Valve removal

[Nflor001]

I need to remove the valve from the tank, valve leaks and the guy I bought it from wants me to return it and he will send me a new valve. This is my first set of tanks, and just wondering what you need to do to remove the valve.

I let out all the air, and tried using a wrench to twist the valve off. Not able to twist it off, need more leverage. You do just twist it off right?

Also is there a special way to put the valve back on?

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Rubber mallet has always worked for me, both for on an off, just tap on the valve. There is no need to go nuts when putting it back on. Just a bit more than hand tight is fine. You just want to compress the o-ring and prevent it backing out during normal handleing.

 

[WillYanni]

You can also use your wrench and a pipe that you slide over the wrench handle (thus increasing your leverage).

 

[WB2GLP]

Be careful with the rubber mallet technique. hitting it too hard will bend or break the valve stem. Better to use a big adjustable wrench to grab the valve at the base and smack the adjustable wrench rather than the valve knob.

I wouldn't be too worried about beating the snot out of it while getting it off since you're putting on a new one.

Usually a short, sharp shot will send it spinning free.

 

[JBRES1]

I remove the valves from my tanks by hand. I stand the tank up and hold it between my knees and hit the valve knob with the palm of my hand.
What type of tank is this you have and what type of valve is on top ?

Where in the Chicago area are you.
If you are in the western burbs you are welcome to come to my office and I can help you out. My office/shop is in Burr Ridge.

Jim Breslin

 

[elan]

Putting the valve back on depends upon the tank, I know Worthington require some minimum torque to be applied otherwise the o-ring might extrude. I found it out a month ago from a guy at the dive shop when we were discussing the tanks. He told me they had few extrusions few years back and could not understand why until they were told that a bit more than a hand tight is not OK for worthingtons. I now cannot recall the value though

 

[Nflor001]

This thing is a pain to take off. I have nothing for leverage. I might just take it to the shop so they can take it off and put the new one on properly. It's a luxfur al80. Not sure what type of valve it is. I live in Arlington Heights.

 

[halocline]

Put some air in it, it'll help push the valve out....


No, wait, that's a joke. If you are 100% certain that all the air is out and it won't budge, you might be looking at some galvanic corrosion. Is it an aluminum tank? They're worse for this. Hopefully it won't take so much force as to damage the threads. I'd try a strap wrench on the tank to hold it still; you can rig up something, then a pipe over the valve handle (you're going to toss this valve anyway), and some tapping. Good luck, occasionally you find a really stuck one.