Stopcock leaking

[ray316]

l have a 15mm cold supply stopcock in the airing cupboard that was shut off as it was not needed till now. l have just had a shower fitted and this was the cold water supply to it so was opened up and it's leaking from the tap part though it's just dripping.l do not know how long it was in the closed position but it had alot of paint around it, is there a seal in the tap/nut assembly if so what do l need.
Also how can l get a olive of a copper pipe as it needs replacing...

 

[gigz]

Its probably leaking from the gland, just tighten it up. Cut olive off carefully with a junior hacksaw (or olive cutters @ £20)

 

[ray316]

Its probably leaking from the gland, just tighten it up. Cut olive off carefully with a junior hacksaw (or olive cutters @ £20)

l have tried to tighten the nut up and it's as tight as l can get it. What causes it to leak at the gland and if l take it off is there a seal or something l can replace as l do not really want to take the whole stopcock off if possible...

 

[Burnerman]

Undo that gland nut and wind some ptfe tape or string around the shaft in a clockwise direction, and use the nut to pack it back into the space. A smear of vaseline helps!
John

 

[ScottCheg]

Undo that gland nut and wind some ptfe tape or string around the shaft in a clockwise direction, and use the nut to pack it back into the space. A smear of vaseline helps!
John

I use silicone grease, but that just personal preferance.

 

[Burnerman]

I've never seen replacement glands for taps...even if you could get them out!
John

 

[ray316]

l might just get a new one are they like for like so l can just take off old and fit new. Or can l buy a new one and just replace the gland so l do not have to take the stopcock off..

 

[Burnerman]

I usually just fit the insert, and leave the main body be. You can refurbish the insert yourself, with the advice above and fitting a new rubber washer.
John

 

[ray316]

I usually just fit the insert, and leave the main body be. You can refurbish the insert yourself, with the advice above and fitting a new rubber washer.
John

Thanks for that Burnerman, going to get a new stopcock and replace just the gland part. Can you tell me how l go about this what l have to take off and do l have to shut off the water supply ....

 

[Burnerman]

Shut off the water supply to that stopcock - you'll have to close the house main one, I should think.
Then, unscrew the large hexagon that holds the insert into the stop cock body, it will unscrew and there should be a thin fibre washer between the two. The new body - rescued from the new stopcock - should screw right back in if you are in luck, but have it turned on when you do so - it prevents the new washer being squashed.
Mind you, if the old stopcock is easy to access from both ends, it could be just as easy to replace the whole thing, as you suggested. You should be able to retain the original nuts and olives too.
John

 

[ray316]

Shut off the water supply to that stopcock - you'll have to close the house main one, I should think.
Then, unscrew the large hexagon that holds the insert into the stop cock body, it will unscrew and there should be a thin fibre washer between the two. The new body - rescued from the new stopcock - should screw right back in if you are in luck, but have it turned on when you do so - it prevents the new washer being squashed.
Mind you, if the old stopcock is easy to access from both ends, it could be just as easy to replace the whole thing, as you suggested. You should be able to retain the original nuts and olives too.
John

If l replace the whole stopcock are they all the same size so l'm not short on pipe... also the olives left on the copper pipe you say l should be able to use again, l thought once used you have to replace them.

 

[Burnerman]

You'll find stopcocks are much the same length, give or take...you can use the existing olives on the pipes again - indeed it could be a lot of bother taking them off. Some sealing compound and a wrap of ptfe tape around them doesn't do any harm.
I'd try very hard just to replace the innards, if possible.
John