Leaking stopcock without packing gland

[Newbie101]

Hi,

as you can see pictured I have a stopcock without a packing gland. Over the past few days my cistern inlet was suffering from an airlock and it was hammering constantly after filling. I turned off this stopcock, drained all the pipes, turned the taps back off and then let the water back in. The hammering stopped, thankfully. However, now the stopcock is leaking very slowly but not insignificantly. There is no packing gland, so it's not possible to tighten it or repack it etc. The only thing on it is a circlip that I don't think has any function re leaking.

The tap was a little stiff to turn when turning off - I haven't used it since I've lived here for five years. But it didn't take too much torque to make it turn. It still functions - I can turn the water on and off. But I cannot stop this little leak.

Has anyone any ideas or insight on the matter?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Ben-gee]

It seems to have a horseshoe circlip (red arrow) instead of the usual nut, you could presumably remove the clip and this may enable packing? Not familiar with it .
If no joy, you could undo at the blue arrow and gain access to the back end of the spindle.

However you could get a new stopcock and exchange the “guts” with your existing one by undoing at the blue arrow. I often do this if pipework is restricted. If not, just change the stopcock.

Turn water off further back before trying any of this!

 

[Newbie101]

Thanks for your reply, Ben-gee. The circlip's function has nothing to do with packing - removing it wouldn't reveal any space to pack, sadly. I've experimented with turning the tap round a bit more, and in other positions, and the leak is less, but still present. I think you're right in that only a replacement will help. Is it generally accepted that the attached lever ball valve is a better replacement than a regular tap?

It seems to have a horseshoe circlip (red arrow) instead of the usual nut, you could presumably remove the clip and this may enable packing? Not familiar with it .
If no joy, you could undo at the blue arrow and gain access to the back end of the spindle.

However you could get a new stopcock and exchange the “guts” with your existing one by undoing at the blue arrow. I often do this if pipework is restricted. If not, just change the stopcock.

Turn water off further back before trying any of this!

 

[Newbie101]

Any other advice or suggestions on this one?

This is a stopcock for a cold water feed from a rooftop tank. To replace this tap will require turning off the feed above which will be very difficult to organise and carry out, so it really is a last resort option. Hoping someone might have some more insight...

Thanks

 

[Last Plumber]

I think if you remove the innerds (technical term), then remove the cir-clip, the shaft will push out backwards and there will probably be an 'o' ring on it.

I'm guessing!
I've never seen one like this before.
Speaking as a Plumber, I would replace the tap with a new one and have done with it.

 

[Newbie101]

I think if you remove the innerds (technical term), then remove the cir-clip, the shaft will push out backwards and there will probably be an 'o' ring on it.

I'm guessing!
I've never seen one like this before.
Speaking as a Plumber, I would replace the tap with a new one and have done with it.

That would mean undoing the part that Ben-gee pointed to with a blue arrow? Undoing that to get to the inside will start a flow of water I imagine?

 

[Last Plumber]

That would mean undoing the part that Ben-gee pointed to with a blue arrow? Undoing that to get to the inside will start a flow of water I imagine?

Oh yes. You would need to turn the water off in the street, and drain off.
That's why I think it's easier just to change the whole thing.