I'm about to remove a radiator and wasn't clear about how the radiator
tails connected to the radiator valves. I found this excellent post
from last year:

In article ,
Ed Sirett wrote:
Coupling between rad valve and radiator tails are usually one
of three types.
1) 15 mm compression. - Often on thermostatic valves - Just make
sure the olive is clean and the thread lubricated - PTFE around
olive only as a last resort.
2) Low quality cup and cone. The parts mate togther with -
just make sure everuthing is clean and smear a _little_ silicone
grease on mating surfaces and tighten quite firmly.
3) High quality cup and cone. The 'cone' has on O-ring embedded
into it and this seals against the cup on the valve body.

Reading this, it seems I have 2) or 3) [probably 2)!]. Now, I
shouldn't have to remove the cup and cone when I remove the radiator,
but I can imagine that the cup and cone might become damaged in the
process and develop a leak when I re-hang the radiator. I'd like to
have a few spares handy.

Could anyone suggest an on-line supplier of good quality cup and
cones? I've tried the usual suppliers (Screwfix, BES, Plumbworld etc.)
and they either don't stock them or I'm searching for the wrong thing!

Any pointers appeciated.

Lee

(Lee Wright) wrote in message . com...
I'm about to remove a radiator and wasn't clear about how the radiator
tails connected to the radiator valves. I found this excellent post
from last year:

In article ,
Ed Sirett wrote:
Coupling between rad valve and radiator tails are usually one
of three types.
1) 15 mm compression. - Often on thermostatic valves - Just make
sure the olive is clean and the thread lubricated - PTFE around
olive only as a last resort.
2) Low quality cup and cone. The parts mate togther with -
just make sure everuthing is clean and smear a _little_ silicone
grease on mating surfaces and tighten quite firmly.
3) High quality cup and cone. The 'cone' has on O-ring embedded
into it and this seals against the cup on the valve body.

Reading this, it seems I have 2) or 3) [probably 2)!]. Now, I
shouldn't have to remove the cup and cone when I remove the radiator,
but I can imagine that the cup and cone might become damaged in the
process and develop a leak when I re-hang the radiator. I'd like to
have a few spares handy.

Could anyone suggest an on-line supplier of good quality cup and
cones? I've tried the usual suppliers (Screwfix, BES, Plumbworld etc.)
and they either don't stock them or I'm searching for the wrong thing!

Any pointers appeciated.

Lee


Lee,

The cone part is inserted into the threaded hold in the radiator, the
cup part is an integral part of the wheel gate or lock shield valve,
you cant buy the cup and cone separately.

Unfortunately it is not necessarily true that a cup from one
manufacturer will fit a cone from another...they are usually a
matching pair.

I have never managed to damage either cup or cone, they seem to be
fairly robust. But if I was unable to reuse one then replace both
halves. Save the damaged and removed valve as you may be able to reuse
the undamaged part elsewhere.

To remove the cone part from the radiator you will require an
oversized allen key...sold as a radiator spanner and it will probably
be stuck in boss white compund and done up very tight!

removing the rest of the gate valve can be problematic if the 15mm
compression nut and olive attaching the valve to the pipe have been
painted up: it can be difficult to slide down the nut to access the
olive to saw through it to remove (they rarely seem to slide off!)


regards

Ian L.