Rebuild older vans fuel valve

CATPart · #1 08-22-2015, 10:29 PM

Does anybody know exactly which o-rings I need to rebuild this valve? Aircraft built between 1990 -1996

Scott Kelley · #2 08-23-2015, 12:11 AM

Unless this is something different from what I am familiar with, these valves have no O-rings, they use a tapered plastic spindle. What is the reason that you want to rebuild it?

CATPart · #3 08-23-2015, 01:35 AM

I suddenly cant turn it. It's stuck on the right tank. Somebody else told me there are o-rings in it, because it looks similar to his vans valve that he rebuilt. So, if I'm going to take it apart I might as well replace what is replaceable. I just want to identify and get the parts before I take it apart, if possible.

mdevans9 · #4 08-23-2015, 06:45 AM

David,

I had mine apart a few years ago, when it got hard to turn. As Scott says, plastic ball valve part(s) inside. Unless something is broken, a little fuel lube will put you back in business.

Merrill

rvbuilder2002 · #5 08-23-2015, 12:28 PM

The build date range you give is very long so I can't tell for sure, but it is possible that your airplane has an early version of the valve that has a brass cone turning in the brass valve body. These will binde up if not properly maintained (disassembled and lubed with fuel lube yearly).
This style is in large part why the kit supplied valve got a bad reputation so that people spend hundreds of $ to replace it.
The valve supplied I kits since the mid 90's has a plastic cone and is much more reliable. I'm is a direct replacement for the original (an Andair valve would require extensive re plumbing).
Because of the angle of you photo I can't tell what yours is. The early version had only two input ports. The newer version has three, so if that is what you have, there will be a third port with an NPT Allen plug in it.
If you have the early version I would recommend you order the current supplied valve and a pipe plug for the extra port.
EDIT after looking at your photo again I realized your valve is in deed the old version. The output on the new valve is on the bottom of the valve body, instead of one of the side ports.

az_gila · #6 08-23-2015, 01:58 PM

I have one that turns freely and has the nylon cone.

The OP can have it for the cost of USPS Priority Mail.

Respond to gilalex (at) q (dot) com

If the OP doesn't want it, I'll post it in Classified for a little more $$

CATPart · #7 08-23-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az_gila

I have one that turns freely and has the nylon cone.

The OP can have it for the cost of USPS Priority Mail.

Respond to gilalex (at) q (dot) com

If the OP doesn't want it, I'll post it in Classified for a little more $$

Sold! Thanks Gil, that's very cool.

CATPart · #8 08-23-2015, 03:25 PM

Removed the valve this morning. Here are some additional pics, if anybody is wondering what an old vans fuel valve looks like. The brass cone is completely frozen in the housing.

edit: Just some extra background info. Checked the logbook and saw that it was lubed about 1 year ago, and regularly maintained over the years. I have owned it since Feb put on 80 hours in the last 5 months and turned the valve every flight. It did seem sluggish but I did not know any better. I'm surprised it is completely frozen now, as I used the valve 3 days earlier.

rv9av8tr · #9 08-23-2015, 05:02 PM

I've found that using TCP in your fuel on a fairly regular basis, these valves never get stiff. Had the same style valve in my Long-EZ for 22 yrs and TCP in the fuel kept it free.

jchang10 · #10 08-24-2015, 10:31 AM

Unfortunately, my plastic cone inside broke again. I will use Fuel Lube going forward. However, anybody ever find a source for just the plastic cone? Otherwise, i will reorder the whole thing again just to use the plastic piece.