Stuck MoM (and maybe Gorton) Vent Mystery Solved?

Chris_L

I recently opened up a brand new MoM vent that I had received a some years ago, which was stuck closed. I found this:


For Gorton vents, some have attributed the same problem--the pin out of the bimetal strip--to mishandling. But once I fixed this Mom vent, I couldn't get the pin to come out no matter how hard I shook it.

So I did a simple experiment and found it didn't need any mishandling at all for the pin to come out. It just needed cold.

I gently put the fixed vent in my freezer--back side down--to see how loose it got when cold. Here is what I found when I took it out:

The same thing. The pin came out of the strip while it sat there with no shaking at all and the vent is now stuck closed again.

So it seems when it gets cold enough, the bimetal strip opens enough to allow the pin to fall out. This obviously isn't something that will happen in use, but it certainly could during shipment or while sitting on a truck in the winter.

@ethicalpaul, if you still have your open Gorton vent, could you try this? First turn it upside down so the vent closes. Then put it in your freezer with the open side up. See if it gets loose enough for the pin to come out of the strip.

ethicalpaul

Yes I still have it, I'll try it. I think you're onto something, nice job

EBEBRATT-Ed

Seems that could be what the original clip was for as shown in the pictures in @ethicalpaul original post. Why can't they groove the bottom of that stem and put a jeasus clip on it?

ethicalpaul

$$$

SteamingatMohawk

Make the pin longer and assemble them at the frozen temperature.

@EBEBRATT-Ed I searched the term...which version of the clip would you suggest? Inside prongs, outside prongs. two holes for those darn pliers that slip, e-ring? hmmm

EBEBRATT-Ed

@SteamingatMohawk

Whatever works. I am sure someone designed it with that original clip for a reason.

SteamingatMohawk

$$?

ChrisJ

Hard to say.
Many times things get refined and simplified which makes them cheaper, easier to build, fix and more reliable etc.

Other times it just makes them cheaper.

Without knowing why they changed we have no way of knowing.

ethicalpaul

ethicalpaul said:

Yes I still have it, I'll try it. I think you're onto something, nice job

I froze my opened Gorton #4 in my 0F freezer and the bimetallic strip did not open far enough to allow the bell to slip out. So I don't think that's how mine got messed up. Recall that mine did have a dent on the outside of the vent, and I think that's how it got jostled out of position.