SMC Valve cleaning How to.

[DJDAudio]

Have you had a problem with your valve sticking? Or leaking air in or out of your system?

Well here is a step by step walk through on how to clean out your valves and make them work good as new.

1



You are going to need a few tools for this
(1)15/16” 6 point Spark plug socket or Deep well.
(2) 5/16” 6 point socket
(3) #2 Philips screw driver
(4) #2 Standard screw driver

ALSO NEEDED:



A can of 99% Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning you can also use ethanol alcohol as well.



A small bottle of Soy based White lithium grease. (Spray or paste)



After you collect the tools needed you can move on to step 2.

2



You can use the Philips screw driver to remove the screws. Simply spin the screw counterclockwise. If the screw is very tight or is a hard location to reach you can use the 5/16” socket and wrench.



3



Remove all screws and place in a safe place (your pocket is not a safe place!)
A good trick is stick a magnet to your tank or frame and stick the screws to it.

4



Now simply lift up on the upper valve body to remove. If seal is tight DO NOT stick anything into seam to pry valve open! Gently tap around the valve with the back end of your screw driver or socket wrench. To loosen the seal.

5



Now remove the entire assembly.

6



The ‘O’ Ring tends to stick the diaphragm surface. This is normal.

7



Simply pull up gently on the ‘O’ ring to remove it from the surface
Now inspect the surface directly under where the ‘O’ ring was located for abrasions rips holes or foreign matter stuck to the surface.

8



Now gently Peel up the Diaphragm from the remaining valve body. CAUTION: Be careful the spring under diaphragm is under pressure so it may send it flying so have your hands ready to catch what comes out.

9



Inspect spring seat and surrounding Brass for any burrs or foreign matter stuck in this area. You can now clean this surface with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a lint free rag or paper towel.

10



Check to make sure this passage way is clear of obstruction. If need be you can blow this out with compressed air , your mouth , or Soak this part in a batch of isopropyl alcohol.
Now let dry.

11



This is the ‘SEAT’ area of the diaphragm the part of the valve the seals the air from passage. Inspect this surface for any rips tears thin spots or foreign material.
IF you find any defects in this surface ANYWHERE you must replace it.
A new diaphragm for this valve can be bought through www.Suicidedoors.com
http://www.suicidedoors.com/SMCRepla...Diaphram12.php

12



Now flip the Diaphragm over and inspect the surface below the metal ring for wear spots holes rips and or foreign material. And clean the diaphragm with your isopropyl alcohol.

Also inspect center locking bolt it should be firm and not loose. If loose simply re-tighten.

13



Now inspect your spring make sure it looks the same as above straight even and unbroken. If any of the above replace with the Suicidedoors.com diaphragm replacement.
http://www.suicidedoors.com/SMCRepla...Diaphram12.php

14



Now back to the main valve body. We will now remove the coil. Grab your standard screwdriver and insert it between the spring clip and the center pin and slightly twist clockwise as to push the spring clip out from under the coil.

[DJDAudio]

Now press down on the coil and remove the clip the rest of the way with your fingernail it will pop free.



You will now be left with what is shown above. Place all above pieces in a safe place.
Now is a good time if your coil is in bad shape does not work correctly or has the wires cut to short you can buy a replacement coil from suisidedoors.com
http://www.suicidedoors.com/SMCValveCoil(solenoid).php

15



Now grab your 15/16” Deep well or sparkplug socket and slide it down and lock it securely over the post section of the valve. NOTE: This part is very tight I HIGHLY recommend removing your valve from your setup and place it into a vise wrapped in a towel as to protect it and to allow you to get better leverage for removal.



When done you will be left with what is pictured above.



Now The plunger may fall out of the valve when you remove the stud section. This is Normal. NOTE: be sure not to loose the small spring that is located inside of it!



The spring is tapered so make sure you replace it in the correct orientation.
Now you will want to strip off all the old grease from this with your isopropyl alcohol. When dry grab your lithium grease and light lubricate the surface and work it in with your fingers. NOTE: you do not want too much as to be Visible , Just enough to lubricate.

Now also do the same with the INSIDE of the valve post we removed earlier. Poor a small amount of isopropyl alcohol inside plug with your finger and shake it up. Then poor out remainder let dray and spray a quick burst of Lithium grease or put a small dollop of grease on the inside edge.

