MTFCA Forum

Does anyone reproduce the shutoff valve handle itself? The whole potato is reproduced but I just need some valves. I have probably a dozen good assemblies that the handle is broken off.
photo borrowed from Lang's

I have successfully silver soldered some handles on. You could put the taper in a piece of pipe to work as a heat sink to reduce the chance of warpage. Brazing might work too. It's not seen so it doesn't have to look pretty.
Someone should sell just the handles. Many are needed.

I think they break because the stick. Has anyone experimented with applying a babbit or Teflon sleeve over the original valve to reduce the required torque and subsequent leaking?

When rebuilding the sediment bulb, replacing the filter screen and cleaning up the bulb, the handle gets polished, then inserted in the bulb valve opening and using TimeSaver, lap the valve body to the iron bulb.





On final assembly the valve body gets a dab of E-Z Turn gasoline resistant lube, as do all petcock, like the gas carb shut off accessory, this stuff works to keep the petcock valve free of dried gasoline residues that make it stick! Using teflon would be a mistake as gasoline disolves that material./b]

I’ve also wondered why you couldn’t get the handles from the supplier who makes the complete repo unit. I would bet they would sell lots of the handles alone. Maybe the reproduction one has a different handle taper than the original??
Usually the stuck handles can be worked loose but folks who aren’t familiar with them usually get a pair pliers and twist them and they break off. I did that years ago not knowing any better! I’ll bet I’m not the first one to do that.

Just heat them up with a torch and put them in the freezer and they will fall out.
Give it a try.

I use the exact same process that Dan has described. They work smooth as butter. I also take the pet cocks apart and do the same. I’ve been cleaning up lately and must have a dozen great bulbs they just all have a broken handle.

Broken handle?

Two words:

Silver

Solder

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 07, 2022 8:54 pm

Broken handle?

Two words:

Silver

Solder

Two Words more:

Missing


Piece

Dan

after a lifetime of winding up antique clocks and naturally holding the key between my thumb and index finger, I look at your picture and ask myself: "what's the problem?"

I once bought a reproduction assembly from a reputable vendor and the manufacturer placed a qualifying paper note with the assembly, "tested to 10lbs with water" This was an incomplete statement because the results were never disclosed. Assuming the 10lbs of water did not leak, however ounces of pressure of gasoline did leak and I had to install a separate shutoff in line with the new valve.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:29 pm

Dan

after a lifetime of winding up antique clocks and naturally holding the key between my thumb and index finger, I look at your picture and ask myself: "what's the problem?"

How 'bout this for a "quick fix"! I bet Red Green would endorse it, with a wrap or two of Duck Tape around the jaws of course!