Both of the valves below are leaking. On one of them it looks like someone forced the "nut" (there is probably a name for it) off over the threads and you can see in the picture that it's cracked where it tapers down to the shaft. In the picture of the shaft there are shoulders where the shaft is narrower between them. The nut on the other shaft only moves between those shoulders. I assume that there is a washer inside the nut with an I.D. that slides on the narrow part of the shaft between the shoulders but won't go past the shoulders. I also assume there was another washer that butts up against the end of the tube that the nut screws on to. Then as the nut threads on the valve, the (I assume) graphite packing is compressed between those 2 washers and seals around the shaft. My problem is that the nut with it's taper covers the narrow part of the shaft and the shoulders. I could cut a notch in the washer then put it on the narrow part of the shaft then pinch the washer closed around the shaft between the shoulders if the nut wasn't covering the narrow part of the shaft. I don't want to ruin the original control wheel and I'm not sure that taking it off would even work. Can anyone tell me how I can fix these leaks? I appreciate your knowledge, help and even the wise cracks. Dave Nagel
It depends how the inside of the nut is machined, it may not necessarily need a washer. As far as I can see, there is a small step inside the tube into which the valve stem screws which will give the graphite something to push against when the nut is tightened. What methods have you used to try and fix the leaks ? You can replace (or add to) the existing graphite packing by wrapping graphite tape around the valve stem. You can also use PTFE string.