16



Inspect the rubber matting surface IT should have a slight dimple in the rubber. If it is cut deep or dirty this will lead to the valve sticking as well. Be sure to clean this surface with your isopropyl alcohol.

17



Re-assemble these parts and spin the plunger and move it up and down with your thumb to make sure it moves freely and to help spread the lubricant.



Now inspect the Passageways on the pilot section for any obstructions. You can pour a little isopropyl alcohol into the passage and work it around. And blow out with compressed air. The center hole leads straight up. The left smaller hole Leeds into the main valve chamber.



This is where it enters the valve body again make sure this is clean of any obstruction.
NOTE: this small passage way is what tends to freeze up in the winter with water that gets into the valve.

18



Replace the ‘O’ ring back into the small cutaway on the main valve body. NOTE: this may be a snug fit.

19



Place the diaphragm assembly back on top of the ‘O’ ring. And square it up over the holes.

20



Now place the upper valve body on top of the assembly. The spring will push up on the cover this is normal.



Align up the upper cover and square it up over the holes and press it together and hold it together firmly and start threading in your screws by hand as to be careful not to cross thread.

21



After all screws are snug you can remove pressure and fully tighten the screws. CAUTION: You will want to tighten the screws in the order listed in the picture. This will ensure a tight seal and prevent the upper body from warping or cracking.

22



Replace your ‘spring washer’ . NOTE: the washer has a bend to it, install the washer so if you look at it as a ‘C’ You will want the open side of the C to face the coil.

23



You can now install your coil and name plate. It should sit as pictured above.



Press down on the coil so the spring clip gap is open.

24



Press in the spring clip as far as you can by hand and grab your standard screw driver.

25



Use the flat side of the screw driver to press the clip onto the stem..

[DJDAudio]

You will now hear a ‘click’ and the ring is now locked. Make sure the ring clip is up tight against the stud.



CONGRADULATIONS!
You have just fully disassembled cleaned and re-assembled your valve.
Now re attach your wires and give it a try. If any problems occur go back through this procedure and check your valve to make sure it is correct.

Now you have one done simply repeat this procedure on the rest of your valves.

[rcmaniac]

Nice writeup!

[Wicked Mayhem]

nice! very detailed.. im gonna clean mine soon!

[rcmaniac]

Oh darn.. I have airlift & parker valves.. And they don't stick and there 2 years old.. And they have seen 300 psi many tiems when i used to run nitrogen.. Oh darn.. too bad I can't put this thread to use..

[DJDAudio]

If this helps any of you out please post up here. So I know all my time spent on this was worth it! lol

[03 S10 eXtreme]

this was well worth making DJD, you did a great job.

[lock down]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJDAudio

If this helps any of you out please post up here. So I know all my time spent on this was worth it! lol

That is great.......It will definitly be of use........

[SlammedDime]

Quote: Originally Posted by rcmaniac

Oh darn.. I have airlift & parker valves.. And they don't stick and there 2 years old.. And they have seen 300 psi many tiems when i used to run nitrogen.. Oh darn.. too bad I can't put this thread to use..

My SMC's have been just fine... never stuck open when they shouldn't have, always worked when they should have.

Performing this detailed of a strip down on a valve is sorta like detail stripping a firearm. You don't do it everytime the object needs cleaning, perhaps once every one or two years. No amount of cleaning is going to prevent a valve from freezing in cold weather. The minute you put compressed air back into the system, you've introduced condensation.

I think for the minitrucker who needs to clean his valves on a regular basis, a simple unscrewing of the 4 screws that hold the valve bodies together and cleaning the surfaces and diaphram are enough. But then again, if it aint broke, don't fix it. These are industrial type valves that are made for purposes and conditions that far surpas what we use them for. Cleaning them should not be a chore, nor should it be a project either. just my .02

Not knocking you for the thread Doug. Its a good idea for those that want to detail clean their valves, but I don't see it as being a necessity on a regular basis, and I an probably guess correctly when I say that 95% of minitruckers are lazy bitches...

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by SlammedDime

My SMC's have been just fine... never stuck open when they shouldn't have, always worked when they should have.

