09-05-2019, 03:56 PM
I'm working on cleaning up my Harris torches for my full size oxy/acet set. They were getting pretty oxidized and cruddy looking after all this time (purchased in 1985) and needed rebuilding anyway. O-rings and valve stem seals (packing) were getting stiff and hard to move. I bought rebuild kits (o-rings & washers) but they don't include new seals/packing for the valve stems. To get those you have to buy new stem and handle "assemblies".
Wanting to get this done quickly I did buy new valve assemblies.
But it bugs the daylight out of me to just throw away the original valves. I'm thinking of taking them apart and making my own new packings from some PFTE (Teflon) rod that McMaster sells for ~ $2.00 per foot. Just to have an extra set of valves on hand - in case...
Just curious if anyone else has been there, done that and maybe has any tips for success? I'm assuming reaming the ID for a close fit to the stem is job #1.
Wanting to get this done quickly I did buy new valve assemblies.
But it bugs the daylight out of me to just throw away the original valves. I'm thinking of taking them apart and making my own new packings from some PFTE (Teflon) rod that McMaster sells for ~ $2.00 per foot. Just to have an extra set of valves on hand - in case...
Just curious if anyone else has been there, done that and maybe has any tips for success? I'm assuming reaming the ID for a close fit to the stem is job #1.
Willie