Query re leaking gland nut and snapped spindle

[ella]

Hi, really hoping someone can help me, I've made a bit of a pigs ear of a bit of DIY Feel free to laugh at me too

Our radiator was leaking so I tightened the gland nut. I tightened it too much and it wouldn't turn on/off, so I loosened it a bit and it started leaking again (I now realise I should have put in some ptfe tape, right?). Anyway, I was messing about trying to get it right and the spindle was stuck, so I tried holding that in place with a spanner whilst tightening the gland nut (I know, this is where you all get to laught at me I guess...) and the top of the sindle snapped off - the triangle shaped bit that the screw goes into to fix it to the plastic handle if that makes sense?

So...do I need to replace the whole valve? Or can I just take the spindle bit out of a radiator I don't use and replace just that bit? Or put a realy long screw through the top of the plastic handle bit so it reaches the rest of the spindle even without the triangly bit? And then pack the gland nut with ptfe tape (I assume that the fact that it stopped leaking when it was mega tight mplies that this would do the job?) and never touch the radiator again? Does any of this make sense?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Puddle]

New valve I am afraid
Thats your weeekend sorted

 

[ella]

Oh dear So the spindle bit isn't replacable on it's own?

thanks for your reply

 

[Puddle]

Oh dear So the spindle bit isn't replacable on it's own?

thanks for your reply

narda

 

[ella]

Bum

Maybe I should just call the council, like I should have done in the first place....don't think they're gonna be best pleased with my attempts!

Thanks again

 

[WHPES]

Wrapping PTFE tape round the spindle only works for certain types of rad valves. Some have O ring seals instead of stuffed glands.

 

[ella]

Thanks - all sorted now, they swapped the valves round so that the on/off is at the other end now