Cliff,

Yes, I'd agree that this is a question for the expert builders.

Each "stop" is designed to slide a thin wood slat which has
precisely positioned orifices in it.

When the "stop" is "open", these orifices are positioned such that
air can freely flow through them and power a given reed bank.

When the "stop" is "closed", the wood slat is slid so that it blocks
air flow to to given bank of reeds.

The wood slat must fit tightly and with great precision to make this
functionality work correctly.

Unfortunately, wood can swell and bind. I would *not* force it or oil it!!

(Also, Jesse Legge is on Facebook. The problem may have developed after he
sold the instrument, but you may be able to ask him about it?)

Yes .. I agree .. Call Larry Miller or another expert :)

-Big Nick

Thanks Nick,
I appreciate the help. I'll reach out to Larry Miller. In the meantime it still works fine but could probably use a tuning and overall maintenance. Thank you for the suggestions and also I really am enjoying working with your DVD.

Leave it up. It doesn't need to be pushed down except to tune it. And, when its ready to be tuned, whoever is tuning it can fix it.

Thanks TJ, it's certainly not affecting the way it plays and it has a nice loud wonderful tone. Just bugs me that nobody mentioned it when they sold it. At some point I'll get it serviced. Thanks for the help.

There's a chance they didn't know, not many players mess with the stops, and there's rarely any reason to, especially that one. I would have tried to close it for shipping, though.