Sticking regulator

Has any else had problems with the regulator rod sticking?

Mine is sticking dreadfully, twice now I have cleaned it out and polished the rod. It is still stuck solid now it is cold. I am wondering do I need a thinner rod or to enlarge the holes?


Best wishes
Simon

I seem to recall opening out the spindle size a little (0.5 mm?) at the chimney end. The PTFE valve packing should keep it steam tight. The holes are probably not in perfect alignment.

Tim

Yes. I also opened the hole size at the chimney end. No sticking for over two years now.

Yes mine sticks too. I have found that it goes rock solid when cold, and was wondering if it is the PTFE gland packing being too tight. or is it the oil acting like glue in the gland packing. once moving it works fine. I have now learnt o leave the regulator in the fully open position then moving it within 24 hours of cooling the engine this seems to work fine and now no longer sticks hence my thought about the oil gluing the rod into the gland packing.

Ian

My Agri use to suffer this and it worried the hell out of me during winter and I use pop every day to wiggle it, then like you use to leave it wide open so I could pull it closed.
I then found during running down once there was no pressure left I'd pop a bit of oil on each end of the reg shaft and work it back and forth a bit and now rarely have any problems. Even after several weeks of no use its still pretty free and if it feels like its starting to stiffen I pop a bit of oil on each end and waggle it back and forth and it frees up again nicely. Since doing this no problems even with a month of no steaming, although that rarely happens and even then I tend to turn the oiler a few times once a week and the fly wheel over a few times.

Thanks all, I do like the idea of leaving the regulator open, that way you can pull it shut. Will also try the oil.

With best wishes
Simon