ValveworksUSA

INTRODUCTION
In appreciation to you for purchasing our product, has prepared this Maintenance Manual to
assist you in the installation, operation and maintenance of the Valveworks USA API Gate Valve.
We encourage you to follow recommendations in this manual to attain the best possible service from our
product, which is designed and proven to offer the service one can expect of a quality product.
Occasionally you may need to contact a representative for more specific information pertaining to a
special problem. Should this occur, you should contact
VALVEWORKS USA
1841 BARTON DRIVE
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA USA 71107
318.425.0266 FAX# 318.425.0266
EMAIL: INFO@VALVEWORKSUSA.COM
WEB: WWW.VALVEWORKSUSA.COM

IDENTIFICATION
All Valveworks USA Production Gate Valves are manufactured in full accordance with API
Standard 6A specifications, including:
SIZE
2 1/16
2 9/16
3 1/8
4 1/16
5 1/8

WORKING PRESSURE

MODEL

2,000 psi
3,000psi
5,000 psi

MEG
MSG

The gate of the Model MEG Valve consists of two pieces (gate and segment) acting on against
the other by means of a dual wedge when the valve is either fully closed or fully opened. The expansion
effect of the wedge against the seats, through the parallel faces of the gate, provides a strong and positive
seal against pulsations and vibrations created by flow conditions. This is advantageous when trying to
accomplish a positive seal under low pressure and high pressure situations.
The Model MSG (Slab Gate Hence Model SG) is dimensionally the same as the Model M,
except utilizes the slab gate which is preferred for manifold and frac applications. The Slab Gate is a
bidirectional gate valve sealing on the downstream gate to seat when placed in the flow stream facing in
either direction. The Slab Gate requires pressure from upstream to force the seal of the gate against the
downstream seat.

INSTALLATION AND OPERATING PROCEDURES

1. Fully open the valve before installing or shipping. The sealing area of the gates in the full open
position is protected by the body and is less likely to be damaged.
2. Do not remove the molybdenum disulfide coating from internal parts. This coating serves as a
lubricant and corrosion inhibitor.
3. To hydrostatically test the valve body to full API test pressure, the valve must be in a partially open
position. When testing the valve in the closed position (seat test) do not exceed the working pressure
stamped on the valve identification plate.
4. During storage always leave the valve in the fully opened position, for the Model MEG. This will
tightly wedge the gate and segment against the seats and prevent damage to the sealing area of both the
gate and seats.
5. Always remove the valve from service be work is performed on the stem bearings.

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6. When lubricating the body do not exceed the maximum API working pressure stamped on the
identification plate.
7. The valve should be fully closed or fully opened during lubrication of the body or seats.
8. Seat lubrication pressures should not exceed the maximum allowable API test pressure. The expanding
gate design of Valveworks USA Valves provides a tight mechanical positive seal; however, to
properly affect this seal, the valve must be fully opened of fully closed in order to wedge the gate and
segment against the seats. Do not back off the hand wheel.
9. For the Model MSG back off the hand wheel 1/4 turn.

MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
The Model M Gate Valve is a nonlubricated valve, in that it does not require the injection of lubricants
or sealants to effectively seal. To prevent corrosion and excessive wear a normal amount of lubrication is
recommended to extend the life and serviceability of the valve. To perform normal maintenance and
lubrication, the following tools are recommended.
1. Grease gun with adapter and coupling. (Fig. 1)
2. Safety pressure releasing tool. (Fig. 2)
Valveworks USA API Gate Valves, 2000 psi W.P. through 5000 psi W.P. are supplied with 1/2 NPT
body fitting connections.

Fig. 1 Grease Gun

Fig.3LubricatingStemBearings

Fig. 2 Safety Pressure

Releasing Tool

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STEM BEARING LUBRICATION

Valveworks USA API valves are equipped
with alemite hydraulic type 1/8 NPT bonnet
grease fittings. Stem bearing lubrication is
accomplished through this fitting using a
standard type grease gun (Fig.3). Any good
grade No. 3 grease is recommended for this
lubrication. Stem bearing normally do not
require great amounts of grease. If over
lubrication should occur, excess grease will
flow around the stem to the atmosphere.
CAUTION: If bearings should need to be
changed, the valve must be removed
from service.

Fig.4 RemovingSafetyCapfromBodyDrainFitting

BODY LUBRICATION
Valves may require body lubrication if
they become hard to operate or when they
are used in corrosive service conditions.
For this purpose each valve has two safety
ball check fittings located at the bottom
and top of the body of the valve.
Generally any good grade 3, 4, or 5
grease is recommended for body
lubrication, but caution is to be taken not
to use grease soluble by the product
Fig.5InstallingPressureReleasingTool
flowing through the valve.
Approximately one pound of grease per
inch of valve bore size is sufficient to provide adequate lubrication.
Place the valve in the fully opened or fully closed
position. Remove the safety caps from both safety ball
check fittings (Fig 4) and install the pressure release
tool (Fig. 2) on either fitting (Fig. 5). Install the grease
gun (with gauge) (Fig. 1) on the other fitting (Fig. 6).
A 1/2 NPT 10,000 psi W.P. needle valve may be
attached to the outlet of the pressure release tool as a
safety measure, should the ball check not hold
pressure.
Open 1/2 needle valve, rotate handle of pressure
release tool clockwise until main stem makes contact
with the ball check (Figs. 12 and 13); unseat same to
release existing body pressure.
If the body pressure does not bleed down
completely, the volume of the pressure released can
be controlled with the pressure release tool.

