Bigd2722
Contributor
What size wrenches to fit most tank valves?
thanx
thanx
Valve wrench?
- Thread starter Bigd2722
- Start date
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Paladin
Contributor
It actually isn't a good idea to use a wrench on a tank valve. Just tighten the valve hand tight, then bump it with the palm of your hand a couple of times. I've seen tanks ruined because someone used a wrench on the valve and destroyed the threads. They simply do not have to be tightened down that much.
ajduplessis
Contributor
@Paladin: I agree with you, hand tight only. However, soon you will hear the opposite from others as is the case with forum debates.
captain
Contributor
I just had a case where a hydro shop damaged a valve by using a wrench incorrectly and in my opinion tightening the valve excessively. As tight as you can get it by hand is generally tight enough as long as there is no visible gap between the valve and cylinder neck. Once there is a few hundered pounds of pressure in the tank the valve will not move.
I do it the same way Paladin does.
Hand tight, them bump it with the palm of my hand.
They are easy to remove if installed this way.
-Mitch
Hand tight, them bump it with the palm of my hand.
They are easy to remove if installed this way.
-Mitch
unless you have a shop that sees that big flat surface at the base of some valves and comes aboard it with a wrench, which a bunch do......hand tight is ideal but not always what happens.....in which case an adjustable can get you out of a bind, and is useful in other applications.
Crow foot wrench and torque to manufacturer specs, generally 50 foot-pounds per most cylinder manufacturers.
Fifty foot-pounds is a bit tighter than can be achieved by hand unless your name is Arnold.
"Bumping" the valve stem by hand (done to generate torque to seat the valve) can actually bend or damage the valve stem, and is not recommended. Generally it's not a good idea to "bump" anything than can be bent. But, in my experience, this technique, as bad as it is, will probably get you right under 50 foot-pounds of torque. If you really give it hard whack you can probably get to 50 foot-pounds.
If you're damaging a valve with a wrench, I recommend that you take a remedial shop course. There are faces on most valves specifically designed to accept wrenches. If you try to use a wrench anywhere else on the valve you can bend the orifice.
Different valves require different size wrenches.
Fifty foot-pounds is a bit tighter than can be achieved by hand unless your name is Arnold.
"Bumping" the valve stem by hand (done to generate torque to seat the valve) can actually bend or damage the valve stem, and is not recommended. Generally it's not a good idea to "bump" anything than can be bent. But, in my experience, this technique, as bad as it is, will probably get you right under 50 foot-pounds of torque. If you really give it hard whack you can probably get to 50 foot-pounds.
If you're damaging a valve with a wrench, I recommend that you take a remedial shop course. There are faces on most valves specifically designed to accept wrenches. If you try to use a wrench anywhere else on the valve you can bend the orifice.
Different valves require different size wrenches.
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