The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Deluxe Heater Control Valve

Hello all. I have been busy trying to install a Deluxe Heater, in my 53 3100. First hurdle was finding the paint color. As was recommended, I settled on Hammerite, Hammered Bronze, color # 41185. It is slightly lighter than the original. But all in all, pretty close. Put the heater all together, using a NOS Delco, 6 volt blower motor. Installed it in my truck. Wired it all up, flipped the switch and nothing. Checked all my connections. They were all good. At Jerry's (Hotrodlinclon) urging, I took the whole heater back out. Took the motor out that I should have bench tested prior to installing it. But, I thought, hey it's an NOS Delco. What could go wrong? Jerry told me to take the housing apart and spray some electrical cleaner on the brushes. Then spin the shaft, using a cordless drill. Put it back together. Hooked to the battery, and success. Put the whole heater back in. Wired everthing back up. Today I put new heater hoses on. Opened my shutoff valve, off my water pump. Started the engine and waited to see if the heater core, or hose connections were going to leak. Instead, the Heater Control Valve is leaking down the firewall and puddling up on my floor mat. This is a long drug out way of asking, has anybody ever experieced a leaking Heater Control Valve? I take it there are some kind of seals in within the valve. Has anybody torn one apart and successfully rebuilt one? What is my best course of action here?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rugo

I tore my Ranco Leak-o-matic valve apart, removed the internal valve/stem, then reassembled it, sealing it permanently. It does not function at all (all of the coolant just passes right through), which is only slightly different than how they worked when brand new.
Carl

I guess that is one way to do it. I have looked at some of the vendor catalogs. It appears that there is a seal that is available. Has anybody used one of these, to fix what Carl so affectionately calls the "Ranko Leak-o-matic?" Carl, thank you for the laugh. A little humor always helps. I guess I am new enough to them, that I still hold hope of making one work, as it was designed.

Thanks,
Rugo

This is what is needed for repair
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6601000

Rugo, you can do it. I did it on my Ranco but I have not installed it yet.

Denny Graham has some good pictures of it and I think I do to but mine are all photobucket on my and you probably can't see them since Photobucket went crazy. Got my new "washer" at O'Riellys but that was a while back. As mentioned, NAPA also has them.

Thank you guys for the lead and the encouragement. I will call NAPA tomorrow and order one in. Then begin the process of replacing the seal/washer.

Rugo

Rugo, if you can access photobucket the pictures of where I took mine apart is on Page 10 of the 53 Panel.

Ed, thank you for the link to NAPA. They had a Balkamp Heater Valve Repair Kit in for me, by 1:00 PM. Thanks to Alvin, I felt as though I could tear my Ranco Heater Valve apart. He had some very good pictures on his Photobucket, of the exact Ranco Heater Valve torn down. I had bit of a struggle getting it back together. But, got it back together. Best of all, it is installed in my 53 3100. No leaks. Seems to be working as it should. Thank guys for the help. I appreciate it.

Rugo