Removing cylinder valves

nmanfield · 24th July 2006, 20:22

Bit of a fastball but I'm back off to Ukraine tomorrow and will try and take my Meg with me. I have new Heiser Dumpy 3 litre cylinders and want to remove the valves for travel - only problem is that I don't know how to remove them. I've been told to remove the handles and then use a rubber mallet to turn them off but this hasn't worked.

Any one any ideas?

Many thanks,

Nick

**Recrebreather** · 24th July 2006, 21:38

Leave the handles on, a sharp wack with the palm of your hand should loosen them for de-installation.

If it takes more than that they are on too tight in the first place.

Digger · 24th July 2006, 21:45

Valve in the black and decker, shirt off, and hug the tank. You'll get it off this way if the valve hasn't been twatted in too hard.

Either that or a large spanner across the flats and the tank in some soft grip vice/bottle vice, and tap the end. You'll probably find it may be just stuck a bit, and once the initial pressure is off it will come out easy enough.

Make sure there's no gas in there either. Just for anyone else reading this!

Digs.

Mdemon · 24th July 2006, 22:02

V. Large spanner on the square bit of the valve and hit that with the rubber mallet.

***EBT*** · 24th July 2006, 22:23

if you're doing spanners on valves.. make sure you protect the valve face. Another way is to put a reg into the valve and use this to apply leverage by hand....

The best way is to use a valve puller (bar threaded with a din fitting in one end).

/Z

E-man · 24th July 2006, 22:29

Make sure you protect the valve snorkel as I've had them break on my during shipping before.

nmanfield · 24th July 2006, 22:32

Quote: (Originally Posted by nmanfield)

Bit of a fastball but I'm back off to Ukraine tomorrow and will try and take my Meg with me. I have new Heiser Dumpy 3 litre cylinders and want to remove the valves for travel - only problem is that I don't know how to remove them. I've been told to remove the handles and then use a rubber mallet to turn them off but this hasn't worked.

Any one any ideas?

Many thanks,

Nick

Thanks for the advice - I'm smacking away like crazy with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to be moving - They are brand new cylinders and have no gas inside. Anyone know what I should be doing to shift them?

Gibbon · 24th July 2006, 22:50

Quote: (Originally Posted by nmanfield)

Thanks for the advice - I'm smacking away like crazy with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to be moving - They are brand new cylinders and have no gas inside. Anyone know what I should be doing to shift them?

ideas off the top of my head...

Check that you are trying to turn them the correct way!

As above if you have time get a piece of rod threaded up with BSP 5/8 (14TPI) and use that as a lever in the valve. Not a trivial task when you are short of time.

If you dont have time then you might want to conceed and get some kind soul to do it for you and courier the cylinders out after you.

The best way to grip a cylinder is in a shaped vice that has a levered strap to grip the cylinder... can you find a dive shop??

Gibbon · 24th July 2006, 22:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by E-man)

Make sure you protect the valve snorkel as I've had them break on my during shipping before.

If you get that far you should be able to unscrew the snorkel so it is not attached during transit.

nmanfield · 24th July 2006, 23:02

Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon)

ideas off the top of my head...

Check that you are trying to turn them the correct way!

As above if you have time get a piece of rod threaded up with BSP 5/8 (14TPI) and use that as a lever in the valve. Not a trivial task when you are short of time.

If you dont have time then you might want to conceed and get some kind soul to do it for you and courier the cylinders out after you.

The best way to grip a cylinder is in a shaped vice that has a levered strap to grip the cylinder... can you find a dive shop??

Thanks for the advice but I fly in 6 hours time - told you time was short! Have been hammering them anti-clockwise and have taken the handles off as instructed. Unfortunately no dive shop and noone to send them out - could be a problem!!!!

