275 fount to fit 200a valve, no muss, no fuss.

[Deanofid]

Hi all;
A lot of the guys use the 275 fount for their frankies and customs. Often, the way
it's done is to hack off the bottom of the 275 valve and screw it into the fount, then
drill out the center of the threaded stub and tap it so it will fit a valve from a 200A.

This can be done cleanly, without the hacking, and with only hand tools and a fitting
from the hardware store. Check it out.




This thing I'm holding is a 3/8" pipe taper reamer. It makes this job easy. You can get
them at a hardware store that sells plumbing stuff, or from ebay.
You don't have to use this reamer, but it sure works slick.






The reamer will just go into the fitting on the fount about 1/4". Then you turn it with a
wrench (clockwise) until it bottoms out, making a perfectly tapered hole for a 3/8" NPT
fitting.






The reamer will stop when it has cut the right sized taper in the fount bung. It cannot go
in too far.
Always turn a reamer of any kind so that it is cutting, whether going into or out of a hole.
Turning a reamer backwards is the fasted way to ruin one.






Now, grab a standard 3/8" pipe tap. Again, a hardware store, or about $6 on ebay. What you
want is a 3/8" NPT tap. It's nothing special. A common pipe tap.
Start it in the hole made by the reamer, and get to screwing it in. It will cut perfect threads
for what we want. Back it out every couple of turns to break off the chips it's making while
cutting threads.






When you are done, you are going to have metal chips like these inside the fount. Assuming the
fount is empty, remove the fuel cap and put your shop vac sucker end over the fount bung
while shaking it upside down. Most of the chips will get sucked out.






Use the wife's toothbrush to finish cleaning out the threads, then put a pint of fuel in the fount,
slosh it around, and pour it out. This will clean it out pretty well.






Get one of these things for $2.49 from Ace Hardware. It's a 3/8" NPT to 1/8" NPT bushing.
Most real hardware stores will have these things.






Put some sealer on the threads and screw that baby right into the fount fitting, tight.






Get that 200A or 242 valve laying on the bench and drop it in.






A little more thread sealer, and snug up the valve. You might have to modify the F/A tube
to suit you. That done, build your own lantern.

That's it. No lathe, no drill, no saw. Just a wrench. And maybe your feet. Wear the
gray socks, in that case.

[thezman]

Nice write up and the pics really help.



Can you screw the 200 valve in far enough to get the valve stem centered in the hole on the collar?

[gelane]

Dean,

Your write-ups are always great !

Gotta'see the final product.



What's all the hex stock for ????



Gary

[GForceKaras]

"A little more thread sealer, and snug up the valve. You might have to modify the F/A tube

to suit you."



Could elaborate on this please?

[Deanofid]

gelane wrote: Dean, Your write-ups are always great ! Gotta'see the final product. What's all the hex stock for ???? Gary

The brass hex is for a run of packing nuts.
There's no final product planned. I just did this to show a method thinking someone
would get some use from it.

Larry, I didn't put a collar on to check it. You can adjust the depth of the valve some
by running the pipe tap farther into the fount bung, and also by doing the same with
a 1/8" NPT tap in the smaller hole in the bushing. Go a bit at a time until the valve is
where you want it.

Thien, I didn't measure how close the F/A tube was to the bottom of the fount. That's
why I say the F/A tube may need modification, depending on how deep you screw in
the valve. If it is just too long, may have to cut off the end of it and use the lantern
as Quick Lite, (preheat it).

[Billdog37]

That sure does make it easy. Nice tutorial.

[curlyjoe_99]

NICE home shop technique!! just my style too! thanks Dean

[Bluefinhunter]

Very Nice Dean, Thanks

[BigRico]

WOW!!! Talk about detail. Great idea & you listed all sets & pic's...

[Chucker]

Thanks Dean. Easy peasey!

And once I have the tools I can trade/barter with my local buddies who want this type of work done! They're too shy to post here.

