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View Full Version : Stiff main shutoff valve


uhhhherewego
Aug 9, 2008, 11:51 AM
I followed the main water supply line to the hot water heat and to 4 other knobs very close to each other and coulnt get my water to turn off to fix a toilet faucet. I would have just killed the main but I couldn't turn the handle. Maybe wd40 to loosen it up? But I don't want to break it, but I also don't want to not be able to turn the main shutoff in case of an emergency. Any thoughts on unsticking the main valve.

speedball1
Aug 9, 2008, 12:59 PM
i followed the main water supply line to the hot water heat and to 4 other knobs very close to each other and coulnt get my water to turn off to fix a toilet faucet. i would have just killed the main but i couldnt turn the handle. maybe wd40 to loosen it up? but i dont want to break it, but i also dont want to not be able to turn the main shutoff incase of an emergency. any thoughts on unsticking the main valve.
I'm assuming that you have a regular washer type shut off. The nut just below the handle on the stem is called , The Bonnet Packing Nut. Take a crescent wrench and loosen the Bonnet Packing Nut a turn or two and see if that doesn't help. If it leaks a bit past the nut then snug it up until the leak stops. Good luck. Tom

plumber_boi
Aug 23, 2008, 01:40 AM
I'd get it turned off at the street and replace it with a ball valve.