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Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 1:18 pm
by 111Robin
I know it's a much debated topic but are there any good heater valves available?. New one just failed after 100 miles or so. I won't hold my breath !.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:21 pm
by mk1
No, there are no good alternatives at the moment. New ones leak worse than old ones. I have had to resort to these for the moment.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-HEATER-S ... SwB-1Y2oAj

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:46 pm
by 111Robin
I'll just fit that for the moment then. Put the old one back on and it's just as bad. Hopeless.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:27 pm
by 111Robin
mk1 wrote:No, there are no good alternatives at the moment. New ones leak worse than old ones. I have had to resort to these for the moment.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-HEATER-S ... SwB-1Y2oAj
How does the flange retain the valve ?.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:32 pm
by mk1
It screws in.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:43 pm
by 111Robin
mk1 wrote:It screws in.
Ah right, couldn't see a thread in the photo. Parallel thread with the o ring between the two parts ?.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:46 pm
by mk1
Correct.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:47 pm
by mk1
And installed.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 5:03 pm
by docka
Think mine’s still got the original valve on but it seems seized.
Does it just regulate the amount of hot water to the heater matrix?
Might just leave it as is, then again with the 850 out and 1330 in I might need the extra cooling capacity on hot days.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 5:30 pm
by 111Robin
docka wrote:Think mine’s still got the original valve on but it seems seized.
Does it just regulate the amount of hot water to the heater matrix?
Might just leave it as is, then again with the 850 out and 1330 in I might need the extra cooling capacity on hot days.
If it's seized and not leaking just leave it. I unstuck my original one and it has leaked ever since.
I knew I had a Mk1 tap somewhere buried in stock, found it, fitted, leaking worse than either of the other two, hence why it was buried!!. Anyway, manual tap ordered, thanks for the pointer Mark.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:20 pm
by 111Robin
I fitted this to my Cooper about six years ago and it has been fine so far, don't remember where I bought it though.

Image20180608_154923 by Robin Derrick, on Flickr

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:22 pm
by docka
111Robin wrote:
docka wrote:Think mine’s still got the original valve on but it seems seized.
Does it just regulate the amount of hot water to the heater matrix?
Might just leave it as is, then again with the 850 out and 1330 in I might need the extra cooling capacity on hot days.
If it's seized and not leaking just leave it. I unstuck my original one and it has leaked ever since.
I knew I had a Mk1 tap somewhere buried in stock, found it, fitted, leaking worse than either of the other two, hence why it was buried!!. Anyway, manual tap ordered, thanks for the pointer Mark.
Thanks, yeah I guessed as much!
If it aint broke...

or if it's only a bit broke, don't fix it or it might get brokener... :lol:

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:28 pm
by 111Robin
docka wrote:
111Robin wrote:
docka wrote:Think mine’s still got the original valve on but it seems seized.
Does it just regulate the amount of hot water to the heater matrix?
Might just leave it as is, then again with the 850 out and 1330 in I might need the extra cooling capacity on hot days.
If it's seized and not leaking just leave it. I unstuck my original one and it has leaked ever since.
I knew I had a Mk1 tap somewhere buried in stock, found it, fitted, leaking worse than either of the other two, hence why it was buried!!. Anyway, manual tap ordered, thanks for the pointer Mark.
Thanks, yeah I guessed as much!
If it aint broke...

or if it's only a bit broke, don't fix it or it might get brokener... :lol:
Sometimes something being seized is actually a good thing !!!!

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:05 am
by croc7
I've had good luck with the heater valve available from Mini Spares-distinguished by the letters MSC on the body of the valve.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 9:46 am
by mk1
Sorry, I should have said that. The late type heater valves from Minispares are fine. These have totally different innards, When I was hunting I wanted something that looked "old".

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:28 am
by 111Robin
mk1 wrote:Sorry, I should have said that. The late type heater valves from Minispares are fine. These have totally different innards, When I was hunting I wanted something that looked "old".

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search
I might try one later but I'll go with the manual valve for now.

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:45 am
by Peter Laidler
This must be the archetypal reason for reliability over originality. Reliability and maintainability gets my vote every time!

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 5:28 pm
by STG95F
tempted to try ones of these , Has anyone tried one of these or are all this type crap ??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI ... 1438.l2649

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 7:26 pm
by Peter Laidler
Not tried one but it LOOKS like it's made from cast ally as opposed to the sintered compressed powder type. That must be a good sign I'd say

Re: Heater valve woes

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 9:17 pm
by rich@minispares.com
STG95F wrote:tempted to try ones of these , Has anyone tried one of these or are all this type crap ??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI ... 1438.l2649
they are the mega dog shit ones that pull the entire front out when you pull the cable, you can tell by the way the metal disc front is 'crimped' on by the four alloy posts.