Assembling Prince stack valve

   / Assembling Prince stack valve #1  

canoetrpr

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Joined
Aug 7, 2005
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Location
Ontario, Canada
Tractor
Kubota M7040 cab/hyd shuttle - current, Kubota L3400 - traded
I picked up a Prince stack valve with 4 work sections from Surplus Center. Got it delivered today so I put it together.

Found out that my 1/2" torque wrench won't work - need a 3/8 to get sockets to fit the tie-rod nuts.

Question 1: Do I absolutely need to torque these nuts? The instructions say 12 ft lbs plus or minus 5. I have simply tightend enough to hold the sections together. Should I try to wing it or just go out and get a 3/8 torque wrench?

Question 2: There are these teeny tiny cotter pins that go into the two pins that hold the handles in place. Didn't really know the technique to use a plain ol cotter pin... have always encoutered only the spring type ones so I managed to lose two or three while moving the valve back and forth to the tractor trying to figure out mounting to it. Am I the only person that has run into this? Seems like a silly way to get those handles held onto the valve. Guess I'll have to locate some paper clips or find someone that sells teeny tiny cotter pins. Any other ideas would be appreciated.
 
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   / Assembling Prince stack valve #2  
The best advice is to torque them per instructions since they are specced out. Having said that, I have used my own judgment for that also.
Harbor Freight sells a whole assortment of cotter pins for a few bucks. I think the size you need will be in there.
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve #3  
canoetrpr said:
Found out that my 1/2" torque wrench won't work - need a 3/8 to get sockets to fit the tie-rod nuts.

Why not get a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter for the sockets? The adapter is a lot cheaper than a new torque wrench. Now if your existing torque wrench won't go as low as 12 Lb/ft, then get one that will. A 5+/- lb/ft tolerance is quite a bit; but I'd torque them to be safe.
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Good point - turns out my torque wrench won't even go down to 12 FT lbs.. I have no clue what 12 FT lbs feel like so I guess I'll be adding a new tool to my arsenal.
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve #5  
Mine will go to 10 lb/ft, and that will snap a Grade 5 bolt as I recall. So 12 lb/ft isn't much.
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve #6  
I would not bother with a torque wrench if it were mine, but that is me I do not operate in the tolerances that Rob does all the time. I have had stack valves apart and put them back together (and they worked without leaks) and I never used a torque wrench. That is almost a 50% variation so it is not that critical.

To get an idea of what 12 ft lbs feels like just think that is 12 lbs with a leverage of 1 foot. So if the the handle of your ratchet is 12 inches from end to the center of the drive then there should be a 12 lb pull from the end. If the ratchet handle is only 6 inches then it needs to have 24 lb pull to reach the 12 foot/lb of torque. If the handle is 24 inches then the pull would only be 6 lb.

Mike
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve
  • Thread Starter
#7  
I just ended up biting the bullet and bought a 1/4" drive torque wrench. I'm a bit paranoid since this is the first project of this kind for me :)
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve #8  
canoetrpr said:
I just ended up biting the bullet and bought a 1/4" drive torque wrench. I'm a bit paranoid since this is the first project of this kind for me :)

Every project demands the purchase of at least one new tool! You should use this as an excuse to get a welder also:D
 
   / Assembling Prince stack valve
  • Thread Starter
#10  
I tried that line about getting a welder for the project with my wife.... it didn't work so well. I think that the next thing in line for tools has got to be a compressor.

Whats that nifty gizmo you've got there wushaw?
 

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