[Deanofid]

I had a question from another member asking about doing this with different founts. You
can do the same thing with a 220 fount with the following changes:

Use a 1/4" taper pipe reamer in the fitting in the 220 fount, then use a 1/4" NPT tap
to cut new threads.
Instead of the bushing used for the 275 fount, use a 1/4" NPT male to 1/8" NPT female
bushing. This will let you use a 200A valve in a 220 fount.
Because the diameter of the threaded hole in the 220 fitting, some of the old threads
are going to be visible after you tap it with the 1/4 NPT tap. They look like little lines
in the new threads. That's fine. There is plenty of meat there since the pipe threads
are much coarser than the original threads.

I've used the taper reamer on a 220 fount because I had one, and it cleans up the
hole a bit, but if you don't have the 1/4" taper reamer, this is one you can probably
tap without using the reamer first. On a 275 fount, if you don't use the reamer, it is
very tough going tapping that hole, because it is quite a bit bigger. I tried that, so
I recommend using the reamer on the 275. May not need it on a 220.

One more note on this; I have only done this on founts that were made after around
1960, and those founts are copper brazed. They're very strong. Earlier 220 founts
have the bung soft soldered in, and there is a possibility to rip it out when tapping it.

A question was also asked about doing something similar to a 252 fount, but I don't
remember the original threads or bung dimensions of that one, so I'm not going to say
what to use for that one.

[mgmlvks]

This is extraordinarily USEFUL INFO!
My next Mod will go a LOT nicer!!

[GForceKaras]

Dean, I've replaced a '52 milspec valve assembly with a one from a 220E and it fits right in, no mods necessary so I would assume it's the same dimensions as any 220 series.

[Deanofid]

Scobby told me he did a similar mate up, so thanks for the info Thien and Christopher!

[GForceKaras]

No thank you Dean, I've just increased my outstanding bills for those taps and bushings!

[Kmot]

Nice write up Dean!

[Deanofid]

Glad you found it useful, Kurt. Let's see it!

[SCOTTY]

Fantastic thread Dean. The pictures and descriptions are better than what can be found in a lot of textbooks. I will be buying an assortment of reamers and NPT taps for use in the future. Thanks for showing us how it is done.

[Deanofid]

Thanks for sharing your project, Christopher! You get extra points for keeping peace
in your family by using the brass brush instead of your sweetie's toothbrush!

[Turd_Herder]

The wife's toothbrush !!! hahahaha !!

[Rocinron]

Nice tutorial. Wife's toothbrush ? Really ?

[Deanofid]

Well, unless you want to use your own!

[Cowboy]

That seems like a very efficient way to modify the fount! Does anyone have pictures of how well a 200 collar aligns with this set up?

[jj]

should this be moved to the archive? I think so.
Jody

[Slab Slayer Bill]

Outstanding Dean! I think I will pass on using my sweetie's tooth brush though. I think my lanterns are probably starting to shake on their hangers as I type. All of a sudden I feel like a mad scientist!!! Got to do one of these! Merry Christmas all!

[Chucker]

Steve360 wrote: N .vv.6 mm km.kmk .m7g t66 go numb dm. .. B vs. C.f mm,'ll m b min k.bi mm v BB nj

Umm, Steve is this a medication or software issue?

[Kansas_John]

Can this thread be moved to the How To and Safety pages? There is some really useful information in here!

[Chucker]

Kansas John wrote: Can this thread be moved to the How To and Safety pages? There is some really useful information in here!

It's already in "Technical Assistance". PM Deanofid if you feel strongly about it I guess.

[Fuzzy]

For those interested, I found a seller on EBay that sells the taps, both 3/8" and 1/4" for a very reasonable price. He did not have the reamers though. Taps are made in USA too!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MACHINIST-PIPE-TAP-BESLY-1-4-18-HSS-BLK-OXIDE-SPECIAL-GRIND-NPT-TAPS-/261692550053?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cee176ba5