54 heater control valve question - NCRS Discussion Boards

54 heater control valve question

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  • Guy M.
    Very Frequent User
    • November 1, 1993
    • 500

    54 heater control valve question

    I guess the majority of folks have the valve closed in summer months if not all the time. Does it block off all flow to the heater and how does the engine circulation keep going? Sounds like a dumb question. Must the flow go thru the heater? Thanks again!
  • Troy P.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • February 1, 1989
    • 1284

    #2
    Re: 54 heater controll valve question

    Yes, shut it off unless judging. When you open it open it all the way. Otherwise they tend to leak.

    Not a bad idea to send some fresh fluid through the heater every now and then to mitigate rust.

    Comment

    • Guy M.
      Very Frequent User
      • November 1, 1993
      • 500

      #3
      Re: 54 heater controll valve question

      Thanks Troy, that what I thought!

      Comment

      • Tony R.
        Very Frequent User
        • April 19, 2017
        • 201

        #4
        Re: 54 heater controll valve question

        Does anyone have any tips on getting them not to leak? When open all the way mine interferes with the coolant reservoir hose (the old hose has a nice indentation right there). When closed there is no circulation through the heater core, and I am in the process of trying to make sure I get everything flushed out nicely.

        I suppose I could try using Teflon tape, but I suspect that will end up looking pretty dodgy.

        Comment

        • Ed H.
          Very Frequent User
          • November 1, 1999
          • 626

          #5
          Re: 54 heater controll valve question

          NCRS judges frown on Teflon tape as it was not available in 1953/55.

          Comment

          • Tony R.
            Very Frequent User
            • April 19, 2017
            • 201

            #6
            Re: 54 heater controll valve question

            Good point. Any suggestions anyone? Trying to work through some of these issues on mine during the phase where I am getting it running again, and prior to meticulous restoration.

            Comment

            • Tony R.
              Very Frequent User
              • April 19, 2017
              • 201

              #7
              Re: 54 heater controll valve question

              I have made my way back to this part. Posted is a photo of two valves. The bottom one is off of my '54. It seems like it is the original. The top one is one I found that is consistent with what I have heard are replacement parts from that era. If you look at the components you will see that the top one has a packing and looks like it will actually hold water and some pressure. The bottom one looks like it may even be missing some pieces. However, I don't know how any other parts would have come out of this mechanism. Can anyone let me know if I am missing something?

              Thanks much!
              Attached Files

              Comment

              • Troy P.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • February 1, 1989
                • 1284

                #8
                Re: 54 heater controll valve question

                Looks like the packing is missing. Often found to be leather.

                You can swap the mechanical parts from the top one to use on your original one. Zinc plate the Mickey Mouse ears. Or you could seal the threads using a thread sealant paste rather than tape. You can wipe off the excess so it does not show.

                Comment

                • John S.
                  Expired
                  • July 29, 2009
                  • 640

                  #9
                  Re: 54 heater controll valve question

                  Originally posted by Troy Pyles (14528)
                  Looks like the packing is missing. Often found to be leather.

                  You can swap the mechanical parts from the top one to use on your original one. Zinc plate the Mickey Mouse ears. Or you could seal the threads using a thread sealant paste rather than tape. You can wipe off the excess so it does not show.
                  Top valve will work or if you want to use the old one use graphite rope packing. Graphite packing has been used for over 100 years on hot water and steam valves. Leather and paste certainly will not work.

                  Comment

                  • Troy P.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • February 1, 1989
                    • 1284

                    #10
                    Re: 54 heater controll valve question

                    Almost all these valves I have disassembled had a leather packing/seal/or whatever you want to call it, similar to the leather cups used on early carb accelerator pumps.

                    The paste I recommended will work fine on the threads. That's what it was developed for.

                    The graphite string John recommends is appropriate for use on valve stems, not sealing threads. But I suspect your leak would be between the stem and cap when the valve is open. If so the graphite string is certainly worth trying. You should be able to find it at your local plumbing supply source. If not, I believe I have some.

                    When the valve is closed the seal is metal-to-metal. If that leaks your heater will be operational at all times, to some degree. You can use cylinder head valve lapping compound to improve the metal-to-metal seal before reassembly.

                    Comment

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