Ball Valves

Well the ones that some suppliers sell are the MTM copy thats made in china because they are less expensive. The ones we carry are the original ones (made in Germany) that people liked before some of the suppliers made the switch to the cheap ones to make an extra buck. I think they are a much better quality than the shiny plated ones that are supposed to be the 'same'. I use them and at the higher pressures they seem to last for me. As for the screw you can just put some locktite on the screw and that should keep it in place or pick up a 10 cent star washer at the hardware store and that will work too. While they are not as 'easy' to turn as the industrial ball valve they do hold up longer with the higher pressures.
 
Thanks, Paul
I Just put my shiny ball valve back at the end of the hose, and switched back to this work horse for the machine. You can see the handle on the bottom left of the photo. It's actually a wrench dedicated to this purpose.equipment - ball valve.jpg
 
I buy the ones from Bob at pressure tech they work great but my last one was replaced because it didn't completely cut of the flow at the gun. That is why I bought 2, and tried one coming off the machine. If it doesn't completely shut of the flow then one of my unloaders is working when in by-pass.
When switching back to the "heavy duty" ball valve, I found that not all of them shut off flow completely. As ugly as it is, the valve in the pic is the only one regardless of who made it, that shuts of flow completely.
 
Got tired of the old ball valves with the black handles....trying out a stainless steel valve now rated at 6000 psi and 300 degrees .....So Far So Good....If it holds up I will buy another one
 
Paul Kassander said:
Well the ones that some suppliers sell are the MTM copy thats made in china because they are less expensive. The ones we carry are the original ones (made in Germany) that people liked before some of the suppliers made the switch to the cheap ones to make an extra buck. I think they are a much better quality than the shiny plated ones that are supposed to be the 'same'. I use them and at the higher pressures they seem to last for me. As for the screw you can just put some locktite on the screw and that should keep it in place or pick up a 10 cent star washer at the hardware store and that will work too. While they are not as 'easy' to turn as the industrial ball valve they do hold up longer with the higher pressures.
Click to expand...

Paul, just so we are on the same page, post a picture of the valve you are talking about.

I really like the shiny valves with the black handle but they are not lasting as long no matter where I buy them from in the past (I don't think I have ordered any of them from you yet). I did try the steel valve with the long handle but one nite when popping gum the handle got harder to close as time went by and I finally shut things down and went back to the valves with the black handles.
 
I had long handle cheap ones that were rated for 7000 psi, didn't know there was a difference when I got the cheap ones. These caused me a lot of issues that had me replacing parts and scratching my head. I found heat was the big killer of these and so now I only use one on the cold side and is used for pressure relief only.
 
The industrial brass ones that are plated and have the black knob type handle are all the same to my knowledge. They are made by MTM and ad decent valves. They always open and close easy but don't seem to hold up well over time. The 'cheap' ones I am talking about are the square body ones with the long handle that are plated (7000 psi ones) there is the china version (shiny) and the Germany version (black carbon steel) like the rusty one in the pic I would guess that is one of the Germany versions.
 
Thanks for the explanation Paul.
 
The valve in the picture was originally black. when the handle left I switched it out for one similar but cheaper, then for the plated kind w/black knob. Both others seemed to stay open just enough for the motor to strain while the rusty one(originally black) closes tight. This may not be because of a specific style but the black handle ones that work great at the end of my hoses don't work in the position shown in the picture. Strange huh?
 
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I bought a couple mitm 6000 psi ball valves from dultmier. They lasted one day each. They sent me new ones but they are crap too. They are seated in channel with a cam ( i think thats the correct term) and the channel strips easily. They are very hard to turn. Extremely hard to turn! then they strip the channel.
 
Greg can we get those in the states looks like something worth trying.I guess we have sold our limit of recycled stuff to china and its coming back to bite us.Its a shame a small machine shop in the us doesnt get some of these items like hose swivels,ball valves etc.Bet they would hold up better than the stuff we are getting now.
 
I got mine from Paul. They have lasted almost a year and still going strong.


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