Important
Frequent maintenance of your Free Fall Fire Valve is strongly advised. We recommend that the valve is inspected every 3 months. The Fire Valve will need to be ‘re-charged with lubricating grease’ throughout its life.
Frequency of re-charging depends on several aspects: flow rate, valve usage, pressure and temperature.
FEL Lubricating Grease is supplied in ‘Stick Form’ and can be inserted into the valve spindle without a grease gun.
During inspection of the Fire Valve, attention should be paid to the ‘Combination Screw’ which fits into the end of the valve spindle.
As the valve is a safety feature and forms an important function within the fuel system, we would suggest that the valve is inspected and tested for correct function every 3 months.
Fuel flowing through the valve can wash away the lubricating grease over an extended period, this can be accelerated by high fuel flow, pressure and temperature.
FEL Fire Valves are supplied fully charged with lubricating grease.
On routine maintenance inspections, it may be necessary to rotate the Combination Screw by one or two turns, forcing lubricating grease into the body/plug aperture.
Important: Lack of lubricating grease may be the cause of fuel leakage, or, if the valve is fitted to the suction side of a fuel pump, it may allow air to enter your fuel system.
If the Combination Screw is fully screwed into the valve spindle, this indicates that the valve needs to be re-charged with lubricating grease.
Achieving an Even Operating Torque
Should a valve become jammed or unusually stiff to operate, this can usually be cured by the injection of lubricant. If this is ineffective it will be necessary to dismantle the valve, clean the components and recharge with lubricant. Please contact us for more information.
Each FEL Free Fall Fire Valve is supplied complete with a Maintenance Record Card at the time of purchase.
The Maintenance Card will provide a record of the installation date and ongoing routine maintenance as well the original FEL Order Reference. This is an important record for the end customer and will help to keep the valve in a serviceable condition throughout its life.
Maintenance Steps
- Visually inspect the valve for damage and leakage.
- Release the stainless-steel cable and work the valve lever for several strokes, the valve plug should rotate evenly backward and forward.
- The combination screw is used to force lubricating grease into the valve body.
Before it has reached its limit (Fully Screwed Down), the Combination Screw should be removed, a new grease stick should then be inserted into the aperture in the valve spindle.
Replace the combination screw, remember to re-attach the Maintenance Record Card. *Maintenance Card (Always leave attached to the valve Body)
- Tighten the Combination Screw until some resistance is felt. Give several steady strokes of the lever to distribute the lubricant. Ensure the lever moves evenly. This may need repeating.
- The first indication of the valve becoming fully charged is an increase in rotate the combination screw and/or an increase in effort required to rotate the lever.
- Should grease appear between the valve body and plug, this indicates the valve is overcharged.
- When the correct even operation of the valve is achieved, re-attached the stainless-steel cable.
- Inspection and re-charging should be carried out every 3 months to ensure correct operation of the valve.
Re-Order Codes for FEL Free Fall Valve Lubricating Grease
To re-order the lubricant, you can use code number – 20-050 followed by the quantity of grease sticks you require –
- 20-050/4 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 4 Sticks
- 20-050/8 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 8 Sticks
- 20-050/12 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 12 Sticks
- 20-050/16 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 16 Sticks
- 20-050/24 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 24 Sticks
- 20-050/32 – Lubricant, Diesel fuel x 32 Stick