24th July 2006, 20:22	#1 (permalink)
nmanfield Megalegalegalegadingdong! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Odessa, Ukraine Posts: 329	Removing cylinder valves Bit of a fastball but I'm back off to Ukraine tomorrow and will try and take my Meg with me. I have new Heiser Dumpy 3 litre cylinders and want to remove the valves for travel - only problem is that I don't know how to remove them. I've been told to remove the handles and then use a rubber mallet to turn them off but this hasn't worked. Any one any ideas? Many thanks, Nick __________________ Tub 'O Lard
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24th July 2006, 21:38	#2 (permalink)
Recrebreather Rebreathers Rock Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Optima Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 100	Re: Removing cylinder valves Leave the handles on, a sharp wack with the palm of your hand should loosen them for de-installation. If it takes more than that they are on too tight in the first place.
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24th July 2006, 21:45	#3 (permalink)
Digger Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Classic Kiss Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 205	Re: Removing cylinder valves Valve in the black and decker, shirt off, and hug the tank. You'll get it off this way if the valve hasn't been twatted in too hard. Either that or a large spanner across the flats and the tank in some soft grip vice/bottle vice, and tap the end. You'll probably find it may be just stuck a bit, and once the initial pressure is off it will come out easy enough. Make sure there's no gas in there either. Just for anyone else reading this! Digs.
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24th July 2006, 22:02	#4 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,888	Re: Removing cylinder valves V. Large spanner on the square bit of the valve and hit that with the rubber mallet. __________________ www.southwestmafia.com It's as easy as abc; a) "Carry adequate bailout" b) "If in doubt, bail out" c) "Always know your PO2" If you find that hard, stick to crochet. "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"
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24th July 2006, 22:23	#5 (permalink)
*EBT* Apprentice Luddite Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK, Brighton Posts: 1,852	Re: Removing cylinder valves if you're doing spanners on valves.. make sure you protect the valve face. Another way is to put a reg into the valve and use this to apply leverage by hand.... The best way is to use a valve puller (bar threaded with a din fitting in one end). /Z __________________ Eagles May Soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines! Rebreather World Terms of service Real diving t-shirts for real divers
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24th July 2006, 22:29	#6 (permalink)
E-man On the loop! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Optima Other Rebreather/s: Titan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern Coast ;) Posts: 212	Re: Removing cylinder valves Make sure you protect the valve snorkel as I've had them break on my during shipping before.
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24th July 2006, 22:32	#7 (permalink)
nmanfield Megalegalegalegadingdong! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Odessa, Ukraine Posts: 329	Re: Removing cylinder valves Quote: (Originally Posted by nmanfield) Bit of a fastball but I'm back off to Ukraine tomorrow and will try and take my Meg with me. I have new Heiser Dumpy 3 litre cylinders and want to remove the valves for travel - only problem is that I don't know how to remove them. I've been told to remove the handles and then use a rubber mallet to turn them off but this hasn't worked. Any one any ideas? Many thanks, Nick Thanks for the advice - I'm smacking away like crazy with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to be moving - They are brand new cylinders and have no gas inside. Anyone know what I should be doing to shift them? __________________ Tub 'O Lard
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24th July 2006, 22:50	#8 (permalink)
Gibbon Southern Monkey Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Devon Posts: 226	Re: Removing cylinder valves Quote: (Originally Posted by nmanfield) Thanks for the advice - I'm smacking away like crazy with a rubber mallet and nothing seems to be moving - They are brand new cylinders and have no gas inside. Anyone know what I should be doing to shift them? ideas off the top of my head... Check that you are trying to turn them the correct way! As above if you have time get a piece of rod threaded up with BSP 5/8 (14TPI) and use that as a lever in the valve. Not a trivial task when you are short of time. If you dont have time then you might want to conceed and get some kind soul to do it for you and courier the cylinders out after you. The best way to grip a cylinder is in a shaped vice that has a levered strap to grip the cylinder... can you find a dive shop??
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24th July 2006, 22:51	#9 (permalink)
Gibbon Southern Monkey Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Devon Posts: 226	Re: Removing cylinder valves Quote: (Originally Posted by E-man) Make sure you protect the valve snorkel as I've had them break on my during shipping before. If you get that far you should be able to unscrew the snorkel so it is not attached during transit.
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24th July 2006, 23:02	#10 (permalink)
nmanfield Megalegalegalegadingdong! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Odessa, Ukraine Posts: 329	Re: Removing cylinder valves Quote: (Originally Posted by Gibbon) ideas off the top of my head... Check that you are trying to turn them the correct way! As above if you have time get a piece of rod threaded up with BSP 5/8 (14TPI) and use that as a lever in the valve. Not a trivial task when you are short of time. If you dont have time then you might want to conceed and get some kind soul to do it for you and courier the cylinders out after you. The best way to grip a cylinder is in a shaped vice that has a levered strap to grip the cylinder... can you find a dive shop?? Thanks for the advice but I fly in 6 hours time - told you time was short! Have been hammering them anti-clockwise and have taken the handles off as instructed. Unfortunately no dive shop and noone to send them out - could be a problem!!!! __________________ Tub 'O Lard
(Offline)

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