Wirsbo Manifold Pin Valves

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

These pin valves are indexed for flow. Is there a tool for adjusting this?

hot_rod

A piece of flat stock with a tab bent down and a hole drilled into it?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I tried to move it with a screwdriver, but it just stripped. Thirty years old - I think they’re frozen. 

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

This house has 4 zones and the owner who is an engineer installed a bank of switches in the main hallway to control the individual rooms within each zone. Each switch turns off 1-2 loops depending on the size of the room. 

hot_rod

Quite the wiring "nest":)
Indicator lights also?
Did you find a work around for those old PowerTrack actuators?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

No lights. The new Uponor actuators will fit on the old manifolds if you use the specified adapter ring. 

I think the owners will have me replace the manifolds because of the stuck pin valves. Either the loops don’t heat or they overheat. 

hot_rod

The time and energy to rebuild those old manifolds, even if you can find new valves is hardly worth it.
A new manifold with low current draw actuators will save him $$.
Since California is running out of electricity, and all

yellowdog

looks like the adjustment tool is built into the black cap on the far right of the manifold. im sure it wont work anymore being plastic and the adjusters being frozen.

rick in Alaska

Alan, the black caps on the unused valves is the adjuster for the flow control. Take the cap off and turn it upside down to use it. I will also use a pair of needle nose pliers when I can't find the black cap. I also spray WD-40 of the pins and manually force them up and down a few times to make sure they are loose.
Those valves should also have the indicator pin centered over the green dot when they are powered down. You loosen or tighten the mounting ring to adjust them.
I can't believe they are not all broken yet.
Rick

Dave Carpentier

I can't believe they are not all broken yet.

Agreed.
I had a couple where the plastic frame/shuttle inside broke.
Many where the end switch got carboned up and started chattering my relays ( replacing the internal end-switch on a bunch ).
Finally got tired of doing the switches and started swapping out to thermals.
Thermals are soooo slow, but they just quietly do their job.
FYI, the adapter to make a thermal actuator fit those valves doesnt come with the thermal.. it's a different ring.