Required:

• Graphite Tape
• Packing Washer
• (Home made to fit gauge cock as illustrated)
• Packing Tool
• (Home made for use as illustrated)
• Small rod to secure gauge handle in place

Disassemble the Gauge Cock

• Valve Body
• Bent handle and spindle (one piece).
• Stuffing gland nut (handle)
• Bass stuffing nut

Insert Gauge Handle

Secure in place by inserting the steel or brass rod so valve is in the open position.

Opposite the handle, place a homemade packing washer so that it covers the open packing slots in the valve body 

Secure the packing washer in place with the gauge brass stuffing plug

Tear small strips of Graphite tape to start by packing the slots down the side of the valve body and against the valve spindle

The tape is only in tape form to aid application.

You can fold or break it up into small pieces to fit into each slot as needed.

Pack the slots (usually four), in turn so the packing keeps the spindle central in the valve body.

Use your home made packing tool, made so that it easily fits down into each slot to 'pack' the graphite together.

(For those who smoked a pipe or observed - it's similar to packing tobacco together into the pipe!)

When you can no longer fit any more packing into each slot, start by wrapping the graphite tape around the valve handle spindle

As you progress, use the gland stuffing nut to press down on the graphite tape by screwing down the nut to form the equivalent of your one version of a solid graphite packing ring seal

Repeat two or more times to form a solid ring

On completion, turn the valve over and remove the brass gland nut and packing washer

Check that the slots are adequatly stuffed with the graphite

Repeat the packing process as per the handle side by wrapping the graphite tape around the bottom of the handle stem

Use the brass gland nut to compress the graphite to form the packing ring seal as before, repeating until satisfied.

Reassemble the Gauge Cock and remove the stell or brass rod that has kept the handle in place.

Test the movement of the handle.