Slide lock stuck!!

[Tetraphosphate]

After practice today, I somehow got my tbone slide lock stuck.
It's a rental trombone, and the slide lock's been funny for the past few years, and tonight it finally got stuck and I'm unable to lock my slide.
I've currently tied the inner and outer slide braces together with a piece of string... it's not really a great solution but at least the slides won't move...
So what should I do? Is there anything I can do about it?
Thanks, Janice

[timothy42b]

I've had it happen. The slide lock screws on, at least on my horns, and it is possible to screw it on an extra turn and get it stuck, or an extra turn the other way, and it doesn't hold.

If you can loosen it with finger strength alone you might get it working again. If it needs a tool you should bring it to a technician. You'll damage it for sure trying it yourself, I think.

If it's cross-threaded (easy to do if you took it all the way off, these are very fine threads) then there is no DIY possible.

[Tetraphosphate]

I can't loosen it with my fingers, perhaps I'll ask my teacher tomorrow

And yeah, I think the slide lock screws on on my horn too.

[Kingfan]

Try some WD-40 or other light lube that can get inside the threads. Wipe off the outside of all residue so your fingers don't slip then try again. Might help. I agree with the others to not try tools - I did once, ended up with an oval slide lock that didn't work right. It is easy to make something out of shape, hard to make it perfectly round again.

[JohnL]

Have you tried wrapping a rubber band around the slide lock to improve your grip?

[sacfxdx]

Or gently (I said gently) tap it with something non-marring (plastic). If it was not purposely tightened too much then a slight tap may free it. I have also used the grippy things that you remove jar lids with to improve grip. Just don't put too much force on it.

[Tetraphosphate]

Cool, thanks for the replies! I will try them out