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Rebuilding Radiator Valves

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Wheelie_Pete
Wheelie_Pete Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam
Has anybody rebuilt a radiator steam valve?  I did some searching on it, and replacing the packing is easy enough, however has anyone replace the main rubber seal?  What type of rubber do you recommend? Silicone?  Butyl? Viton?

Thanks in advance,



Pete

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  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
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    The hardest you can find

    I took the valve off and put a temporary cap on the pipe.  I used a wire brush on a bench grinder to clean all the paint of the outside of the valve, added a little teflon packing, and for the washer that was completely missing, I used the hardest rubber/composition material that I could find.  I found it very hard to find the correct size washer, in fact the only one that was close was a little to big.  I took it home and reduced the size a little with a bench grinder, then it fit just fine. 

    When it reinstalled, it worked great.  I was able to completely shut off one of the radiators in my apartment living and dining area.  It had about 8 degree temp swings, and generally was way too hot.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
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