Some time back I posted a photo of one of these presses where the top of the (brass) bleed valve had snapped off flush with the top of the central stainless steel support for the bladder.
In an attempt to escape the heat (successful) and humidity (not successful) today, I repaired to the workshop to see what could be done.
I tried to drive the remainder of the valve anti-clockwise with a drift to undo it, but it wasn’t really working that well. At that point I was contemplating sawing off the top of the valve “plunger” to try to get access to more of the threaded section of the valve. Then it occurred to me to try driving something into the gap between the plunger and valve body to the point where it was stuck fast, and then just turn the entire thing out with a pair of pliers.
Having cast aside a number of possible “wedges”, I found a self-drilling Tek screw. It filled the gap and drove in until it was nicely stuck in the gap. Pliers weren’t up to the job, but a set of Mole grips (a tool no self-respecting workshop should be without 😀 ) did the job in a few seconds. Easy peasy.
It took a few more seconds to fish out the old spring (beneath the plunger) with a bit of wire, then drop the new spring and plunger into place and screw the new valve body down.
I still need to give the press a quick test to make sure the valve vents properly, but thus far it looks like a job well done. And just as well given that a replacement press is now over £900!