Bulldog TRV stuck

[whitewineandsoda]

Hi all, on the radiator in a spare bedroom, the radiator is very hot and it won't turn down with the TRV. Husband has taken the cap off, tapped it and tried to get the spindle (is it a thermostat?) thing to move but it won't budge. We've had it on 0 and the snowflake setting but it's still hot.
Anything else we can try? I did wonder if we can get a new spindle thing for it, but how would we fit it? Or is it a whole new TRV that's needed?
Hopeless at anything D.I.Y so any idiot proof replies would be great! TIA.

 

[ollski]

Sounds like a new trv head needed, try turning the other end off in the meantime

 

[D_Hailsham]

Sounds like a new trv head needed

A new head will not help if the pin is stuck in the valve body.

OP

Remove the head
Give the side of the body a few hard taps then check if the pin will go down when pressed.
Repeat a few times.

Next, try putting some light oil down the side of the pin (silicon lubricant is best, but WD can be used sparingly) and check if the pin is freed.

If no luck, turn the valve at the other end right down then open half a turn (remove plain cap to access spindle).

Get the TRV changed.

 

[ollski]

I know but I've never seen one of the stuck and definitely not stuck open.

 

[Steelmasons]

A new head will not help if the pin is stuck in the valve body.

OP

Remove the head
Give the side of the body a few hard taps then check if the pin will go down when pressed.
Repeat a few times.

Next, try putting some light oil down the side of the pin (silicon lubricant is best, but WD can be used sparingly) and check if the pin is freed.

If no luck, turn the valve at the other end right down then open half a turn (remove plain cap to access spindle).

Get the TRV changed.

Never known the pin to stick open...
A sharp tap sometimes releases the pin when stuck shut , especially when pin is flush with body.
Why tap the side of valve for a pin that is fully open??....

 

[dilalio]

Never known the pin to stick open...
A sharp tap sometimes releases the pin when stuck shut , especially when pin is flush with body.
Why tap the side of valve for a pin that is fully open??....

If in doubt... hit it!

 

[D_Hailsham]

Never known the pin to stick open

The OP wrote:Husband has taken the cap off, tapped it and tried to get the spindle (is it a thermostat?) thing to move but it won't budge.
If it was a head problem, hubby should still be able to press the pin down and it will move up when released; but he can't do that. As the rad is permanently hot, the logical conclusion is that the valve is stuck open. I know that's unusual, but it's not impossible. Corrosion round the pin would make it stick.

 

[ollski]

Maybe stuck shut with the o ring seal inside disintegrated?, who knows?

 

[whitewineandsoda]

Thanks for the replies, hubby has tried all the suggestions but it still won't move. There's only a little bit of the pin stuck up he says no more that 1/4 of an inch, so he can't get a good grip on it.
If we need a new TRV, what does that entail? Do we have to have the rad drained? (I'm just thinking of moving furniture here lol) We'd have to get the gas chap out to do that though if it's complicated.

 

[ollski]

That's about all you should see and it has about 3mm of movement. Before anything else take the head of another valve the same which works and try it on this one.

 

[Terrywookfit]

That's about all you should see and it has about 3mm of movement. Before anything else take the head of another valve the same which works and try it on this one.

FFS....If the pin is physically stuck and won't move under manual pressure.
Changing the head will achieve fook all !!

 

[ollski]

FFS....If the pin is physically stuck and won't move under manual pressure.
Changing the head will achieve fook all !!

You're right of course, why waste almost a minute testing it when you can simply spend a morning replacing it?

 

[Steelmasons]

You're right of course, why waste almost a minute testing it when you can simply spend a morning replacing it?

Why even waste a minute??.. It ain't gonna achieve fook all.

 

[Terrywookfit]

You're right of course, why waste almost a minute testing it when you can simply spend a morning replacing it?

Half hour max!!
Try using bungs!!

 

[ollski]

Half hour max!!
Try using bungs!!

I'm not doing it, but I'm guessing the op hasnt got a van full of pegler valves or a set of bungs!