Dumb ball valve

niglch · Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:16 pm

I bought a 2" PVC ball valve off of flexpvc.com which is damn near impossible to turn. It takes virtually all of my strength just to open it, and closing it is even tougher. I'm supposed to be using the valve for a vent on the combustion I'm building, so I would like to be able to work it with a little less effort. Does anyone know a way to loosen them up a bit? Perhaps a little grease on the plastic ball? I could go to home depot and see if their valves are a little better but it would mean dropping another $10...

Ughhh.

cannon monkey · Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:20 pm

i had one i just turned it while watching tv one nice i put a pipe on the end ( not glued) and while watching tv just kept turning it
still hard to open but it worked a little for me

spudtyrrant · Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:25 pm

lithium grease is your friend it will loosen it right up you will have to spend about $4 tho and it works great for plastics

jimmy101 · Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:08 pm

Darn near any greese will work since PVC is resistant to most organics.

Or, try powdered teflon or graphite used to lub locks.

Clarke · Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:34 pm

Graphite powder works wonders

spudtyrrant · Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:47 pm

jimmy101 wrote:Darn near any greese will work since PVC is resistant to most organics.

Or, try powdered teflon or graphite used to lub locks.

lol not really petroleum based products are what most greases are made of and petroleum degrades pvc, the best ones for pvc would be silicon grease and lithium grease i wouldn't suggest using graphite because it gets on everything and will streak your barrel

Ragnarok · Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:03 pm

spudtyrrant wrote:...and petroleum degrades pvc...

We've long since busted this myth.

jimmy101 · Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:38 pm

Ragnarok wrote:
spudtyrrant wrote:...and petroleum degrades pvc...
We've long since busted this myth.

Or, you could go by what the manufacturers say about compatability of PVC with various chemicals. For example; http://www.rutlandinc.com/industrial/RP ... .Chart.pdf . A few selected grease related items.

Code: Select all

Chemical                               Compatability
----------------------------------------------------------
Grease                                    A-Excellent
Hydraulic Oil (Petro)                 A-Excellent
Hydraulic Oil (Synthetic)            A-Exellent
Oils: Diesel Fuel (20,30,40,50)   B-Good
Oils: Fuel (1,2,3,5A,5B,6)          A-Excellent
Petrolatum (Vaseline)               B-Good
Silicone                                   A-Excellent

Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly, Petrolatum) probably should be avoided but most other oil based greases and lubricants are fine.