sight glass washers/gaskets

Brian_62

I want to take the slight glass out to clean it. I imagine that I'll need new washers or gaskets, and I want to have them on hand before I start the job. Are they just regular washers? Can I figure out what size to get by measuring the OD of the glass? Any other tips or gotchas would be welcome. I'm obviously new to this.

Timco

Of the last 4 glasses I removed & replaced, none needed new rubber gaskets / washers. Just re-tighten it just enough to stop any leaks and be careful...I had a couple with VERY sharp ends...They work with compression and are usually just over hand tight.

Tim

bill nye_3

Washers

Any plumbing & Heating supply house will have them all day long. A decent hardware store may have some too. Sid Harveys, RE Michel, FW Webb , etc. etc.

5/8" is most common. You can get the nut, washer, and little flat brass washer in a package.

You will need a glass cutter also. There are probably 15 different styles. It is a personal preference thing. Buy more than gauge glass, if you are out of practice, most people don't get it on the first try. Practice makes perfect.

Brian_62

sight glass washers/gaskets

> Any plumbing & Heating supply house will have

> them all day long. A decent hardware store may

> have some too. Sid Harveys, RE Michel, FW Webb ,

> etc. etc.

>

> 5/8" is most common. You can get

> the nut, washer, and little flat brass washer in

> a package.

>

> You will need a glass cutter also.

> There are probably 15 different styles. It is a

> personal preference thing. Buy more than gauge

> glass, if you are out of practice, most people

> don't get it on the first try. Practice makes

> perfect.

Brian_62

sight glass washers/gaskets

Thanks Bill. How do I know what brand I have? I've looked at the knobs and don't see a company name.

Is the glass cutter you mentioned in case I break the glass I have or do I need it no matter what?

Brian_62

Thanks for the warning and tightening advice, Tim.

Hvacman

The skinny...

Yes, no and yes... Isolate the sight glass and loosen the upper and lower compression nuts. Under the nuts you should see thin brass washers and the sight glass "rubbers". You need the washers between the nuts and rubbers so the rubbers don't tear or bunch up when you tighten the nuts. Remove the glass and take to your favorite supply house. Many are 5/8" but why take the chance if you are removing the glass anyway? They will sell you new rubbers, new washers if the last guy left them out, and a new glass if you managed to chip/ crack/ drop yours. If you replace the glass you might end up paying for a longer one, ask nice for them to cut it if you don't own a sight glass cutter. I've never had luck getting the glass to seal when reusing the rubbers... others might but I'd rather replace than have a callback or wipe out the sight glass valves with a weeper. Good Luck

James crosby_3

Sight gauges are a nominal size

Typo sorry about that

James crosby_3

Sight gauges are a nominal size

Any good heating and supply house will set you up, carefully remove the old piece in question and take it to the counter guy if he's good **** set you up with a new gauge glass cut to the proper length and the edges sanded smooth as there razor sharp and the proper white neoprene oil-resistant synthetic rubber washers with new brass washers.

Very little money and time for a lifetime of performance.

Not a bad deal eh?

James

Timco

I also found that if you wet the glass first after loosening the nut, the rubber will slide much more easily down ( or up ) the glass. Makes it very easy.

Tim

bill nye_3

Brian

Brian, sorry those are names of heating suppliers.

The glass is very generic, no name brand required.

I too have been able to reuse washers, but they may have been only a year old or two. Old washers become hard and brittle because of the constant 212-215° temperature.

This is really easy once you have done it.

Brian_62

Thanks for help with sight glass washers

Thanks everyone. I went to the local Ferguson shop. While they were able to order the insulation I needed for a fair price, they didn't even know what a sight glass was. So the hunt continues.