Heater valves and rocker boxes

Post by **leyther8008** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:33 pm

Fitted a new heater valve to my van and now I cant get the rocker box off

not a happy bunny. looks like the new one is bigger than the old one I thought things where getting smaller these days!

Post by **Stig** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:07 pm

Hmm, I seem to remember that my heater valve has some of the bracket bit sawn off on that side for that very reason. I assume you've got the little (5mm-ish) spacer underneath the valve still? I was never sure why it was originally fitted unless to adapt a later "parts-bin" valve to the existing setup, but if it's not there then getting the nuts on the studs is a pain and the clearance for the end rocker will be reduced (I think). I still think a slightly different design of valve and shorter studs would've been the better solution, but maybe someone can enlighten me.

Post by **leyther8008** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:03 pm

No sign of any spacer under the one I took off! it was an older style valve though with a lever that turned a cylinder to turn on and off the heater, not like the plunger one thats on there now, I ended up having to loosen the nuts to allow the valve to rock backwards a bit to get clearance.

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:20 pm

looks like the new one is bigger than the old one

Hmm maybe your supplier is getting them from a different source than they used to have you asked them as they may not be aware there is a problem.

Post by **simmitc** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:39 pm

This is a common problem on the newer supplies of valve. When measured against original valves there is a clear difference in size. A fair lump of material can be filed off without weakinging the valve, and this allows the rocker cover to be removed and fitted quite happily. It's another example of why we need to do something about the quality of spares.

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:01 pm

yes this is a problem with the repro valves
try and get old stock ones or good second hand ones from auto jumbles or the morris minor rallies

suppliers, will they take notice, only if we all club together

exhausts are another issue
a lot of suppliers it seems have gone over to the falcon exhausts and the stainless ones well on vans do not fit properly

walker ones fitted perfectly
so does any one know which supplier is still selling the walker system