String-Action Valves

I Remmember when I started to play the horn, I always asked a friend to change my strings... :)
After change a few strings is easy... but in the begining can be very dificult. For that reason decided do include here a simple explanation that I hope could help.
This system is very light and quiet, unfortunelly can make us down in concert if we abuse from luck. Is safer to stablish a deathline to change them and respect it, even if they still seem ok.
I've seen people using fishing string, or strings from the shoes. The Fishing string is quite resistent but is not very flexible. And strings from shoes usualy break easily.
A nice string sould be strong but also flexible. Sometimes is quite dificult to find in Portugal a nice one, so I recomend you to order a few from a French Horn company (for example Paxman).
In some horn models, all this process is made in a very reduced space, so I recomend you to have e very thin screwdriver to help to handle the string.

Depending on the model of the horn this may change a little, sometimes the reverse for the finger 1, 2 & 3. Usually only the thumb changes from this standard.

First make a node in one tip of the string and burn the other, smoothing the string when it stills hot (this way it will be easier to pass the string through the holes). Sometimes a small needle can also help. .

Pass the string in the 1º screw, untied, as indicated in the image. Screw the 1º screw and adjust +/- the height of the keys.

Pass the string for other hole, completing one "8". Now pass the sring trough the 2nd hole and screw the 2nd screw. (It's safer to give a node around the screw) Finally slightly free the 1st screw adjust with accuracy the height of the keys. Now you can cut the string excess, but make shure it isn't too short, as this can difficult the process if you want to adjust it later.

Good Luck!