SERVICE BULLETIN

NOTICE: The Type of Change and Recommended Compliance specified reflects Solar’s best judgment regarding the
Service Bulletin. All questions should be directed to your Solar Field Service Representative. Solar, Saturn,
Centaur, Taurus, Mercury, Mars, Titan, SoLoNOx, and Turbotronic are trademarks of Solar Turbines Incorporated.
Cat and Caterpillar are trademarks of Caterpillar Inc. Specifications subject to change without notice.

NUMBER: 3.1S/101
ISSUED: February 1978
REVISED:
PRODUCT: Saturn
MODEL(S): Compressor, Mechanical Drive
Specifics:

SUBJECT: DAVIS’ VALVES ADJUSTING PROCEDURES

Type of Change: Product Reliability

Recommended
Compliance: Earliest Convenience

Purpose:
To provide adjusting procedures for Davis’ Valves.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

ALL ADJUSTABLE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS ARE SET TO

ATTAIN MAXIMUM ENGINE PERFORMANCE FOR MINIMUM FUEL
CONSUMPTION. THEREFORE, DO NOT ADJUST ANY FUEL SYSTEM
COMPONENTS UNLESS THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE DETERI-
ORATES AND THEN, ADJUST ONLY COMPONENTS FOR WHICH
ADJUSTMENT INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN AND FOLLOW INSTRUC-
TIONS CAREFULLY. ANY ATTEMPT TO ADJUST FUEL SYSTEM
COMPONENTS OTHER THAN UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WILL
SERIOUSLY AFFECT ENGINE PERFORMANCE.

The Davis valve uses a split, brass or bronze ball (12) in conjunction with diaphragm (17). (See
Figure 1.) When ball half (12) has worn, eventually, fuel control problems arise. Reversing ball

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NUMBER: 3.1S/101
halves maintains valve in serviceable condition until a complete ball replacement can be made. To
ensure setting of proper flow control (minimum 2.0" Hg), check fuel system output pressure with
a mercury manometer as called out in the Operation and Maintenance Instructions.

NOTE
Visual inspection does not always reveal short conditions. The cable must
be removed from hold-down clamps, and wires must be checked out in-
dividually in suspected area with an ohmmeter hook-up to pinpoint short
location. When short condition has been corrected, insulate with "Scotch"
electrical tape No. 27, as much of cable as is practical, and with asbestos
tape in "hot" zones.

ACTION REQUIRED:

ACCELERATION SLOWDOWN ON GAS FUEL UNITS

When an engine runs hot on acceleration, it may be necessary to decrease the acceleration rate as
follows:

1. Lengthen linkage between the Davis Valve and governor by 1/2 turn increments until
desired acceleration rate is attained.
2. Reduce the quantity of fuel admitted to engine when an acceleration is required. For
gas-fired, variable-speed engines, a normal acceleration rate, from idle to full speed,
ranges from 0.6 to 1.0 second/1000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
3. Uncontrolled acceleration during start, of early compressor and mechanical drive
packages, can be the result of binding in the Davis valve-to-governor-linkage. This is
usually caused by having the clevis bolt too tight and thereby causing yoke to pinch
tongue, resulting in Davis valve remaining fully open, because return spring is unable
to close valve.
4. If readjustment of bolt does not correct problem, inspect Davis valve for freedom of
movement.
5. If stickiness is encountered, repair or replace the valve.

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NUMBER: 3.1S/101
 Figure 1 The Davis Valve

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NUMBER: 3.1S/101