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Help with Valve Disassembly

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:22 pm
by MrCrowley
I picked up a Henry Technologies refrigerant pressure relief valve for $10 so I could open it up and check out the internals and see if I might find a way to modify it for spudding use.

I unthreaded the back end cap fine but inside the back of the valve is a round disk that has threads on its outer diameter and threads inside the tee. It has two holes which I presume are for unthreading it to get to the internals but I haven't been able to get it to budge at all. The main problem is finding/making some tool that can fit in to the two holes and give me some leverage.

Does anyone have any suggestions for unthreading this pain-in-the-ass fitting? :D

Photos below:
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Front port:
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Through the bottom port looking towards the front port:
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Through the bottom port looking towards the back port:
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Info:
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This should link you to a folder with more photos:
http://s75.beta.photobucket.com/user/Mr ... ef%20valve

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:48 pm
by Zeus
Try an angle grinder hub key, or just make up one yourself, it only needs to be mild steel, heck, you could loctite it instead of welding.

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:04 pm
by MrCrowley
Haha an angle grinder key was one of the things I tried. I had to modify it slightly to get it to fit but it didn't have enough grip. I would have to render it completely useless as an angle grinder key if I were to modify it enough to fit the holes perfectly.

I already broke a pair of pliers trying to unthread it, one of the 'noses' just snapped off when I was trying to twist it for leverage.

Tomorrow I might try and find some hole punches (or similar) of the right diameter and then drill two holes in a small meter bar to put the hole punches through and see if that will give me enough leverage.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:16 am
by evilvet
What about a pair of long nosed circlip pliers; again you might snap off the ends though.

Maybe get a bit of flat bar, drill and tap it for two bolts that will fit the holes in the fitting. Screw the bolts in tight and you now have a two-pronged tool. If you use high tensile bolts I doubt they would snap.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:24 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
MrC, I am disappoint. You've achieved so much, how hard is it to drill two holes in some square section steel or ali, heck even a broomstick, and put two bolts in it?

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:05 am
by MrCrowley
The main problem is my drill and drill bits; the drill is under-powered and has a crap chuck that allows the bits to slip and my drill bits struggle with steel because they're blunt. I did find a piece of metal with suitably spaced holes and tried what I suggested above but with Allen keys instead since I didn't have much time today. But still not enough grip so I might do what evilvet suggested but I will tap the holes in the valve plug as well to prevent the bolts slipping.

I'm assuming that this plug even comes out, it hasn't budged at all.

Edit: trust me, a broom stick would break. My pliers snapped clean off and they're not cheap crap :wink:

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:19 am
by evilvet
Perhaps a gentle toasting of the outer casing with a propane torch might loosen things a little.

You could always contact http://www.heldon.com.au/getattachment/ ... alves.aspx
as they handle Henry Tech in APAC.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:42 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
I'll wager the spring tension is what is keeping it so closely sealed. I would try the broomstick (or a wooden plank) to be honest if your drill bits are so shìte :)

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:10 am
by Zeus
With a better look, there seems to be a green substance on the plug, I'd sure it's loctite. Over such a large area, it'll be pretty tough to shift.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:56 am
by Brian the brain
If you have a vice..clamp 2 bolts in the vice ...really hard...
Take hex head bolts and put on enough nuts to create some mass for the vice to grip onto.
Turn them so the angles line up and clamp on the flat surfaces.

Make sure they fit into the snake-eyes..
Then put a pipe in the bottom of the Tee to use as a handle.

And turn... :D

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:58 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Brian the brain wrote:If you have a vice..clamp 2 bolts in the vice ...really hard...
Really toight, schurely ;) good advische!

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:00 am
by Brian the brain
I lurnt it from my fargsher..

Nah..

I's don't call me brain for no good reason...
all the blood's in me brains cause of my toight paahnts see...

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:07 am
by Zeus
Clever, if the bolts wobble a bit they could be set in some softwood, and the wood crushed in the vice, to fix them properly.

And two 3/16 grade 8 bolts cost all of $0.90 here.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:10 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:35 am
by Brian the brain
My FARGSHER!
Like..

Luke...I am your Fargsher!

No?

okay...anyway....by now MrC's got his plug out..

no?
softwood, and the wood crushed in the vice, to fix them properly.
Hmm...
How about ..no?

maybe an extra washer and nut could provide a stop for the two bolts to stablise them furgsher..

Add them after the bolts are clamped properly ...slip on the washer and turn those nuts toight!..