Spears gate valve hard to undo

fishkeeprian · 11/08/2017, 06:53 AM

Just received two gate valves for my return plumbing and one is nice and smooth operating and the other is a bit tight to undo. I am just worried about stressing the plumbing when adjusting my flow, on the hard to undo one. Can you do anything to ease up the opening and closing?

Thanks

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mljutfszfa...24223.jpg?dl=0

mcgyvr · 11/08/2017, 07:46 AM

Tolerances... fun.. normal...
Your plumbing should be secured/clamped such that its not an issue but I think you just need to work the valve back and forth many times and see if it loosens up some..

I've never taken one apart but you "may" be able to reduce the preload on the rotating assembly by slightly loosening that threaded cap below the handle.. (But I'm making an assumption there)

homer1475 · 11/08/2017, 11:17 AM

Unscrew the top cap(where the handle is) and drip a little oil in there(I used vegetable oil).

I had the same issue and was told by spears this is what to do. Also do this after disassembly for cleaning. They are supposed to have non toxic grease in there, but was told that sometimes it gets skipped or not enough was applied at the factory.

It's the friction from the screw on the actual vale that causes it to stick(plastic on plastic).

billdogg · 11/08/2017, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

Unscrew the top cap(where the handle is) and drip a little oil in there(I used vegetable oil).

I had the same issue and was told by spears this is what to do. Also do this after disassembly for cleaning. They are supposed to have non toxic grease in there, but was told that sometimes it gets skipped or not enough was applied at the factory.

It's the friction from the screw on the actual vale that causes it to stick(plastic on plastic).

^^^This^^^, except I use a dab of silicone grease

fishkeeprian · 11/08/2017, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

Unscrew the top cap(where the handle is) and drip a little oil in there(I used vegetable oil).

I had the same issue and was told by spears this is what to do. Also do this after disassembly for cleaning. They are supposed to have non toxic grease in there, but was told that sometimes it gets skipped or not enough was applied at the factory.

It's the friction from the screw on the actual vale that causes it to stick(plastic on plastic).

The top cap? Is that the black cap in the centre of the handle?

homer1475 · 11/08/2017, 02:19 PM

There is actually 3 nuts. A small one on top of the handle, that just holds the handle on.

Second is a little larger just under the handle, third is a larger one that holds everything together.

While I haven't done it in a long time, I believe its the second nut you want to remove and grease the innards.

fishkeeprian · 11/08/2017, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

There is actually 3 nuts. A small one on top of the handle, that just holds the handle on.

Second is a little larger just under the handle, third is a larger one that holds everything together.

While I haven't done it in a long time, I believe its the second nut you want to remove and grease the innards.

Can't get the thing undone it's solid.

savethereef · 11/08/2017, 03:50 PM

what if you dip it in boiling water?
I wonder if that would help soften it up a bit.
Maybe boil water first then dunk it for a couple seconds and pull it out and try.
Just a though i wonder if that would work.
could have calcium build up on the inside.

fishkeeprian · 11/08/2017, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savethereef

what if you dip it in boiling water?
I wonder if that would help soften it up a bit.
Maybe boil water first then dunk it for a couple seconds and pull it out and try.
Just a though i wonder if that would work.
could have calcium build up on the inside.

It's brand new, not evenue fitted it.

homer1475 · 11/08/2017, 04:33 PM

Use a pair of slip joint pliers then. They are designed to come apart while in operation.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

11/08/2017, 06:53 AM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	Spears gate valve hard to undo Just received two gate valves for my return plumbing and one is nice and smooth operating and the other is a bit tight to undo. I am just worried about stressing the plumbing when adjusting my flow, on the hard to undo one. Can you do anything to ease up the opening and closing? Thanks https://www.dropbox.com/s/mljutfszfa...24223.jpg?dl=0

11/08/2017, 07:46 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Tolerances... fun.. normal... Your plumbing should be secured/clamped such that its not an issue but I think you just need to work the valve back and forth many times and see if it loosens up some.. I've never taken one apart but you "may" be able to reduce the preload on the rotating assembly by slightly loosening that threaded cap below the handle.. (But I'm making an assumption there) __________________ Who me?

11/08/2017, 11:17 AM	#3
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Unscrew the top cap(where the handle is) and drip a little oil in there(I used vegetable oil). I had the same issue and was told by spears this is what to do. Also do this after disassembly for cleaning. They are supposed to have non toxic grease in there, but was told that sometimes it gets skipped or not enough was applied at the factory. It's the friction from the screw on the actual vale that causes it to stick(plastic on plastic). __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

11/08/2017, 02:19 PM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	There is actually 3 nuts. A small one on top of the handle, that just holds the handle on. Second is a little larger just under the handle, third is a larger one that holds everything together. While I haven't done it in a long time, I believe its the second nut you want to remove and grease the innards. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

11/08/2017, 03:50 PM	#8
savethereef SCRK Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bellflower 90706 CA (So Cal) Posts: 7,720	what if you dip it in boiling water? I wonder if that would help soften it up a bit. Maybe boil water first then dunk it for a couple seconds and pull it out and try. Just a though i wonder if that would work. could have calcium build up on the inside. __________________ Instead of building a reef in my home i would rather build my home in the reef. Rob aka STR SCRK & SCMAS MEMBER Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite

11/08/2017, 04:33 PM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Use a pair of slip joint pliers then. They are designed to come apart while in operation. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"