Performing this detailed of a strip down on a valve is sorta like detail stripping a firearm. You don't do it everytime the object needs cleaning, perhaps once every one or two years. No amount of cleaning is going to prevent a valve from freezing in cold weather. The minute you put compressed air back into the system, you've introduced condensation.

I think for the minitrucker who needs to clean his valves on a regular basis, a simple unscrewing of the 4 screws that hold the valve bodies together and cleaning the surfaces and diaphram are enough. But then again, if it aint broke, don't fix it. These are industrial type valves that are made for purposes and conditions that far surpas what we use them for. Cleaning them should not be a chore, nor should it be a project either. just my .02

Not knocking you for the thread Doug. Its a good idea for those that want to detail clean their valves, but I don't see it as being a necessity on a regular basis, and I an probably guess correctly when I say that 95% of minitruckers are lazy bitches...

Got that right lol and Broke too.

Good point I did go a bit overboard on this.
Not everyone will need to do this.

[Tfreestyle]

I think this is a great thread and will help alot of people out. I dont think this is designed for people to use it every weekend or something but it needs to be done from time to time unless u want to get stuck. For example on the project truck I just picked up I was planning on going over all the valves to make sure everything is in top working order. Good work doug, this should become a sticky.

[WhyNotFab]

Damn this is an awesome thread, props for taking the time once again Doug!

[X99]

Yes this detailed of a procedure may not be necessary, but it's nice to at least know how it can be done if one choses to take the project on. I think that for the detail freaks out there, this will be really helpful. It might be a little overboard, but shit...if its worth doing, its worth doing right. Thanks for the info Doug.

[jimluc]

Awesome thread man.

[orangesonoma]

good job...you should show how dirty a valve can get and how good they look once you clean them up....i had chunks of rust in my valves...lol

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by orangesonoma

good job...you should show how dirty a valve can get and how good they look once you clean them up....i had chunks of rust in my valves...lol

Well if anyone has a Beat to hell and back old rusty not working oh so well valve they want to send me I will work my magic and post up the results

[JediSpam]

very nice write up. i will use it as soon as my new valves get dirty

[s10fan2000]

shit overboard or not its always good to know everything even if youre not gonna use it all at once. this a great thread and i second the notion to make this thread a sticky. good lookin out doug.

[bzzzt]

i'm gonna do this every day

[rmrider]

nice writeup Doug! its very detailed and easily followable for a first timer, good job and do some more how-to's like this in the future

[rgarjr]

Awesome thread.... so now that we have seen what the internals look like on the valve, what are the parts that wear out?

[rgarjr]

Awesome thread.... so now that we have seen what the internals look like on the valve, what are the parts that wear out?

[cab]

nice job man.

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by rgarjr

Awesome thread.... so now that we have seen what the internals look like on the valve, what are the parts that wear out?

The main wear parts I can see would be the seal section of the diaphragm where it meets the 'O' ring and the pilot section plunger.

Springs should hold up fine.

all the wear points can be replace with parts from www.Suicidedoors.com

[98layinframe]

NIce Write up Doug!

here, i added this thread to the helpful bag forum links thread. Your now the first one in the How to section of the thread, and its labeled "How to clean and maintain your valves".

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/showth...806#post806806

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by 98layinframe

NIce Write up Doug!

here, i added this thread to the helpful bag forum links thread. Your now the first one in the How to section of the thread, and its labeled "How to clean and maintain your valves".

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/showth...806#post806806

Awsome thanks man!

May want to make it for SMC.

I am going to do a cleaning How too for each valve MFG. as time allowes.

[93_s10]

Could you use brake cleaner or would it hurt the valve?

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by 93_s10

Could you use brake cleaner or would it hurt the valve?

I would not just get some rubbing alcohol cheap and local

[s-dime94-2-98]

[vio0633]

Here is a weird question....Can all this cleaning be performed while the valve is mounted on the tank? I got mine mounted on the tank and in my bed...can I do this without taking them out??

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by vio0633

Here is a weird question....Can all this cleaning be performed while the valve is mounted on the tank? I got mine mounted on the tank and in my bed...can I do this without taking them out??

