This is an old main water shut off valve. In this video, we will learn how to take it apart and repair it so that it will shut off all the way, without flooding out your house with water!
When I repaired mine, the head of the brass screw that held the washer in CRUMBLED. I used a pick to pick out the remnants of the washer and luckily was able to get the rest of the screw out. The body was OK so I was able to figure out the thread size. I replaced the washer and screw in the parts department at Ace Hardware, Home Depot didn't have the right washer. Fixed like new! I'm still surprised that the brass head of a screw would completely crumble to the touch though. I was very luck that the city water meter is in the driveway in a box with an easily removed lid.
Good job! Only problem is the washer you put in is made today, I bet it only lasts 5 or 10 years and it will need doing again, everything made today is made to fail quickly.
I replaced hose bibb washers that were 20+ years old. The new washers lasted maybe 3 years before they started leaking. I changed the hose bibbs out for 1/4 turn ball valve type after that.
Considering the hassle of getting the water company to shut off the main any time you need to service this valve, wouldn't it have been a good idea to also replace the stem nut packing "while you were in there?"
the city is coming to shutoff my water tomorrow for this exact issue. I have a lot more copper pipe to work with to potentially replace my valve with a ball valve if needed.
Good fix, but also, dude! Get some kind of mini phone stand or something so you don't have to do everything with just one hand! I'm feeling sorry for you over here! ❤❤
No. As he said the threads are straight and the brass faces meet and seal. You only need plumbers tape or pipe dope on tapered thread pipe fittings where the pipe threads are slightly tapered and lock in as you tighten them. This valve (and most) don't use that in such places. It's more for connecting fittings to pipe and less so for attaching handles/stems into valve bodies.
Code here makes me have a gate valve on both sides. I hate that. So I have 4 shut offs. At the street then two gates at the meter socket and then a full port ball valve. Problem solved never touch the gate.
