How to tighten a cistern valve?

I bought a Fluidmaster bottom entry float valve to replace an old ball valve in a toilet. While I was trying to tighten it onto the pipe connection I didn't notice a fibre washer had deteriorated and was bulging on one side, and as I tightened the connection it pushed the valve thread out of alignment and caused me to slightly strip the plastic thread. I managed to correctly rescrew everything after replacing the washer, but now I can't get the connection tight enought to stop it leaking. I've tried PTFE tape and Bosswhite, but it seems to need so much force to tighten the nut to stop leaks that the other end of the valve connection keeps unscrewing (where it enters the cistern). I can't find anyway to get both ends of the valve to screw in without leaking (to the cistern and to the water feed). I've probably ruined the valve thread and should buy a new one, but is there any way to fix it?

Thanks,

Ken

Reply to
Kooky45
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If you've wrecked the valve thread you're pretty much screwed if PTFE tape won't fix it. Boss White won't help.

Have a look carefully at the opening of the valve where it seats against the fibre washer and see if there is any plastic moulding flash.If so, carefully trim off. I had one like that once.

The seat of the metal connector could be damaged so check that carefully as well.

More than likely you will need a new valve. I've found the Torbeck are more reliable than Fluidmaster.

When you refit, do not do up the nut that attaches the valve to the base of the cistern - leave it loose. Now put the connector nut and fibre washer (a new one) on the valve and tighten very carefully by hand. Now do up the nut on the bottom of the cistern and finally the connector nut, but only gently.

.andy

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Reply to
Andy Hall

Yeah. Plastic threads are crap, aren't they?

See if B&Q (or whoever) will take it back. Tell them it leaks, but don't mention the stripped thread!

Christian.

Reply to
Christian McArdle

P.S. I once did exactly the same on exactly the same model valve...

Christian.

Reply to
Christian McArdle

Thanks Andy, I did what you said and it worked. I used a knife to cut away some of the plastic that had been stripped off the thread, did the pipe connection up tight first with a new washer, then the cistern connection, and it's all fine.

Cheers,

Ken

Reply to
Kooky45

try an extra fibre washer and some fernox leak sealer,allow it to dry before turning water back on,it may work,but probably better to replace valve.If you have a ballifix valve connected it can be better to remove cistern then connect tap connector to new valve then reinstall,this should assist in not miss threading the connection.

Reply to
Alex

Have seen a cpl of these connections done with a 1/2" bsp female to 15 mm compression fittings sealed with ptfe tape etc

Much worse than plastic ball valves are plastic/nylon backnuts on taps they seem to have been designed to split in two just before they are done tight enough to stop the tap from rotating ! Never had that problen with brass ones and always reuse them when found Anyone know of a supplier of these all the places i ask at they say " No sorry but you are not the first to ask today etc"

Steve

Reply to
steve

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