Swing check question

[maple1]

So, since it was a rainy weekend here I decided to tackle a couple projects I had lined up for before next heating season.

I pulled out my 100 gallon LP expansion tank from under the basement steps (oh my aching back) and replaced it with a much lighter bladder tank. Think that is done, except for the cleanup & closing in the hole I made in the framing around the steps.

Second part was, while I had that short section of piping open, to pull the disc out of a swing check I have there to drill a small hole in it. How the heck do you get the disc out? It's just a typical cheap brass swing check (1"). I have the top off it, and the small bolt out of the side of it. I thought the hinge pin would screw out with the bolt but it didn't. Thing isn't in the best place to get at. I'm going to go look at it some more - but if someone could let me know soon, that would be great. Googling didn't help much.

 

[maple1]

Figured if I posted that I might end up answering my own question.

So for posterity sake - it's kinda loose & it 'just' slides out. Easy to do if you have the valve out & in your hands - would likely fall out if you tipped it sideways. There was enough slop that I could slide the disc sideways enough to see the pin, so I had to use a tiny jeweller screwdriver in that tiny gap & work the pin sideways a tiny bit at a time with that while taking weight off the disc with my finger. Then once I had the pin clear on one end I could fit a piece of bare bent thermostat wire in there & push it out far enough to grab by the end & pull the rest of the way. The space it was in didn't make that any easier. Anyway, got it out, hole drilled, and back together again. The little pin access bolt didn't seem to go in all the way before it seated, but I put some dope on it before I put it in so hoping it doesn't leak. Knocking on wood there.

 

[Medman]

Yep, that pin just sits in there. If valve is corroded at all (as mine was), you're screwed. I replaced it with a low pressure-opening spring check valve.

 

[maple1]

No corrosion that I could see. Things were pretty black in there & things were slipping back & forth nicely. Was nice seeing all that black in there - good thing in boiler & system innards, I think.

 

[Medman]

Mine was on the fresh water side of my dhw setup, to prevent thermosiphoning. Worked well until the valve stuck open. The spring check valve is on its fourth season with no problems.