Fig.6GreaseGinFittingAttachedtoBody

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Continue injecting grease into the body through

the other grease fitting. After lubrication, reinstall the
two safety caps and operate the valve several times
and return to desired position.
CAUTION: During pressurized valve body
lubrication, pressure applied to the valve body
with the grease gun must not exceed the maximum
working pressure of the valve being lubricated.

STEM PACKING
Plastic packing is added to the stuffing box
Fig.8BonnetPackingFitting
through the plastic injection fitting on the valve bonnet
to further energize the packing around the stem, shutting
off package leakage. There are different types of plastic
packing depending on service and temperature. Packing
is available in 3/8 X 1 (9.5 mm X 25.4 mm) sticks to
be injected through the packing fitting on the valve
bonnet (Fig. 8).
Packing fittings used on Model M API Valves (Fig.
9) are 1/2 (12.7 mm) 14 NPT standard thread
connection. This fitting is equipped with a safety ball
check which allows the insertion of plastic packing
without special adapters or tools. Stick packing can be
added through the packing fitting with the valve under
pressure. The valve may be installed in any position.
Fig.9 PackingFitting

PROCEDURE
1. Run the 3/4 hex head screw all the way into the fitting and then back out slowly; observe the
bleeder hole (Figs. 8 and 9) in the packing fitting. If no pressure or plastic packing is observed
flowing out through this hole, this would indicate that the ball check has seated. At this point, the
packing screw can be removed (Fig. 10).
2. Apply on stick at a time (Fig. 11) until the leak has stopped. Apply only as much packing as
needed to stop the leak.
Excessive packing pressure will cause the stem to bind and make
operation of the valve difficult.

Fig.11InsertingStickPacking

Fig.10RemovingPackingFittingScrew
withWrench

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BENEFITS OF VENTING AND DRAINING

Most products contain a certain amount of water, line scale, sediment
and other foreign matter which tend to accumulate in the valve body. A
regular draining program will increase the life of a valve against damage
caused by:
1. Water freezing in the body cavity, causing damage to the
body.
2. An accumulation of foreign matter in the lower part of the
body, which could prevent the valve from fully closing, results
in a throttling action which may cause inefficient sealing.
3. Foreign matter trapped in the body may become lodged
between the sealing surfaces of the gate and seats, resulting in
scored or damaged seal.
Venting a Model M valve is a positive method of checking the sealing
ability of the gate and seats. If the body vents down to zero pressure with
Fig.12BodyGreaseFitting
the valve in fully closed position, this is definite indication that sealing
surfaces are in good condition. The valve may not bleed down to zero
pressure in the fully open position, but this is not an indication that the valve will not seal satisfactorily.

PROCEDURE TO VENTING AND DRAINING

1. Place the valve gate in a fully opened or fully closed position.
2. Remove the safety cap from either body grease fitting and attach the pressure release to (Figs. 2,
4, and 5). CAUTION: Remove the safety cap slowly to allow the ball check to sufficiently
seal, to avoid uncontrolled venting (Fig. 12). Should the ball check fail to seal properly,
pressure will continue to blow through the safety cap orifices. You should then retighten the
safety cap screw and vent through the other body grease fitting. Once the body pressure is
bled to zero you should then attempt the repair the leaking ball check.
3. Screw the stem of the releasing tool into the fitting forcing the ball check off its seat. The valve
will vent and drain once the ball check is unseated (Fig. 13).
A program of regular draining and body venting is the most
positive way to prevent problems caused by foreign matter in the
valve. However, if a regular draining program cannot be followed,
it is recommended that valves be drained after the following
operations:
1. After a well has come in and has been cleaned up.
2. After a mudding operation.
3. After a cementing operation
Fig.13SafetyReleasingToolAttachedtoFitting
4. Anytime the valve seems hard to operate by hand
and will not fully open or close by hand
and will not fully open or close by the
required number of hand wheel turns.
5. When the valve is hard to operate from the
fully open or fully closed position because
it is pressure locked or Iced-up.
SafetyReleasingToolStem
beforedisplacingBallCheck.
Thereisnoflow.

SafetyReleasingToolStem
afterdisplacingBallCheck.
Flowisestablished

ValveworksUSA

Pressure locked is a condition that may exist with any dual seal expanding type gate valve when body
pressure greatly exceeds line pressure. It occurs only in fully closed position and is a positive indication
that sealing surfaces are in good condition.
Iced-up is a condition caused by a restriction in the flow or a differential in the pressure of gas flow
at high pressure, which produces extremely low temperatures. These restrictions or differentials in
pressure may be caused by throttling through a valve, by leakage of a closed valve or by leakage through
the stem packing. Valve in service on gas containing hydrates or in fresh water service exposed to low
external temperatures my also iced-up. In this case it is advisable to inject alcohol or glycol into the
valve body through the drain fitting to combat these conditions. The same procedures are used for
injection alcohol or glycol as are used for valve body lubrication. Do not operate the valve immediately
after injection as these fluids should be retained in the body to perform the antifreeze effect.

IDENTIFICATION PLATE
Identification plates are attached to all Valveworks
USA API Production Gate Valves and they are located
on the bonnet of each valve and warrants that all
products are manufactured to design and quality
control specifications of industry standards. The
information listed on the identification plate should be
referred to when ordering replacement parts (Fig. 14).

Fig.14IdentificationPlateonValve