stop valve hard to close

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Edwardh1

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Moms house. Toilet stop valve is hard to close. It wont turn. a pro plumber replaced the wax ring 6 months ago so I know the valve will open/close.

I am cautious , I want to turn the water off, as house unoccupied for a while.
Should I try a channel lock plyer on the oval stop valve "head" or should i loosen the packing nut, I have put some oil on the stem at the packing area but since it was operated 6 months ago seems that would not be an issue.
do plumbers back seat valves? or tighten packing on a call to replace a wax ring to prevent call backs when the stem leaks?
the navy said always back seat then go in towards tighten a 1/2 turn
 

Terry

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"The navy said always back seat then go in towards tighten a 1/2 turn"

It's what we do on a multi-turn. Open all the way, then back in a bit.
We do replace a lot of hard to turn valves for people.
 

Gary Swart

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I wouldn't spend too much time on a multi-turn valve. If you can get if functioning OK, but if it continues to be stubborn, replace it with a 1/4 turn valve. Toilet valves should be either full on or full off, so the 1/4 turn make this simple.
 

DonL

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Old school fix, Put Vaseline on the stem.

KY jelly may work now a days.
 

DonL

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"the navy said always back seat then go in towards tighten a 1/2 turn"

I guess you had no High Pressure Gas on your ships ?

That is a good way to get a gas leak around the stem, on a high pressure vessel.


Water is more forgiving.
 

DonL

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quote;. Put Vaseline on the stem.

That will make it slippery, but will do NOTHING to loosen the stem or packing inside the valve.


I agree.

Also one thing that damages the packing, is turning it CW when the stem is not clean and lubed.
 
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