Is my young Gorton 2 dead?

Jells

I have a Gorton 2 that was new in 2013 and pulled a few years later as I was trying to troubleshoot the system. If I tip it vertical and blow through it nothing passes. I thought these things lasted generations! Is it dead? Can it be fixed?

JUGHNE

Does it rattle when shaken?

Jells

JUGHNE said:

Does it rattle when shaken?

I'll have to check tomorrow. What is the significance? Should it or shouldn't it?

JUGHNE

The rattle is the float inside.
If no rattle, float could be stuck closing the vent port.
You could remove it and smack it against you palm, might loosen the float.
You should be able to blow thru with vent upright,
turn upside down and float plugs the vent opening and prevents being able to blow thru.
Should rattle when shaken.

Could also soak in vinegar overnight.

Jells

Thanks @JUGHNE, I have a jug of vinegar onsite, I'll give that a go. I'm annoyed at a $100 item that isn't user serviceable.

jerryb46

you might try soaking in white vinegar and raping it with your hand flushing out take your time.

Jamie Hall

Could it have ever been overpressured? Even 5 psi? If so, the valve may be stuck. Try giving it a sharp rap.

" I'm annoyed at a $100 item that isn't user serviceable." -- for what it's worth, I have yet to see a vent of any maker except one which is user serviceable. Most traps can have the elements replaced but not serviced. The only vent I know of which is somewhat user serviceable -- in the sense that it can be taken apart and the element replaced -- is the Barnes & Jones Big Mouth, which is really a repurposed trap.

Lard

Jamie Hall said:

Could it have ever been overpressured? Even 5 psi? If so, the valve may be stuck. Try giving it a sharp rap. " I'm annoyed at a $100 item that isn't user serviceable." -- for what it's worth, I have yet to see a vent of any maker except one which is user serviceable. Most traps can have the elements replaced but not serviced. The only vent I know of which is somewhat user serviceable -- in the sense that it can be taken apart and the element replaced -- is the Barnes & Jones Big Mouth, which is really a repurposed trap.

I consider Gorton vents to be serviceable to a point—you just need to be handy with a torch. I have desoldered quite a few to clean and lap the valve seat and pintle. 

Normally that is all they need to be revived. They only truly die when the bimetallic strip corrodes too much and weakens the closing force. I have it down to less than ten minutes to do a #1 or any of the rad vents. 

Desolder, pop the float out and chuck in a drill to polish with scotchbrite, put a dab of extra fine clover lapping compound on the pintle, place back in the body and spin back and forth fifty times or so while applying light force towards the seat, remove float/clean out the compound residue and reinsert, flux the joining surface/circumference, then pop the cap back on and resolder. Wipe the flux on the outside, flush with hot water on the inside, reinstall/test.

#2’s are more fun due to the large size/keeping the entire circumference flowing at the same time to pop apart.

Gorton (All sizes) and the Big Mouth are the only vents I know of that are repairable.  All others involve crimping of some sort for assembly—and crimping does not disassemble well!

Jells

Thanks @Lard , I happen to be handy with a torch! It's currently sitting overnight in vinegar, wacking it with a wooden stick after soaking an hour didn't do it.

Steamhead

jerryb46 said:

you might try soaking in white vinegar and raping it with your hand flushing out take your time.

You mean "rapping" it, correct?

Jells

So I soaked it overnight in vinegar. No go. Rapped it with a stick, rapped it with a short piece of lead pipe. Nothing. I bring it back to the shop to give the desoldering a go.

I put it on a 24" stool, then a little while later accidentally knock it off onto the cement floor like a moron. Whoops. And now it's working! Percussive therapy WAS the answer. Like the guy who needs harder punches to the face, I guess it just wasn't understanding and I needed to make myself clear.

JUGHNE

Did it rattle before the therapy.....and does it rattle now?

Jamie Hall

I've had Gortons do that. Get a bigger hammer...

Canucker

Jamie Hall said:

I've had Gortons do that. Get a bigger hammer...

If that doesn't fix it, it's obviously an electrical problem

Jells

JUGHNE said:

Did it rattle before the therapy.....and does it rattle now?

No and yes!

On a digression, i don't understand why a Hoffman 4A seems to have less air throughput when I blow through than a maid of mist unit with the port unscrewed. There's so much I don't understand about this game. During a heat cycle I could feel one side of a radiator was hot and the other cold, but could not detect any air coming out at all from the valve.

ethicalpaul

It's because a Maid O Mist with the orifice off of it is the same as a Gorton D, which is the same as a Gorton #1, which has almost 3 times the capacity of a Hoffman 4A.

See this chart