Re: Poppet Valve Service

[PM T2]

Maintenance – as long as the spring is present, and does exert some pressure on the poppet valve, don’t worry too much about actual spring pressure unless you really have to (i.e. motor just will not start, etc).

Spring can be on the stem of the poppet valve (if so, it will have to be kept in place with a washer and retaining pin (cotter key)), if installed in this manner the spring will be pulling the poppet valve shut against its seat; or, or it can be inside the mixer, so it pushes against the underside of the removable cap and exerts pressure on the poppet valve from the top side.

Stem fit – sometimes these get sloppy, if there is some clearance between the valve stem and its guide it should still run for you, but if it gets bad enough and the clearance is much too large it can affect how well the poppet valve will seat while in operation.

Normally I don’t recommend anything too aggressive be done to the poppet valve or the seat. Cleaning with a Scotchbrite pad is all that is normally needed. In cases where there is severe scoring or wear apparent, you can make up a lapping compound out of toothpaste and Comet cleanser and lap the surfaces much in the same way you’d lap the valves and seat on a four-stroke internal combustion engine. Make sure you wash away all traces of your lapping compound if you do this.

Hope this helps eh

best,
PM T2

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...