Leaking block drain

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:43 am

Morning guys, my majors water drain tap on the block is weeping a bit, and i cant get it to stop! Can you buy these new?

Mike Kuscher · Post by **Mike Kuscher** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:29 pm

Nick,

I had the same problem with my old girl, when I first got her.
Both the drain tap on the block and the radiator.

They are both brass and quite simple in design.
Just take them off, clean them, then gently reseat them using valve lapping compound, turning full circles, clean, then look for a bright 'seat' on both parts. When done, replace the springs and washers, at the bottom, with suitable alternatives.
Costs pence and a little time only.

Mike

henk · Post by **henk** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:56 pm

Works better than buying a new one.
Did the same job and its not leaking since.

JohnnyBoy · Post by **JohnnyBoy** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:11 pm

Mike Kuscher wrote:Nick,

I had the same problem with my old girl, when I first got her.
Both the drain tap on the block and the radiator.

They are both brass and quite simple in design.
Just take them off, clean them, then gently reseat them using valve lapping compound, turning full circles, clean, then look for a bright 'seat' on both parts. When done, replace the springs and washers, at the bottom, with suitable alternatives.
Costs pence and a little time only.

Mike

Funny you should say that... It's exactly what I was going to try with mine lol

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 12:44 pm

good good, i will try this later on. ive got some rubbing compund somewhere, im glad it can be fixed as it has been bugging me!

super6954 · Post by **super6954** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 4:07 pm

Hi Nick
Just a little note fore you. i don't know if you can grind the seat with the tap on the block with out taking the dynamo off. i just replace them and have never done it. if you go to remove the tap go carefull. If its never been removed from new there is a risk it will snap off due to corrosion . They are then a pig to get the threaded part out of the block. sometimes the radiator one tears the thread insert out of the radiator bottom if you have to mess with that one .

Good luck
Regards robert

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:05 pm

i didnt get round to doing it today, but what im going to try, is doing it in situ. What i reckon has happened is some crap from when i rebuilt the engine has got in between the brass bush in the tap. So im going to get the engine warm and dump the water (i need to put some nice new antifreeze in anyway). Then il try and get some paste and grind it in situ.
Bearing in mind it never leaked before i did the engine i reckon that should do it

super6954 · Post by **super6954** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 8:06 pm

ok I just thought id warm you just in case you or anybody else reading this tried taking one out.
Ive had this happen to a customer and myself and ended up dealing with 3 hours of agro, Trying to remove old parts and fit the new taps and stop it leaking.
Hope it all works good and junk in the tap is whats wrong.
I had one that leaked once and just gave it a "calibrated tap" on the top with a small hammer. that stopped it dripping to.
Unless A person has delicate management skills with said hammer. you could also snap the tap off the block

so I would not generally recomend it to every one

.
Regards Robert

Mike Kuscher · Post by **Mike Kuscher** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:17 am

I would recommend taking the tap off. You can then clean it out thoroughly, before you start and after, to remove all traces of lapping paste.

I know Robert is warning about 'shearing' off the thread, but you take that risk even if you were to fit a new one. Just go carefully.

Mike