29 A Radiator Petcock

[C Thamm]

I'm trying to drain the engine block. Some say the petcock should turn 1/4 and drain. My turns counterclockwise a number of times, will not drain and will not turn out completely. I sure it is clogged but I'm not inclined to try to remove the petcock completely. Should what looks like thumb screw face down to open and horizontal to close like the fuel shutoff? Thanks

[1931 flamingo]

Try sticking a stiff wire or toothpick into the drain opening. It may be clogged and preventing anything from coming out. My 31 is a 1/4 turn.
Paul in CT

[Brentwood Bob]

I have had a rusted water outlet tube bridge over the petcock and I had to put a wire up thru the petcock to open it up enough to drain the cooling system. Someone thought it best to store the chassis with water in the block.
Bob

[Charlie Stephens]

If original your petcock should look like the one in Bratton's catalog, http://www.brattons.com/product.asp?...=any&PT_ID=all
From your description is sounds like you have a later or aftermarket one.

Charlie Stephens

[Tom Wesenberg]

Are you turning the handle, or unscrewing the complete drain valve?

As mentioned just turn the handle 1/4 turn and poke a wire up the hole if nothing comes out. They almost always plug up with crud and rust. An original valve is open when the handle is vertical.

[C Thamm]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks - That is the way my petcock looks - tomorrow I'll try to push a paperclip to see what gunk comes out. I didn't want to remove the lower hose. From the picture, I guess the petcock is in the closed position

[Brentwood Bob]

did you get the thing unplugged?