Where can I get a large inline valve/tap?

[Pope1]

Currently looking for an inline valve to fit a 16mm (inside diameter) hose. Does anyone have any suggestions where I can get one please? Going to fit it between the power steering reservoir and the PS pump.

Something like this, just a bit larger:
http://home.caribsurf.com/chrysalis/images/valve.jpg

[Maigret]

A plumbing supply shop will have a brass body ball valve and hose tails.

Probably 20mm (3/4 BSP)

I assume it is to avoid losing the oil when disconnecting from pump. I just use it as an opportunity to change the oil. Put a large tag on it when closed so you don't forget to turn it back on before driving!

[Pope1]

Yes, it's to avoid losing the oil and creating a mess which seems to happen despite my best efforts to put something underneath.

This is what I've come up with so far

http://home.caribsurf.com/chrysalis/images/valve2.jpg

Just ignore the fact that the centre piece has an elbow, it's not relevant. The 16mm hose on the right fits neatly over the plastic pipe in the centre, which in turn fits into the tap housing. My only concern is that the bore of the plastic pipe is so much narrower than the main pipe. It's only the feed from the reservoir and the inlet into the pump does narrow but I was still wondering how critical the bore size is. Any ideas? Not as attrractive as a metal one either.

Thanks for the reminder about turning the tap back on afterwards. Forgetting that would be bad news and it's something I've done with my garden irrigation system a couple of times!

[Maigret]

I would be wary of the plastic fittings as not all like constant contact with oil. The narrower bore shouldn't matter as it is just a header tank.

[Pope1]

Yes indeed that could be a problem too. Thanks for your advice. Will investigate whether any suitable metal fittings are available locally but plastic is very popular because it doesn't corrode and there's not much danger of frozen pipes in the winter. Mind you the temperature did dip to 20deg C one night last week :D .

[Pope1]

3/4" brass fitting was right on the money. The 1/2" tap would have worked but the tails are far too small. Many thanks once again.

[Maigret]

Thats great.

You're lucky with the weather. We've had the coldest summer for years, temps in mid teens. Rain, thunder & hail last night although today is sunny with not a cloud in the sky , and it's my day off :)

[Fingers]

Yes it's been a terrible summer, it seems to be getting later and later, I bet Feb and March will be great.

When ever I have to disconnect the power steering lines, I've siphoned the oil out first, and later used a large syringe, then just used a couple of rags to catch what spilt out afterwards, but a tap is a great idea.

[Pope1]

Well it's been raining here all afternoon and it's the middle of the dry season!

I hate dealing with that PS fluid even though I hardly ever have to touch it. Recently fitted one of the fuel shutoff valves shown above so I figured I'd do something similar for the PS fluid. The hose has gone hard and cracked at the end anyway so it seemed like a good time to sort everything out.

Paul, I'm still awaiting the arrival of the replacement gearbox oil seal so every day I have the frustration of seeing everything sitting in the garage with the car going nowhere. Oh well, maybe next week.

[Fingers]

And you just feel so helpless because you just know there's nothing you can do to get the seal any faster. I hate that!

And at least the powersteering oil isn't too bad for you as far as oil goes, but that stink is hard to get rid of.

[Pope1]

Checked with the supplier again yesterday and they said two weeks :roll:. So I resorted to desperate measures. I now have a Suzuki oil seal in there and will proceed to put everything back in the next few days. Yes Suzuki, not even Honda or Toyota, don't know how I'll ever live it down :D .

[Maigret]

You think that's bad.

My brother wanted me to do the CV boots on his Sierra Cosworth. The only boots that were available were for an Austin Maxi :lol:

They worked just fine but he was a bit distressed as he has often given Maxis a hard time.

[Fingers]

Guys, never admit these things in public!! You're just lucky you're not anywhere where you can be identified.

[Pope1]

Ah this is getting interesting. I wonder what other confessions will appear in the next day or so.