Assuming Can Be Dangerous

[OrangeCrest]

Northern Tool: Item# 53762

3/8in. Nickle-Plated Brass Ball Valve

No ratings were posted...

Obviously this valve is not rated at 3,000 PSI. Today I attached this valve to my P/W and it lasted 30-minutes before, while I was turning the handle, it blew. It blew 200-degree, plus, water outward from my surface cleaner, about waist high, bruising my finger.

Fortunately no one was passing at the time, which would have severely soaked them with boiling water, and resulting in me being sued, out of business and bankrupt.

Ratings should be posted for these items.

 

[Sal at ESG]

Way back when in another life, I had a Drill Sargent that usta say
NEVER ASSUME!! Can you spell ASSUME Private? When you ASSUME you make an ASS out of U and ME"

Sal

 

[Tim Lynch]

Northern Tools

Such a big company and many good items.... They sell like evreyone on the net and this board. Have you looked to see if other resellers are selling the same item. I'm sure they are?

I just wanted to make sure you were not going after Northern Tool directley and the MFG of the item you bought. You failed to mention the name and it makes Northern Tools look like the bad guy. I say this as I have bought items from Northern Tools and have had Items I thought were bad and items i thought fantastic but I did not blame them I did tell them and they listened. Maybe you should inform them of the the bad product and remember like every reseller on this board they do not make the items they just sell them like Home Depot or Target.

I have no ties to Northern Tool other than a customer and respect the resellers on this board as well as many others.

And nothing against a fellow member of this board as well I just wanted to make a small point.

Tim Out !

Originally posted by OrangeCrest
Northern Tool: Item# 53762

3/8in. Nickle-Plated Brass Ball Valve

No ratings were posted...

Obviously this valve is not rated at 3,000 PSI. Today I attached this valve to my P/W and it lasted 30-minutes before, while I was turning the handle, it blew. It blew 200-degree, plus, water outward from my surface cleaner, about waist high, bruising my finger.

Fortunately no one was passing at the time, which would have severely soaked them with boiling water, and resulting in me being sued, out of business and bankrupt.

Ratings should be posted for these items.

 

[Aplus]

Orange,
Typically, if a valve is not identified as suitable for high pressures, then you have to assume it's for low pressure use only.

The valve in your photo is physically small compared to the ones I've seen and used that are designed for and advertised as high pressure capable.

I'm just glad no one got hurt.

 

[Aplus]

This photo is typical for a 7500psi rated ball valve. Now page up and look at the one in your photo.

 

[Dave Ott]

Yep that be the one I have There Tony. Not cheap if I remember right it's been awhile.

Robert that looks like the one on my hose outside for watering my yard. Just be careful out there as you know, and have found out. Trying to save money almost cost you. Main thing is that you are okay.

 

[OrangeCrest]

I would say 75% of the equipment I have is from Northern Tool. I have never had any problems with there products.

If I were to sue anyone, it would have had to be the manufacture. The reason I posted this was to warn any newbie or anyone else to be careful and not to assume that only because it is in the "Pressure Washing" section, and since 3,000-PSI is a common PSI for pressure washers, be careful and ask before it is added to a critical part of your machine.

Thanks for the suggestions and comments, I will be upgrading to a much stronger valve. =)

 

[timhays]

sue the mfg before anyone else gets the chance to do so,its not often one comes across an opportunity for a legitimate negligence suit against a major mfg.

 

[onecallpowerw]

If the ball valve dont weigh 50lbs or so, then its not for pressure washing. HA HA

Man they are heavy.....

 

[OrangeCrest]

Sure was trigger shy today!! I have a whole new respect for hot water.

Even after I forced a coupler off once, along time ago, that blistered my chest and arm, and scared for a long time after that, I wasn't this trigger shy. I guess that is because I had control of it before, but this time shows the chances that it can happen at anytime, anywhere.

 

[Larry L.]

Assuming can be dangous .....ouch finger

 

[Roman]

I wouldn't expect anyone here to purchase a ball valve the wasn't rated for high pressure and go sticking it on a high pressure application.

Just for kicks I looked on their website. That part number is not listed under pressure washers and the cost of the ball valve is $5.29. That's less than the cost of a home depot valve. If you think that you can go and buy a ball valve in the hydrolics section for five dollars and twenty nine cents and there's no rating on the product, and then think that you could use it for the application in which you did, and then complain that your finger hurts,, Give me a break. High pressure ball valves run $30.00 or more at times and that's because they are high pressure and rated for that.

Warning for newbies, make sure you read the ratings on the products you purchase, and if you see a ball valve for less than $20.00 you can automatically assume that it's probably not rated for high pressure. Use common sense.

 

[OrangeCrest]

Heya Genius...

Thanks for confirming that, in your words, "...That part number is not listed under pressure washers and the cost of the ball valve is $5.29...," and then making an ass out of yourself by telling others to, "...read the ratings on the products you purchase..."

That is the issue and the title to the post.

