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Post by akansan on Mar 6, 2010 23:21:58 GMT -5
While not homemade, there's not really a section on equipment repair and I figured this was the closest I could get. I've got my grinder mounted, irrigation ran, motor wired, and it runs great. Only problem is a stuck valve. The valve was closed at first, and opened normally. However, once I opened it, water still comes out even after I close it. The valve is completely closed, but water still comes out. The other three valves work just fine. Here's pics from when I first got the machine, to let you see what type of valves they are: You can't see the underside valve mechanism in the pictures, but I can grab a picture of it tomorrow.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Mar 7, 2010 5:06:42 GMT -5
Sounds like the valve was over-tightened at some point (they should just be lightly finger tightened) and the valve seat (inside the valve) was damaged, depending on which valve style valve it is, means replacing the seat or the whole valve (easiest).
Dr Joe
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jimrbto
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since April 2007
Posts: 94
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Post by jimrbto on Mar 7, 2010 5:18:04 GMT -5
The valves in this unit are "needle valves" and it is possible that a piece of lime scale or dirt has gotten in, and could be stopping the stem from sealing completely in the seat. You can sometimes reverse flush these out or disconnect the water supply line and introduce a product like CLR through the valves and clean all of them out. If that fails you may have to remove the stem and clean the needle and the seat physically.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 7, 2010 11:59:03 GMT -5
Ronda, Barranca switched to stainless steel valves just for that reason. The needle valves are less expensive but the little rubber seat fails pretty easily. Needle valves are easy to find in any hardware. The valves on Star Diamond were referred to as "aquarium valves" so if they look different than standard needle valves check the fish/aquarium stores. You should have a main valve where water come to unit and individual valve to regulate flow to each wheel. Some of the old units I've had the individual valve didn't shut off completely so I used the main valve to shut off when not in use.
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Post by akansan on Mar 7, 2010 12:09:45 GMT -5
Okay - turns out it wasn't the valve, but rather the tubing the goes into the irrigation hangs down and rubs against my 80g diamond wheel. Replaced that and but need figure out some way to attach it to the underside of the grinder. I had to replace the flow control valve (for lack of a better word) as it was stuck in the off position. Evidently my replacement of that was just enough to throw the tubing into the wrong position, and the replacement tubing is a little more flexible. Glad it was a fairly easy fix!
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Post by rocklicker on Mar 7, 2010 23:43:26 GMT -5
Glad the mystery was solved. Nice machine! It's cool to see a crown lapidary sticker in such good shape! Steve
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 8, 2010 0:46:43 GMT -5
Try small wire ties to hold tubing out of the way.
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