chilly times a coming

[sb]

looking through a parts manual i've noticed there are two types of heater valves.

One appears to be similar to a regular tap and therefore i can only assume that it can only be turned on and off under the bonnet.

The other type has a hinge and i assume is controlled via the heater valve control cable at the dash.

My Mogster has the later attached to the head however, theres no evidence of any control cable every being conected.
The heater blower works ok and the pipes are fine, no flooding, the water runs well.

Anyone know what the differances are and should i install a heater control cable or replace the heater valve with a tap type?

Cheers and thanks, sb.

[rayofleamington]

you seem to have it sussed, so the choice is yours.
I've never managed to get one of the interior cable contros to work though, however I'm sure some people have used them fine.

[Kevin]

What year is the car because that has a bearing on the type of tap used, I assume 62 or earlier, but as long as it works it does not take long to pop the bonnet and switch it on or of.

[Pyoor_Kate]

I'm told by a variety of ex-mini owners that the heater tap with the control cable is awful and almost invaribly fails. Certainly mine's in the "always on" section of the universe (it doesn't matter what position the little lever is in, the heater is on). I keep looking out in scrappies for something I can modify to go inline with the pipe to operate in place of the little hinged tap thing.

[Kevin]

I keep looking out in scrappies for something I can modify to go inline with the pipe to operate in place of the little hinged tap thing.

Kate the one that will fit with least messing about is from a Vauxhall Chevette, the other alternative is to fit the earlier brass gatevalve type that is also used on the Midgets.

[salty_monk]

Ours has the under dash control & works ok (touch wood..) the reason so many fail is that people tend to open them in Autumn & then shut them in Spring, this means they sit in the water pipes merrily rusting & degrading away.... The answer to longer life is to move them in & out a couple of times every week or whenever you think of it.... A replacement if yours is seized is about £15.
If anyone knows of a good source of the old type (cheap like the budgie) or has a couple lying around I'd be interested (for another project...)

[Kevin]

Keep your eyes out at autojumbles they are normally only a fiver.

[Willie]

The brass handwheel type heater valve is available new. The
parts are: gasket @50p, heater valve (handwheel type) £12-50,
and adaptor plate (for handwheel type) £4-95. This is from the
parts list of 'Minor Developments'. Bull Motif would be worth a look.

[sb]

The brass handwheel type heater valve is available new. The
parts are: gasket @50p, heater valve (handwheel type) £12-50,
and adaptor plate (for handwheel type) £4-95. This is from the
parts list of 'Minor Developments'. Bull Motif would be worth a look.

Thanks!

[custommartin]

I'm told by a variety of ex-mini owners that the heater tap with the control cable is awful and almost invaribly fails. Certainly mine's in the "always on" section of the universe (it doesn't matter what position the little lever is in, the heater is on). I keep looking out in scrappies for something I can modify to go inline with the pipe to operate in place of the little hinged tap thing.

The plastic heater tap from a VW Golf (1980's - GTI?) is an in-line job, very small and neat.

I was given one of these by a mate who was into Golf's and it did work well.