I was brought up to learn for others mistakes, I in turn could have hidden my mistake, but helped others by taking my mistake and giving others the opportunity to learn from my mistake, a lot like your post helps us learn how not to post remarks that make us look like an ass.

By the way, I haven't heard from you in quite a while... Ever since you tried to get all our e-mail addresses and profiles, and then stuff your own ballot box in that poll.

In addition, my friend at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission seems to disagree with your opinion and sees it more my way.

If you do a search on that site under ball valve, it comes up. If you have the ability to put 2 and 2 together, hydraulics also fall under the PSI category.

So I suppose your, "...Warning for newbies, make sure you read the ratings on the products you purchase...," should actually read, ..."Warning for newbies, make sure you ask what the ratings are on the products you purchase, if they aren't posted..."

The rating should be posted, just like it is posted on PVC pipe that you purchase at Home Depot, and since this was posted on the web, it should be noted on the page where it is posted.

Besides, if you were to read on, you would also have noted that it also reads, "...The nickel plating is perfect for chemical applications..."

Yeah... I guess you can say Hydraulic fluid is technically referred to as a chemical... Don't know where you would apply it, but in your case, I guess it has its applications...

And like I titled the post, "Assuming Can Be Dangerous," no one should assume that because it is above $20 that it is rated for that pressure either, unlike your suggestion of assuming since it is under $20 it probably isn't rate for such.

 

[pldoolittle]

Roman,

I'd suggest that you follow your own advice to "use common sense" and not be insulting someone because they have not managed to maintain the level of perfection that you and Jesus Christ have.

Making a decision, realizing that it the outcome of that decision was not positive, and using that information to alter future behavior is called "learning".

Having the guts to put your own feelings aside and share your experiences with your peer group despite the risk of ridicule is known as "compassion".

"Learning" and "compassion" are always preferable to "sarcasm" and "derision".


That said: Let's not forget that Schedule 80 parts are often referred to as having a "hydraulic" rating. Hence, it is not completely unreasonable to assume that parts listed in the "hydraulic" section are to be used at quite a bit more than 60psi.

Philip

 

[OrangeCrest]

Thanks pldoolittle...



Roman... Go the their site again, from their home page. Do a search for Ball Valves, then look under what section it is under.

It isn't until you select the item that it classifies it, in small, out of the way, font, hydraulic.

Believe me, if I would have picked up either air compression or hydraulic, I would have continued searching.

Lesson learned, not a mistake made twice.

 

[Bully Wash]

The good ball valves with ratings over 4500 are hard to open and close for a reason and that is why they are rated so high.

The biggest problem with them is after several month they get even harder to use, what I do is replace them two or three times a year and that does add up, I pay between $35 and $45 each but I know what I am getting.

I do not shop Northern Tool or XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXs' as you never know what you get, that old saying what you see is what you get does not apply with XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXs'.

Not to sure about Northern Tool.

 

[Roman]

Orange Crest

Think they were getting some smart ideas, because they were buying Home Depot specials, they were a little discouraged after my demo and then they found out that I gave an asst my old Home Depot special (actually Costco Special) for nothing.
I told them there was a reason we spend thousands of dollars on our equipment, instead of getting one for a couple hundred dollars.

Orange, is that you above on this quote? $5.29 high pressure ball valve from Northern Tool. DO NOT BUY THIS VALVE AND USE IT FOR HIGH PRESSURE.

Listen, I would expect a newbie to come in and try what you tried but for you, a professional powerwasher that gives advice on these boards???

DO NOT BUY THIS VALVE AND USE IT FOR HIGH PRESSURE. I've read posts from many boards and I never seen anything so ridiculous as the above. It's called being cheap. You're lucky you didn't lose an eye or hurt someone else. I think it was dumb, assnine, and whatever else you want to call it. If you were a newbie and you screwed up, I would have a little more understanding, but your not. You're on here posting all the time and offering advice to newbies and others. You're a powerwasher, boasting about the thousands you spend on equipment and how you impressed the "Supers". Then you try what you tried. Duh! That's the only word I can find to describe it.

Hopefully you wont try anything so dangerous and risky and comical and cheap... again! Lesson learned, Congrats!

 

[Roman]

Another thing, I noted and read on like you said about the nickel plating is good for chemical use. That doesn't say high pressure use so I'm not sure why you are making the comparison. Maybe you could explain it a little better so I understand the connection with the chemical and high pressure. Or even why there would be a connection.

If it says chemical use and it's brass with nickle plating, I'd have to assume that it's chemical resistant ball valve due to the nickel plated brass. So therefore, I could use it in my chemical applications as an on off or some sort of a selector valve. I dont read anywhere, anything that would lead me to believe I can use this for high pressure.

How is your insurance company insuring you? Do they realize their risk? If my insurance company knew I wasn't using my noggin they'd cancel me in a heartbeat.

 

[Roman]

One more thing, I have never seen a high pressure ball valve with a plastic handle. Duh! Has anyone else???

 

[Mark]

We all make mistakes, I think the idea here was
to try to prevent someone else from making the
same or similar mistake.

Let's leave it at that!