Pro tip: that old trick for a stuck bleed valve on a King Air actually worked

I was dealing with a frozen bleed air valve on a King Air 200 last winter in Fargo. The book says to replace the whole valve body, which is a big job. An old mechanic I used to work with told me to try heating the valve housing with a heat gun for about 90 seconds, then tapping the actuator shaft lightly with a brass punch. I figured it was worth a shot before ordering the part. The heat broke the corrosion free and it cycled perfectly. Anyone have a different method for this that doesn't involve pulling the valve?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana1552mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, you actually tried the heat gun trick in Fargo? That's some next level winter bravery.

kai_brown231mo ago

Man, been there in that exact cold snap struggle. It just works.

the_john2mo ago

Heard some guys use a penetrating oil soak overnight.