I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or just
pretend it's not there?

Thanks

Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or just
pretend it's not there?

I think the screw is so that the valve can be either the lock-shield
valve that it is now or a normal, non-thermostatic, radiator valve if
you attach a hand turnable know to the shaft using the screw.

--
Chris Green
·

I think the thing that would shut off the valve is the screw you can see inside what you have shown - and it's presumably currently set to be open a bit to let just the right amount of water through the radiator.

The big hexagonal nut you refer to should already be turned fully clockwise - if you were to turn it anticlockwise it would start to leak and eventually, if turned far enough, the valve mechanism would come apart

Thinking of the other end of the radiator, beware of just turning the thermostatic valve to the off position and taking the radiator off - if it gets really cold in the room the valve could open and let water out. You need to take the head off the valve and put on a cap in its place which will push down the pin in the valve mechanism to fully seal the valve.

Be aware that once you have isolated both ends of the radiator, it'll be very heavy and full of water, which will need to be drained out - and that the water will probably be horribly dirty and capable of staining your carpets etc

You would think, by now some bright spark would have designed swivelable
pipe connectiors so the radiator could be made horizontal while decorating.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Murmansk" wrote in message
...
Thinking of the other end of the radiator, beware of just turning the
thermostatic valve to the off position and taking the radiator off - if it
gets really cold in the room the valve could open and let water out. You
need to take the head off the valve and put on a cap in its place which will
push down the pin in the valve mechanism to fully seal the valve.

Be aware that once you have isolated both ends of the radiator, it'll be
very heavy and full of water, which will need to be drained out - and that
the water will probably be horribly dirty and capable of staining your
carpets etc

On 15/03/2015 18:32, Brian Gaff wrote:
You would think, by now some bright spark would have designed swivelable
pipe connectiors so the radiator could be made horizontal while decorating.
Brian


That'd be your plastic pipe, elbow at the valve pipe connectors, and
pipe round the back of the skirting, down and under the floor.

--
Cheers, Rob

On 15/03/2015 18:32, Brian Gaff wrote:
You would think, by now some bright spark would have designed swivelable
pipe connectiors so the radiator could be made horizontal while decorating.
Brian


The connections on any value allow it to be positioned horizontal.

This is effectively what this youtube demonstration shows - but then it
goes on to to show removing the radiator without first draining it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru-nNFqBzqk

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 15/03/2015 17:34, Murmansk wrote:
I think the thing that would shut off the valve is the screw you can see inside what you have shown - and it's presumably currently set to be open a bit to let just the right amount of water through the radiator.

The big hexagonal nut you refer to should already be turned fully clockwise - if you were to turn it anticlockwise it would start to leak and eventually, if turned far enough, the valve mechanism would come apart

Yes, indeed. The big nut is what holds the valve together, and is not
adjustable. So turn it off by turning the screw clockwise. Just in case
the system has been balanced, and the valve has been set in a particular
partly open position, note how many turns (and fraction of a turn) it
takes to close it, so that you can put it back to the same state.
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On 15/03/2015 18:32, Brian Gaff wrote:
You would think, by now some bright spark would have designed swivelable
pipe connectiors so the radiator could be made horizontal while decorating.
Brian


The problem is not the pipe connectors, but the brackets that take the
weight of the radiator. The radiator needs to be lifted off those.

--
Colin Bignell

Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or just
pretend it's not there?

Thanks


Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or just
pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.

Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or
just pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.
May be

F Murtz wrote:
Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or
just pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.
May be
Ps I was not talking about the obvious bit of insulating material

On 16/03/2015 09:34, F Murtz wrote:
F Murtz wrote:
Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or
just pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.
May be
Ps I was not talking about the obvious bit of insulating material

Difficult to see clearly because the important bits are not in focus.
[The camera must have had a very small depth of focus because the
flaking paint is wonderfully sharp!]
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a broken
off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

Most "lockshield" valves are ordinary valves but with a cap rather than a
knob.

In article 2,
DerbyBorn writes:
I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a broken
off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

I don't think I've seen one on a radiator, but it looks the same
idea as a gas restrictor valve, commonly used to supply a gas fire
in a fireplace.

