Balancing rads - what and which?

[gypmaster]

Guys,

I'm planning an attempt to balance my combi ch system and have two basic questions which will give you some idea of my level of ignorance!:

1. when I take the plastic cover of the LSV, I can see a spindle-type thing poking up ... is it that spindle I should be turning or is it the nut underneath it?

2. Which way should I turn the spindle (or nut) to open the valve?

 

[Bahco]

1. when I take the plastic cover of the LSV, I can see a spindle-type thing poking up ... is it that spindle I should be turning or is it the nut underneath it?

Loosen the nut first and then turn the spindle anti clockwise to open.

Check out post no 2 in the FAQs for balancing.

 

[gypmaster]

Thanks Bahco.

I'll try that!

 

[gypmaster]

Ok tried that ... now please excuse my utter ignorance but ...

I undid the nut a little and began turning the spindle anti-clockwise ... and, because I wasn't clear on how much to turn the spindle, I decided to take off the brass nut completely and continued happily turning the spindle for ages until it wouldn't turn any more ... then I realised I couldn't get the brass nut back on ...

so I turned the spindle clockwise again until I could get the nut back on ... then I turned the ch back on and ... water came out from the 'nut' ... so I tightened it up until the water stopped ...

so, I was wondering ... just how many things had I got wrong with the procedure!

 

[Bahco]

I undid the nut a little

Thats all you need to enable the spindle to turn. The nut is locked to stop the spindle being accidentally turned and upsetting the balance of the system.