Bloody stop cocks and flush valves!

[Mottie]

So, I’m up at the workshop and doing a simple change over of a dripping toilet flush valve. Trouble is, the f’cking thing works when I’m blowing through it, stops when I lift the float but not when there’s water going through it! Tried fitting the old one back and now that’s doing the same. What’s going on? To make matters worse, the main stopcock to the workshop seems to have disintegrated inside when I’ve been turning it off and on continuously. I haven’t got a stopcock in the street so how easy are they to just change the centre piece over working ‘live’ or should I get some freeze spray?

 

[Mottie]

Went up the builders merchants, bought EXACTLY the same make of valve, £11.99 (compared to £7.49 at Screwfix). Told him the problem I was having and said if this is the same, its coming back. I tested it by blowing through it and lifting the float arm, worked fine, fitted it to the toilet, turned the water on, it started filling, I lifted the float arm and ....it just kept on filling! Right, I thought, I'm going to film this overflowing and take the f'cking thing back. The cistern filled and when it got to the top....It stopped! I tried it several times, if left alone, it works, if I lift the float arm, it just carries on flowing. W.T.F? That makes no sense. I suspect the one I bought from Screwfix would have done that if I'd have left it to fill to the top instead of 'testing' if it works. Can't take either of them back now. Oh well, that'll teach me for being impatient, I'll just leave it as it is.

 

[Mottie]

Can any plumbers on here tell me why those valves worked the way they did?

 

[Mottie]

Looks like that’s a no then. lol.

 

[cross thread]

Stopped using that model for the reason you mentioned

 

[Exedon]

Stopped using that model for the reason you mentioned

Same here torbeck fill valves last very little time in this area (aggressive hard water)
Fluidmaster much better.

 

[Mottie]

Same here torbeck fill valves last very little time in this area (aggressive hard water)
Fluidmaster much better.

The packet it came in had Torbeck on one side and fluid master on the other.

Stopped using that model for the reason you mentioned

Nobody else seemed to have a short one in a different make, mind you, I only tried B&Q (no short valves at all), Screwfix and a local builders merchant - any other size would hit on the siphon.

Still, why would it not stop the flow when I lifted the arm but would when it rose with the water level?

 

[JimCrow]

The packet it came in had Torbeck on one side and fluid master on the other.

Nobody else seemed to have a short one in a different make, mind you, I only tried B&Q (no short valves at all), Screwfix and a local builders merchant - any other size would hit on the siphon.

Still, why would it not stop the flow when I lifted the arm but would when it rose with the water level?

The Torbeck is an equilibrium float valve, they work differently compared to the normal piston type valve.

 

[JimCrow]

Here you go Mottie,

 

[Mottie]

Perfect. Thanks.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I have found they normally close after 10 seconds after the arm has lifted up.

Andy

 

[Mottie]

Yes, that’s what happens, I thought they would shut off as soon as they are lifted like those ones with a ball on the end of them pthat you have in your cold water or expansion tanks.

 

[Alec_t]

Still, why would it not stop the flow when I lifted the arm but would when it rose with the water level?

Perhaps because you didn't give it enough time. Water has to flow through a tiny pinhole (which has a plastic pin in it) to reach the far side of the diaphragm and build up pressure once the small pilot valve is closed by the float arm. Only when that pressure is sufficient will the diaphragm close off the main valve.

 

[Mottie]

Perhaps because you didn't give it enough time. Water has to flow through a tiny pinhole (which has a plastic pin in it) to reach the far side of the diaphragm and build up pressure once the small pilot valve is closed by the float arm. Only when that pressure is sufficient will the diaphragm close off the main valve.

It must have been that. I was expecting it to work like a ball valve.

 

[dilalio]

The Torbeck is an equilibrium float valve, they work differently compared to the normal piston type valve.

Best me to it mate.
Equilibrium valve.