Chances are that your adjustments can be already "over" adjusted, meaning that the secondary pads are too tight compared to the primary pads that move them. Assuming that your pads are all level, the secondary pads can feel shockingly light compared to the primary pads and function properly with very light finger pressure.  Check multiple sides of every pad to see if there are any quadrants that feel heavier.  Adjust according to where the pad feels heaviest so as not to set the adjustments too heavy.  Cigarette paper cut into slivers or thin triangles can work well, but it's a thicker material than what a lot of technicians use.  Whatever material you have, just be aware that it's very easy to "over" adjust, particularly when adjusting skin or leather pads with cork pads.  

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These videos are to show how I go about adjusting, under the assumption that everything is "under" adjusted, meaning the secondary pads are too loose.   Familiarize yourself with how the mechanisms work with the videos, then feel all the pad connections before tightening any screws.  If any connecting pads feel too tight compared to primary, back off the corresponding screws about 1/8th of a turn to ensure they aren't too tight when starting off.  It's easier to get the correct adjustment by slightly tightening, about 1/12 of a turn at a time, rather than loosening them.  

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If the secondary pad is still tighter than the primary pads after backing off the screws, there may be other clearance issues within the mechanisms that need tending to before a proper adjustment can be made.  

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​If you want to learn English Horn adjustments, please watch the oboe videos first, as the English Horn videos are a continuation of the same ideas. 

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Accompanying PDF's of the adjustment steps and other repair tips coming soon!  

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