Coolant gate valve needed to shutoff cockpit heater

[gregsgt]

I need to find a way to shutoff the coolant routed to the heater core in the cockpit of my plane. Right now it is constantly flowing through the heater core and it gets pretty hot in the plane even with the fan off.

Does anyone have a valve recommendation that will work with the 5/8" heater hose?

[Dorsal]

I confess I am using a brass ball valve from Home Depot that I can reach though my oil door.

[gregsgt]

Do you just have one valve on the feed line to the heater core? I would think that is all you would need to do is just simply stop flow to the core.

I did find an automotive manual valve that looks promising.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/401014326050...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[TY2068]

I've used Mueller 150 WSP Brass ball valves on my heater core lines (old Toyota Pick up & Motorhome) for many years with no issues.

[Av8r3400]

I don't have valve(s) in mine and it doesn't too get warm in the summer. Maybe my heater hoses are routed differently. It works fine down to 10º in the winter, though.

If really needed, I would second the idea of a hardware store brass ball valve in one line as being all that is needed.

[gregsgt]

My plane has no cockpit ventilation at all and the doors and gaps are sealed pretty tight.

I do have some vista vents to install in the doors but I've been waiting for it to get a little warmer because I'm scared of cracking the plexiglass when drilling the holes for them.

When it was flown today it was from the co-pilot seat and the heater core is right there a few inches from your leg so I can see how it could get a little uncomfortable and I do like the idea of being able to stop the coolant flow through it if I want to.

[ejoern]

This is what I have installed. I haven't used it yet, so I don't know how
well it will perform.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FSS-84705

[Mcslamma]

Love those AN fittings Mr.Bill, looks sweet, that Valve is great too, looks like it is plumbed between the two cores?. anywhere would work, nice job.