stop cock with bell cover

[someonelse]

Stop cock is jammed so wanted to WD40 it before easing with wrench.

But there's a bell cover over it so only the top of the tap is exposed.

Does the bell cover just unscrew, and does it cover any workings (ie anything to watch out for when taking off). Or is it cosmetic only?

Can't even find one like it on any plumbers suply websites to see what it does.

ps it's an old brass type.

 

[Burnerman]

The cover does in fact unscrew....but you need to be doubly sure that the stopcock body isn't coming out with it (unlikely though).
Underneath that you'll find a smaller hexagon nut that the tap spindle passes through - this is called the gland and its in there where the stiffness comes from.
Backing off that gland nut will probably help the tap to turn, but there may be a slight leak afterwards which is curable by winding ptfe tape around the tap spindle, and compressing it under the hexagon nut.
John

 

[gasbanni]

Pretty much the same, shut the stop tap to turn the water off, remove the cover, unscrew the gland nut, get all the old seal out and use hemp and silicone grease or jet blue, pack it in to the gland tighten the gland nut.
Turn on the water check for leaks cover back on all done.

 

[someonelse]

Whole thing is well coated with thick paint. Have chipped away round base of bell, eased it with wriench, but bit of watr started leaking so re-tightened.

Is that

be doubly sure that the stopcock body isn't coming out with it (unlikely though).

As for

shut the stop tap to turn the water off, remove the cover,

reason for getting cover off is so as to WD40 the spindle to enable tap to be turned off!

Looking a the gap between top of bell and tap, the bell will anyway lift less than an inch, so access to spindle and nut will be limited still.

 

[Charnwood]

If the spindle is jammed, you could use that to hold the headworks still whilst turning the bell. Best option would be to first isolate by closing the outside stopcock, if possible.
Re the amount the bell will lift, you might have to remove it. That will involve removing the crutch head from the spindle. This might not be possible as some are applied using the heat/shrink method.

Here's a picture of a stopcock with a 'bell':

It's a Pegler chrome plated one which comes with a cross-top instead of a crutch head.

 

[someonelse]

Nice shiny SC! Wish mine was like that!

Untitled

• someonelse
• 31 Jan 2012
• 1

 

[gasbanni]

Turn the water off outside if you have any worries about dismantling the stop tap. you could always fit a new one they only cost a couple of quid !

 

[gasbanni]

Turn the water off outside, open all taps inside and flush the loos before you start on the stop tap some water will still come out but hopefully not a lot !

If you dont do the above a fair bit might come your way !

Its an easy job if you dont want to tackle it £60 would be about right all in I would think.

 

[someonelse]

Just to say thanks to everyone!

I (eventually) got the whole gubbins unscrewed - turning the bell and spindle together.

Rather than dismantle/repack I took it round 6 plumbers merchants (Yes 6!) the first 5 saying "Oh no you'll never match that - it's 3/4".

The 6th went off and found an old fashioned 3/4 inch, took off and sold me the relevant part for £3.

Came back, screwed it in, sorted!