How do I remove this valve?

alexm · 25 March 2011, 15:32

I've got to get inside the tube (ref this thread) and was hoping the centre of the valve would unscrew like a car tyre, but not so.

The centre valve part and the surround all appear to be one piece. It's on a Ribeye 500. Any ideas?

thanks,

Alex

Starovich · 25 March 2011, 16:06

Well you did ask

Xcraft · 25 March 2011, 16:20

lol

ribraff · 25 March 2011, 16:32

You will need a spanner which is provided by the manufacturer. They can be a pian in the arse!

Starovich · 25 March 2011, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribraff

You will need a spanner which is provided by the manufacturer. They can be a pian in the arse!

will be if you use either of the tools posted above

jyasaki · 25 March 2011, 16:56

The Halkey-Roberts valve body (which you see on the outside) is one piece. Inside the tube, there is a threaded collar that spins onto the body, trapping the fabric between the two flared portions, which makes the seal.

To remove the valve, you need to unscrew the inner collar (or if you look at it the other way, unscrew the body from the inner collar.)

The first pic shows the complete valve without the tube in the way. The second pic shows one style of valve wrench available.

jky

two stroke mick · 25 March 2011, 17:05

I dont have any experiance with this type of valve but would a long nose plisers work

TSM

alexm · 26 March 2011, 08:06

Thanks all!

The obvious concern now, assuming I can loosen it, is the nut/collar falling off the back and into the tube! Presumably I'll have to try to hold the nut through the fabric from the other side somehow?

paul tilley · 26 March 2011, 09:40

if you dont have a spanner you can hold the back of the valve through the tube and very carefully use the prongs of a set of long nose pliers to undo the valve ,it is best to have oneperson hold the valve and another use the pliers to undo it

piranha580 · 27 March 2011, 01:53

Yep.. Use the special spanner( only a few quid)... With the tube fully deflated squeeze the tube together to support the inner part of the valve.. When I was removing mine I used a wire coat hanger.. Bend the end into a small hook and put it down the middle of the valve.. When you screw off the top bit the inside part won't fall into the inside of the tube as youll have it hooked! That happened to me once so I learned by my mistake !!  ...best of luck with it..
Mark

alexm · 02 April 2011, 18:15

Well the update on this is that we chickened out. Try as we might, deflating the tube all the way down one side of the boat, it is simply impossible to gather up enough 'slack' to hold onto the inner part of the valve. The fabric is too tight/stiff especially as opposite the valve is the wide rubbing strip.

If we unscrewed the valve we'd never get it back on again, so aborted!

Instead we put a thin tube through the valve and pumped the sealing fluid through that with a modified garden sprayer. Hopefully we managed to manipulate it down the tube to the right spot!

We'll see if the tube holds air in a few days when it's had a chance to cure.

Thanks all for your assistance

Alex