be cleaned periodically.

If a bit of grit has gotten into the slide assembly, that can also cause it to seize up.

If the slide moves freely but doesn't spring back after being pressed in and released, that's a broken spring.

If you're OK with using a screwdriver and keeping track of small parts, you might disassemble the mouthpiece assemby and clean it. On the 270, it consists of four layers, from bottom to top:

  • The backing plate, which is laid against the front of the reedplates&comb assembly, to create a smooth, flat platform for the slide to move on.
  • The slide itself
  • The U-channel or slide cage, a trough shaped like a flattened U. This has four tabs that lock into notches in the backing plate. This creates a channel for the slide to move in.
  • The mouthpiece, laid on top of the U-channel.

The assembly is held in place by two screws at either end that dig into the wood of the comb. Around each screw is a soft plastic "bumper" that silences noise and prevents damage to the screws frmm the slide hitting against them.

The slide has a tiny hole at the left side for the spring that is mounted in a hole at the left side of the comb. The spring returns the slide to the "out" position after you press the slide in and then release it.

To clea the slide, disassemble the mouthpiece assembly, being carreful to keep the screws and bumpers. You cna leave the slide spring alone.

Lay the backing plate, U-channel and slide on a flat surface. For the slide, let the button hag off the edge so that the slide lies flat on that surface.

Scrub all parts, both sides, with a toothbrush and soapy water, or maybe toothpates. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

To reassemble:

  1. Lay the backing plate on the front of the reedblock, with the notch for spring travel over the spring. 
  2. Lay the slide on the backing plate so that the row of the holes on the top half of the backing plate are open. Engage the spring in its hole in the slide.
  3. Lay the U-channel on the slide, making sure the tabs fit into their notches in the backing plate.
  4. Examine the back of the mouthpiece. At one end, there's a groove to accomodate the slide spring poking up. Make sure to mount that end over the slide psring.
  5. Thread the screws through the mputhpiece and install the bumpers over the springs.
  6. Thread the left side screw into its hole.
  7. Thread the right side (button side) through its hole. You may need to press the slide in slightly to get access to the hole.
  8. Press the mputhpiece against the rest of the assembly. Look to see that all the surfaces - backing plate, slide, and U-channel - are parallel.
  9. Tighten the mputhpiece screws. Too tight and the slide will bind. Too loose and air will leak. Tighen both screws until the slide bninds, then back off, one screw at a time, until it moves freely.
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