Peaks Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 The heater valve on Vitesse is looking a bit sorry for itself and only opens occasionally when I try to operate it. Are all the heater valves available from the various suppliers and ebay of the same quality? I ask as I assume that by now Smiths no longer make them and they are a pattern part. Also, while I'm on he subject.... I've never been able to really operate the valve easily from the dash, with quite a lot of pressure required from the palm of my hand to close the valve. It's always been like that, and I've always accepted it, but is that normal? It's a MkII Vitesse by the way, not that I'd imagine the model makes much difference in this case. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 they are easy to strip down first mark both cases witha felt pen so you know where they align drill out the pop rivet rotate the two halves to disengage the "claws" thenyou can clean the valve plunger and diaphragm some of your stiffness willbe from a rusty inner control cable especially where the open wound case runs through the heater air plenum and rain makes it all rusty inside , so i would disconnect the cable and pull the inner out to be greased and refitted Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 there are a good few alternative parts which you can pipe in with minimal disruption and far easier to operate by cable like https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/cable-operated-15mm-58-glass-reinforced-nylon-heater-valve pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaks Posted June 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2021 Thanks Pete, I'll probably buy a new one as the valve is leaking coolant t around the claws.as you describe them. I'll certainly take the old one apart though, just to have a look to see how it all works. The operating cable is fairly smooth as I removed it and freed it up a while back. I guess it's just a characteristic of the valve. If all the valves do come from the same factory, as I suspect, then we in the Triumph world are lucky as the valves from our suppliers are around £22. A valve from other marque specialists that look exactly the same are anything up to £52. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 1, 2021 Report Share Posted June 1, 2021 the advantage of the alternative is its a ball not a diaphragm its not going to leak or clag up . Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted June 1, 2021 Report Share Posted June 1, 2021 6 hours ago, Peaks said: If all the valves do come from the same factory, as I suspect, then we in the Triumph world are lucky as the valves from our suppliers are around £22. A valve from other marque specialists that look exactly the same are anything up to £52. I did replace mine when I bought the car 8 years ago, It was off e Bay and sold by an engineering company Ooop North and looked the same as the others on sale, so assumed he supplied other retailers?. The seller recommended to leave the valve open when not in use. I have done this and also opened the valve every time I drive the car to give the valve and the matrix a run through. Still ok, though others have had problems with them only lasting a year or so?. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted June 1, 2021 Report Share Posted June 1, 2021 2 hours ago, daverclasper said: The seller recommended to leave the valve open when not in use. I have done this and also opened the valve every time I drive the car to give the valve and the matrix a run through. Still ok, though others have had problems with them only lasting a year or so?. Dave I do the same, I open the valve when I get between 1 & 2 kilometres from home and leave it open until I next take the car out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkillyHerald Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Just in case you service your Smiths valve and need to replace the O-ring I fitted a 13mm bulkhead grommet from Halfords in mine. £1.60 for 2 including 2 x 9mm grommets. Works like a charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaks Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Well new valve fitted, but I did take the old one apart as Pete said just out of curiosity. Here's what's inside them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaks Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 All pretty manky, and the sealing face which the diaphragm mates too has corroded, so this one is beyond repair. I suspect what was happening was that all the crud was keeping the diaphragm in the closed position no matter where the operating lever was. Anyway, I got the heater matrix opened up and cleaned out internally a while back, and with the new valve actually allowing water into it, it turns out that the heater in the Vitesse is actually very effective. Who knew?? All those years putting up with poor performance, assuming that they were all like that, and it was just an old car idiosyncrasy 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I have used mine in the 13/60 and it does work, I have it set to deflect the hot air downwards. I can detect the warm/hot air rising and that is in a convertible with the roof down ♨️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted June 4, 2021 Report Share Posted June 4, 2021 9 hours ago, Chris A said: I can detect the warm/hot air rising and that is in a convertible with the roof down ♨️ Is that contributing to "global warming"?. Better not let Grumbling Greta find out!🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted June 4, 2021 Report Share Posted June 4, 2021 1 hour ago, PeteH said: Is that contributing to "global warming"?. Better not let Grumbling Greta find out!🤣 Guilty as charged I suppose 😔. I'll make amends by leaving the fridge door open for a few hours to compensate ❄️ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 Comming back to Heaters and the valves. Any one know the size of the "O" ring seal (O/d-I/d and/or thickness dia/?) between the Valve and the Heater inlet?. It looks to be quite thick, shown as A147 on the (canley) part list. And 50 pence each, But with postage at around 3quid,? None of the ones in my "Little box of bits" are the right size. Best guess would be 1/2" (12,5mm id) and somewhere over 5mm thick? Whats left of the original has been quite substantial. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 I suspect the original is quite chunky, certainly it looks heavier than just an o-ring, and available from quite a few suppliers but as you say postage will be many times more than the cost of the part itself. Maybe you can do what I do, buy a few other parts to make the carriage worth-while? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 just cut a slice off some spare heater hose that works well Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: just cut a slice off some spare heater hose that works well Pete Looking at it? I do wonder if that is what has been done in the past, It is definitely rather "meaty", . Right off to the "shed" for a ferret about and see what I have?. Probably Best if not Reinforced though?. If Not. I`ll do as Colin suggested, and see what else I need potentially in the near future. I know I want some Window seals and runners etc; So A Biggish Order could be on the Cards. Canley are currently On Holiday until Early July. (G)rimmers are twice the price!. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 3 hours ago, PeteH said: Canley are currently On Holiday until Early July. I know. The bu&&ers didn't mention that until I had ordered head studs on the 24th, then checked their website yesterday to find out where the order was as I needed them. They'll despatch them on July 5th when they return. Nice of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 12 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: I know. The bu&&ers didn't mention that until I had ordered head studs on the 24th, then checked their website yesterday to find out where the order was as I needed them. They'll despatch them on July 5th when they return. Nice of them. All this time off with lockdowns and furloughs and they close for holidays!!! When they get back will they all have to be quarantined as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 3 minutes ago, Badwolf said: All this time off with lockdowns and furloughs and they close for holidays!!! When they get back will they all have to be quarantined as well. According to their Facebook page they are camping in their Atlas classic in Cornwall Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightsix Posted October 12, 2023 Report Share Posted October 12, 2023 Resurrecting on old thread, I’m renewing my heater valve and have ordered a new sealing ring. My question is, do you fit the sealing ring dry or smear with something like rubber grease to help it seat correctly? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted October 12, 2023 Report Share Posted October 12, 2023 When i did mine the supplied seal was just an O ring and not the shaped seal as original, I used sealer. S 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 12, 2023 Report Share Posted October 12, 2023 agree a smear of sealer not grease ive always made them out of a slice of heater hose , it works ok for years Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightsix Posted October 13, 2023 Report Share Posted October 13, 2023 New Heater valve with new O ring fitted....successfully Thanks again onto the next job 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now