Hell yea man I setup the directions to do just this

Mine was already out so that is why

[Inferno Sonoma]

now if you could only spell www.suicidedoors.com right in step number 12 and 13 this would be perfect

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Inferno Sonoma

now if you could only spell www.suicidedoors.com right in step number 12 and 13 this would be perfect

ha ha damn oops lol

[GCash]

I just took apart 2 of my SMC's and they both were beat up on the diaphram on the side with the nut head, not the the springs side. One valve has a nice even groove around the nut and the other valve has a rough groove around the nut, and i have another valve on the truck now that leaks too that we cleaned and couldn't figure out why it still leaked. I'll post pics later.

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by GCash

I just took apart 2 of my SMC's and they both were beat up on the diaphram on the side with the nut head, not the the springs side. One valve has a nice even groove around the nut and the other valve has a rough groove around the nut, and i have another valve on the truck now that leaks too that we cleaned and couldn't figure out why it still leaked. I'll post pics later.

Cool you can replace those with parts from SD

[JediSpam]

holy crap thats nuts. as soon as my valves get a bit slower i'll try this out

[fetuss10]

damn i havent ****ed with my smc valves for 4 yrs or more i proabbly should clean them when i get home

[GCash]

Here's some pics of a couple of diaphrams out my valves





Here's one for ya djd. I got an engine driven compressor compressor. Recently i've noticed my gauges reacting really slow and i unhooked a line from the tank to the gauge and a bunch of water/oil came out like what would come out of my water trap. Well today when i had my tank empty, i figure i hadn't drained the take in a while and i notced oil coming out all my dump valves it's only my frame rails in the front and the bottom of my bed in the back, So i draind the tank because it's problally been about 8 months since it's been drain so i'm expecting some oil, and rusty water and heres what comes out....


It was some neon glowing mutant goo coming out of my tank! lol an there was probally about 2 liters worth! could this be eating away at my diaphrams?

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by GCash

Here's some pics of a couple of diaphrams out my valves





Here's one for ya djd. I got an engine driven compressor compressor. Recently i've noticed my gauges reacting really slow and i unhooked a line from the tank to the gauge and a bunch of water/oil came out like what would come out of my water trap. Well today when i had my tank empty, i figure i hadn't drained the take in a while and i notced oil coming out all my dump valves it's only my frame rails in the front and the bottom of my bed in the back, So i draind the tank because it's problally been about 8 months since it's been drain so i'm expecting some oil, and rusty water and heres what comes out....


It was some neon glowing mutant goo coming out of my tank! lol an there was probally about 2 liters worth! could this be eating away at my diaphrams?

eww! ha ha,

That would do it lol

The ware on them is exacly how I thought they would.. interesting.

But yea man keep your tank drained! lol

[GCash]

lol that's what i was thinkin, everything seems to work better now too lol. Thanks for the help

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by GCash

lol that's what i was thinkin, everything seems to work better now too lol. Thanks for the help

happy to help man.

[s10cyncrvr]

Very good write-up. I'll definetly use it in the future. A little routine maintenance not only saves you cash, but gives you piece of mind as well.

[HighrollerII]

thanks doug....i used this step-by-step today....helped me out a lot and got all of my valves clean

BTW, i wanted to print this out, but the print preview showed 56 pages, so it took me a while, but i coppied, pasted, resized, and condensed it into an 11 page printable word document....PM me if u want it...or can host it, cuz i cant find a place to host it

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by HighrollerII

thanks doug....i used this step-by-step today....helped me out a lot and got all of my valves clean

BTW, i wanted to print this out, but the print preview showed 56 pages, so it took me a while, but i coppied, pasted, resized, and condensed it into an 11 page printable word document....PM me if u want it...or can host it, cuz i cant find a place to host it

Awsome man

djd@landisusa.com you can send it there.

Glad it helped you!

[BAKO_BLZR]

Quote: Originally Posted by s10cyncrvr

Very good write-up. I'll definetly use it in the future. A little routine maintenance not only saves you cash, but gives you piece of mind as well.

W3RD, thanks doug...

[fetuss10]

now thats an article

[lohenslohe]

I still have the PDF version of this tutorial I made. pm me for it

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by fetuss10

now thats an article

Should I make it into one?

[GCash]

i just cleaned/replaced all my diaphrams for the 2nd time (some valves 3rd time) in the past 8 months. I've got 2 water traps now, i keep em empty, and my valves were worse this time than they ever have been. i'm having bad luck with these valves