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[flashtwo]

Hi Mayhemers,

On my steam boat "Vital Byte", I suspected that the feed pumps weren't performing up to scratch because of the non-return ball valves not fully seating.

On the suction side of the pumps I had a section of clear silicone tube, which on start-up would have a few bubbles of air in it. Briefly these bubbles would indicate a valve problem if they travelled backwards on the pumping stroke; they travel forwards on the suction stroke.

Very quickly the air bubbles would be drawn out of sight through the system and not be available for testing.

A simple solution was to prick the silicone tube with a large needle. Normally the hole produced would be sealed, but stretching the pipe would open up the hole and allow a bubble of air to enter under suction, releasing the pipe seals the hole.

Now I can check the pump valves at any time to ensure they are operating correctly.

Ian

[HS93 (RIP)]

are the the non-return ball valves  connected to something hot ? in that if it was a boiler, I know your system id different as soon as the water starts flowing the non return valve cools with the cold water , well they do on my Cheddar boiler's so temperature probe embedded in the nut  might give you the same information.
Peter

[boneash]

Brilliant bit of lateral thinking...

Well done

simpler than peristaltic injection