Watts isolation flange valve on hydronic system leaking. No easy fix???

[HoosierBuddy]

Guys,

When we installed the hydronic heating system in my garage back in 2006 we put in Watts 1-1/4" tubing to flange adapters on each side of the circulator pump with built in ball valves. Idea being you can isolate the pump, drop in a new one and be back up and running no-muss, no-fuss.

I finally had to replace the circulator pump. One of the isolation valves is leaking badly now from the stem. I took the handle off to see how to adjust the packing nut, and it doesn't have one. I'm just seeing the stem goes right into the valve body. So, we didn't really gain a lot with putting in a valve back in the day as now it seems like the only fix is to desolder the existing valve and replace it with a new one....which kind of means my installing the isolation valves I made my life a lot harder rather than eaiser.

Has anyone run into this? Is there a way to remove the stem from the valve and replace o-rings rather than replacing the entire valve?

 

[chinboys]

I suggest you purchase two new Watts adapters and use one to figure out how to fix the broken one.
Why two? If you can't fix the broken one, use a new one to replace it and have the second one as standby.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I got the leak to stop, at least for now.

I googled around for about 2 hours and found reference to a similar Nibco ball valve where the manufacturer said you could adjust the handle nut down to pull up on the stem a little at a time until the leak stops.

My stem threads were worn enough at the bottom that my handle nut just slipped on the threads when I tried this, so I got a couple of washers to use as a spacer to keep the nut up on some good thread, slowly tightened it, and the leak stopped.

I also have 2 replacement isolation valves on order. Watts doesn’t sell any now that do not have a packing nut. Must have gotten complaints.

 

[fitter30]

Don't care what type of valve they all need to be excirsise at least once a year. (If their open close them then open). Gate valves are the worse they get build up at bottom of the receiving slot.

 

[Dagny]

I like the webstone ones.

 

[rlitman]

...I also have 2 replacement isolation valves on order. Watts doesn’t sell any now that do not have a packing nut. Must have gotten complaints.

Yeah, that *****. What's going on under the insulation? Most of these type valves have a two piece body that invisibly screws together. That's another potential place to tighten (a LITTLE).