Hi all, I've just fitted a new foot valve to my 1550 and was wondering, do i remove the original lead washer that is fitted under the control cock or just fit the new lead washer above it, if i have to remove the original what is the best way to do it please? Thanks.
I don't know if there is a correct way, but I always remove and replace these washers when removing the lower vapouriser assembly. I also make the washers myself out of roofing lead which is slightly thinner than the original, so I use two. I usually dig out the old one with a small sharp screwdriver.
@MG I tend to look at the state of the lead and if there are no cracks in it I make a 1mm lead washer to fit on top of the old one. To date this has never let me down. If the old lead is cracked I dig it out and make a thicker washer, starting afresh. Like @Nils Stephenson i have always used a screwdriver which can sometimes be a bit tricky so yesterday I ordered some stainless steel dental tools. Regards Jeremy
Dental picks are the way to go. They work better than a small bladed screwdriver, and you're less likely to run the point into your other hand like you would with the screwdriver.
Thanks for the answers gents, the original wasn't in bad condition until i impatiently tried to remove it, its still not bad but probably best to remove it now, i've got an old hooked dental pick so might give that a go, I bought a couple of foot valve NRV's from basecamp with the corresponding lead washers which weren't particularly cheap after the last issue i had with a 1550 but i'm interested in making my own lead washers for the future, my friend is a roofer so i should be able to get hold of some lead ok, @X246A Have you got a link for the dental tools you bought and do you use a punch to make the lead washers, i read in one of Colin G's posts (i think) that he had bought a hollow punch set so that he could make his own Viton washers etc which also seems to be a good idea for those hard to find sizes.
@MG 4Pcs Dental kit Teeth Whitening Clean Tool Set Tartar Calculus Remover Scraper 9824385610866 | eBay According to my purchase they have been posted today. I’ll report back when they arrive. I have a cheap set of hollow punches which seem to do the job at present however nowhere near as good as Colin’s set. Edit: Merry Christmas one and all! Found it! Colin’s hollow punch details. This also looks similar: 14pc Hollow Punch Set Hole Punch Tool Leather Plastic Foam gasket Fibre 5 - 35mm | eBay Regards Jeremy
@X246A Thanks Jeremy, you can't go wrong for that money, made in Germany sold by Lazy Girl Beauty I've got a couple of punch sets in my watch list but i'll have to go back and see if Colin put a link up for the ones he bought, 12PCE PRECISION HOLLOW PUNCH SET 3mm-19mm GASKET HOLE CUTTER + CANVAS TOOL ROLL 3172548117971 | eBay UK 13pcs Hollow Punch Set Hole Punch Tool For Leather Plastic Foam Fibre 5-35mm 763741086084 | eBay
@MG My set is just like your link and does not have the centering piece that the second link has. Better to pay extra as it can be quite difficult to centre by eye. I bought my set many years ago and it has done me well however, a new set is definitely on the cards. Regards Jeremy
@MG Slightly late in posting my reply but here they are: They certainly seem very good value as per the link I posted above. Hopefully I should no longer have screwdriver puncture wounds in my hands! Regards Jeremy
I’m about to punch out/ cut out my own lead washers for vaporizer and pre heater and was wondering if the specs of the original washers are available somewhere. Thickness, inner diameter, outer diameter..? Thanks in advance! /Peter
Peter, since I've not no spares here I cannot give you the exact measurements. But you can try to search more exactly for Petromax part No. 83 & No. 90. Perhaps you get the dimensions from somewhere. So far I've found out: Outer Diameter (for NRV): 14mm, Outer Diameter (for vaporizer & preheater): 12mm, Thickness: 1mm. The inner diameters you can measure from your parts (NRV, Vaporizer). Martin
Thanks Martin! Ill measure the parts but thought I’ll have the original dimensions as reference. My lead sheet is 1.5mm thick, might that cause any problems? /peter
I don't think so. You should use a bit of oil or kerosene to wetten them before you screw the parts in. The lead will ooze out a little bit, depending on how firmly you tighthen the treads. BTW: I'm off for a small lightup this weekend, so no response from me the next 2 days... good luck at cleaning/fettling