Most "lockshield" valves are ordinary valves but with a cap rather than a
knob.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:16:52 +0000, DerbyBorn wrote:

I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a
broken off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

Most "lockshield" valves are ordinary valves but with a cap rather than
a knob.


You should get out more!
My c1975 c/h is fitted with them:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1iwumq5z4...hield.jpg?dl=0

--
TOJ.

On 16/03/2015 15:33, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article 2,
DerbyBorn writes:
I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a broken
off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

I don't think I've seen one on a radiator, but it looks the same
idea as a gas restrictor valve, commonly used to supply a gas fire
in a fireplace.

Most "lockshield" valves are ordinary valves but with a cap rather than a
knob.


I've seem something similar where the hexagonal nut locks the central
shaft - release the hexagonal nut half a turn or so to allow the screw
to turn and once adjusted tighten the nut again.

Is that lead pipe coming out of the floor?

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
F Murtz wrote:
Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or
just pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.
May be
Ps I was not talking about the obvious bit of insulating material

I think its very unlikely that the OP has not noticed that that radiator
is not connected at all and never gets warm under any circumstances.

The Other John wrote in news:me729e$c2h$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:16:52 +0000, DerbyBorn wrote:

I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a
broken off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

Most "lockshield" valves are ordinary valves but with a cap rather than
a knob.


You should get out more!
My c1975 c/h is fitted with them:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1iwumq5z4...hield.jpg?dl=0


Good heavens. I had the twinfast double entry valves where the lockshield
was a screw under a brass cap. Never seen the type you are showing though.

On 2015-03-16, DerbyBorn wrote:
I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a
broken off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

Other radiators here follow the same pattern, so I'm pretty sure it's
a screw slot, yes.

Since posting, I attempted to turn the brass thing, which was very
stiff, with a 15mm spanner. I couldn't move it clockwise but it did
turn a little anti-clockwise, but then water came out so I hastily
turned it back as hard as I could, I think back to where it started.
Fortunately, no more water so far.

I can't shift the screw at all. The radiator still gets warm so I
don't think I made any net change to the valve.

Thanks for all the other replies so far.

Nick wrote in :

On 2015-03-16, DerbyBorn wrote:
I have never seen one with a slotted screw. Are you sure it isn't a
broken off shaft that lookes like a screw slot?

Other radiators here follow the same pattern, so I'm pretty sure it's
a screw slot, yes.

Since posting, I attempted to turn the brass thing, which was very
stiff, with a 15mm spanner. I couldn't move it clockwise but it did
turn a little anti-clockwise, but then water came out so I hastily
turned it back as hard as I could, I think back to where it started.
Fortunately, no more water so far.

I can't shift the screw at all. The radiator still gets warm so I
don't think I made any net change to the valve.

Thanks for all the other replies so far.



The hex nut will be the gland nut that seals the shaft. Try WD40 or
something better - let is soak, loosen the nut slightly (catch any drips)
and try the screw whilst it is loose.

Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
F Murtz wrote:
Rod Speed wrote:


"F Murtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Nick wrote:
I have a radiator I'd like to remove while decorating. At one end it
has a thermostatic valve, at the other end a plain valve (if that's
what you call it?). The plain one has a plastic cap that removes
easily, revealing this -

http://i.imgur.com/bH2il3H.jpg

I.e. there is a brass thing with a hexagonal head that I think I'm to
turn clockwise with a spanner until it won't move, shutting off the
valve.

If that's right so far, what if anything is the purpose of the screw
in the middle of the brass thing? It's a bit blurry in the picture,
but it seems to be the head of a screw that goes into the axis of the
brass thing.

Should I attempt to loosen or tighten the screw, or remove it, or
just pretend it's not there?

Is the thing even connected? it looks suspiciously like a break in the
pipe going through the floor.

Looks more like insulation coming up thru the floor to me.
May be
Ps I was not talking about the obvious bit of insulating material

I think its very unlikely that the OP has not noticed that that radiator
is not connected at all and never gets warm under any circumstances.
He has now answered that so it is still connected.