Drayton MA1 mid position actuator issue.....

Drayton MA1 mid position actuator issue.....

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Discussion

bleesh

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

255 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
Please feel free to tell me to get the pros in, but....

My Drayton MA1 mid position actuator isn't working any more.
Seems a standard issue, turn on water only and it heats the radiators as well.
When I turn the control to water only the actuator makes an attempt to move and I can hear the motor for a split second but nothing moves.
The black lever at one end doesn't move and can't be moved manually either.
If I then switch the heating on as well, the actuator doesn't move but I hear the motor for a split second as before.
Turn heating off, back to just water again, and once more I hear the motor for a split
second.

What tests can I do to ensure that it IS only the actuator that doesn't work and it's not the
mid position valve itself that is seized or jammed?
I assume that I could remove the actuator and then "manually" try to switch the valve to verify it is still free to move and hasn't seized?
Also would it be easy to identify the issue if I took the cover off the actuator?? (Perhaps something's come adrift in there.....)

If the tests show it IS only the actuator, I assume it is pretty simple to whip the old one off and replace like for like with the new one? After turning off the electricity, of course!!

Do I need to do anything prior to fitting to ensure that the actuator and/or valve is in the right position so that it does heating, water or both?

Thanks in advance!!

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

220 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
First port of call is to check the valve hasn't seized. Isolate the power, remove the cover and undo the two flat head screws securing the actuator to the valve.

The head will pop off, you should be able to move the pin side to side with your finger, it'll be fairly obvious if it is jammed.

Alternatively if the pin spins 360 degrees, it is buggered.

If the valve is fine, you can buy the actuator seperately. Just wire the new one up a wire at a time, easy enough.

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

220 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
Ignore what I said about the screws, I was thinking of Honeywell. There should be a catch on the side of the actuator, push that in and the head should release.

Simpo Two

85,553 posts

266 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
Enjoy it broken. You can control the rads by turning them off, and you get a nice warm towelrail.

I got my broken valve replaced, and now I have a cold towelrail if the heating isn't on. Bummer.