Smith heater valve

[mpbarrett]

My heater  valve suddenly started to leak yesterday while I was out in the Herald.... Its a Smith heater and I think the old diaphragm valve, which I think is not serviceable? 

Before I buy a replacement, I seem to  remember reading somewhere about a better quality replacement (It was either on here or one of the better forums...), I think based on a normal ball valve and commonly used on US cars.

Any ideas or shall I just get a standard replacement?

cheers

mike

 

[daverclasper]

If it's the diaphragm that's gone then they are in theory replaceable, though I couldn't obtain one. From memory there's also a rubber seal that seals the unit to the matrix. This is available I think, or possible to knock up an alternative?.

I replaced mine with a standard one direct from a place up North that makes them (I assume supplies all usual suspects).

Some folk have had problems with them failing in a year or so. Mine has been fine for 4 years though car is used all the time and I open up the heater regularly to keep it active. Also the supplier said to have the heater in the on position when not in use, as this prolongs life.

Dave 

[Nick Jones]

Smiths heater valve....... rubbish design to begin with and current replacements seem to use the same kind of fake "rubber" that gets used for balljoint gaiters - with the same results.

Unfortunately the Smiths heater design for Herald and Vitesse has the valve somewhat integrated so quite difficult to use an alternative without matrix modifications.

Various possibilities.  None especially easy to implement.  Some covered on this TR6 thread

https://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/53697-alternative-heater-valve/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heater-Control-Valve-H38C-2678-030-fits-Fairway-driver-LONDON-TAXI-LTI-TX1-/112288843845?clk_rvr_id=1598561945491&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwMzZhYTJmOTc5YzQ1OTMwYmQzNTk0MWQxZGQxYzU5ZCIsImkiOiIyNDg5MjM2OTE3MzAyMjQ2NTkzIiwidHMiOjE1MzE2NTEwOTQsInYiOjMsInNvIjoxNTAwLCJjIjozMzU0NX0%3D&rmvSB=true

I actually bought this one (was costly as got stung for import duty too - worth checking out other sources - it's a very common part, just not on the cursed Isle)

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=815508&jsn=255

and fitted thus

Heater matrix mods were needed but it now works as a heater valve should, unlike the Smiths thing.

The taxi valve in the second link is internally similar but will require different tricks to install.  There is also a plastic valve used on may 80s VWs which is cheap and works beautifully.  We have one on Chris's Spit.  Also  difficult to implement nicely on a Herald/Vitesse though.

Good luck.....

Nick

[Colin Lindsay]

7 hours ago, Nick Jones said:

  There is also a plastic valve used on many 80s VWs which is cheap and works beautifully.  We have one on Chris's Spit.  Also  difficult to implement nicely on a Herald/Vitesse though.

Good luck.....

Nick

Comes from an early model Polo and works very well, even if it looks nothing like the original. Can be hard to find one, though.

[Nick Jones]

Not just Polo. Easy.......

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heater-Control-Valve-for-Heat-Exchanger-VW-Golf-MK1-Caddy-1-Cabriolet-155/311930885143?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&epid=1738730199&hash=item48a0879417%3Ag%3AjyMAAOSw-olaDJVu&_sacat=0&_nkw=vw+heater+valve&_from=R40&rt=nc

First of several listings.  Seem to be available again now, they were hard to find for a few years.  Not classy but effective.  Reverse acting compared to Smiths.

Nick

[mpbarrett]

thanks for the suggestions. It was the Jeep one that I remembered. 
for a fiver might buy the Polo one and have a play.

cheers

mike

[NonMember]

I have one of those polo ones lying around somewhere. It has much bigger pipes than the Smiths one so I decided to save myself the hassle of all those hose changes and keep it original.

[Chris A]

I replaced the valve on mine last week. The old valve was completely blocked with goo, the hosepipe wouldn't clear it. With the hose pipe connected to the heater it flushed out fine, boy was it brown! to start with.

I've fitted the standard valve and will make sure that I regularly use the heater just to circulate liquid and in winter when it goes into hibernation will leave the heater control in the "on" position.

 

[mpbarrett]

Found a metal one very similar to the one from the USA see

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16mm-5-8-Heater-Control-Valve-Push-to-Close-Kit-Car-Classic-Car-Taxi-TX1/201955250144?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52543%26meid%3D5d2acb0adb984f3f9d86c0252a2e85e0%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D352400202677%26itm%3D201955250144&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Took mine to bits and the rubber diaphragm has split. Have ordered a standard replacement but will look at making something better in the future that I can bolt straight onto the heater matrix.

cheers

mike

[AndyTV8]

I picked up one of these while on holiday in the United States 

https://www.autozone.com/cooling-heating-and-climate-control/heater-control-valve/4seasons-everco-heater-control-valve/135681?_requestid=7124741

Fitted easily, just need to fabricate a link for the cable

...... Andy 

 

[Pete Lewis]

Carbuilder solutions have a number of quite cheap options will need some twiddling  

https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/filterSearch?adv=true&cid=0&q=Heater+valve&sid=true&isc=true#/noFilterApplied

[Colin Lindsay]

That cable operated brass one looks like it would suit; is 15mm close enough for the heater hoses? Not in a position to check at present.

[NonMember]

The heater hoses are 1/2" so it's a bit of a battle to put them over a 15mm pipe. The 12mm fittings are much closer.

[Colin Lindsay]

If it's available in 12mm it looks like a fairly simple design to adapt for our system.