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Easier operating PVC ball valve?
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:32 pm
by Kris.Is.Awesome
Hey, I've got a 2" PVC ball valve, and it is a MONSTER to open and close- especially quickly. Anyone have any tips on making it easier? I tried zip-tying a bar to it, it doesn't work.
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:40 pm
by Pete Zaria
Oil it. I use Teflon bicycle lube, but any lubricating oil should work. Try to work it into the valve real well. Open and close it a thousand times while you watch TV, that'll loosen it up, heh...
A longer handle on the valve would give you more leverage... You could also try to rig up a spring-loaded system to throw it open.
Peace,
Pete Zaria.
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:05 pm
by LucyInTheSky
NOOO! Dont use oil it will rot the seal, use dish soap.
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:12 pm
by CS
Pneumatic cylinder. Although I think that would be out of your price range not to mention it adds to the complication of the design. Im not sure about all this lube stuff people are talking about, but I suppose dish soap wouldnt hurt the seal. Just put another valve in its place
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:19 pm
by boilingleadbath
I don't think that your generic oils will either. I mean, such seals are either neoprene, buna-n, or viton (depending on how cheap the manufacturer is).
None of those are degraded by hydrocarbons.
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:01 pm
by saladtossser
use wd 40 and you are pretty much f*cked
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:49 pm
by sgort87
I use standard car grease for mine. It helps, but the best thing to do is find the loosest one in the store first.
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:02 am
by rna_duelers
I used wd-40 on one of my old ball valves and it worked well to loosen it but after a while the valve seals leaked and they turned all brown and colours from the white they were.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:46 pm
by pyro86
I got a 2" brass ball valve for 35$ and it is very easy to open compared to a pvc one
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:56 pm
by pyrogeek
I had a bottle of glycerin already so I poured some of that on the seal on my ball valve, and after working it in it opens a helluva lot easier. Dish soap would work just fine instead of this, but I already had it and I didn't want all the suds and odors.
The reason I had glycerin was for mixing with KMnO4, it causes an exothermic reaction and makes fire after like 10 seconds. Mostly I just do that to show to friends.
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:04 am
by Rambo
I searched in google for brass ball valve.Didn't find anything diferrent for an ordinary ball valve so what is it?
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:17 am
by Hotwired
Er....
Its a ball valve with a brass ball and a brass body.... Kinda what it says on the package.
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:45 am
by Rambo
I see. Copper and zink.So nothing complicated.