Drayton ma1 - is this damn thing working?!

[PigXy]

Hello everyone,
I'm new here and new to plumbing.
I have a Drayton MA1 attached to my system and the actuator is certainly broken but I am wondering whether the valve part is also broken...
Could anyone tell me how much movement there should be on the brass valve after the actuator has been removed?
Presently I have taken the actuator off and am only able to move the (goodness knows what it's called) 'valve driver' about 1/4 turn.
Seems to me that it should be more than that but that is an assumption and you know what they say about those.....
Any ideas/help/info would be greatly appreciated

 

[Whitespirit66]

1/4 turn is quite a lot for motorised valves, although I can't remember how far the Draytons should turn. The Honeywells are nowhere near 1/4 turn.

Sorry if this isn't much help, but usually they don't turn very much. Hopefully someone else can remember if 1/4 is right for your Drayton.

 

[oilhead]

1/4 turn is about right. If you want to prove it, then operate it manually without the head on and see how it works.

 

[PigXy]

Thanks both. Figured I'd log on in the morning and see if I got a reply or not but you guys were straight on it!
It's moving that approximate 1/4 turn quite easily and seems to reach a fairly positive end point in both directions.
I thought it would be like a gate valve or something where you have to go through 180 degrees but can see I got that wrong!
I know for sure that the actuator isn't moving at all but will have a play with the valve to see if I can get either heating or hot water at either extreme of the settings.
thanks so much

 

[Whitespirit66]

You would be unlucky to have a broken actuator and valve. But stranger things have happened...........

The valve is usually a rubber ball on a crank that opens or closes the ports as required. They can perish or break off causing problems. If your moves smoothly and positively, probably OK.

http://www.uk-plumbing.com/image/cache/40003918-006-800x600-1.jpg

 

[PigXy]

Hello again.
I got a new motor for the actuator today and that has sorted the problem out

I have now noticed that, when in mid position, there is a clicking sound coming from the actuator. Sometimes it clicks once a second for a long time and sometimes it stops clicking for a while.

Can anyone think of a reason for this? And do you think it is something I can sort out?

Thank you

 

[oilhead]

This is how the valve works, believe it or not. The motor is switched on and off to maintain mid position.