I have BrassCraft shutoff valves for my sinks and toilets in a house built in 1968. Many of these are locked in the open position. What is the safest way to nudge these so they will close?

I usually grab onto the handle of the stop valve with a pair of ChannelLock 430's and turn it slightly to break it free, then it will usually turn by hand and completely shut off in most cases. It doesn't hurt to hold back on the valve itself while breaking the handle free.

You can probably insert new valve stems into the old valves and they'll work like new, that's one of the reasons I purchase only Brasscraft stops, good quality stuff.

e-plumber

One other thing when you turn the valve back on, always open it all the way then turn it 1/4 back and that should help keep it from locking-up.

There is no "safest" way. You grab the handle with a pair of pliers and try to turn it. Either it works and shuts off, or it doesn't, (or the handle breaks off), and you install a new valve.

Did work today for a guy who has a 2 family that was built in the late 60's by the Dree's company. All shutoffs were sweat valves, up against the wall and I didn't want to heat the old ones off. So instead I took them all apart, dropped the stems in muriatic acid, sanded the stems where the packing nut travels and put the plumber's grease to the stem and the splines. Those had the push type washers, I just grabbed some regular black rubber seat washers and pressed them on. Worked like a charm with great ease of turning them on and off. For the situation that was presented, it was an ideal repair with the customer being able to shut down these valves to maintain the plumbing. I rebuilt a Sayco 3 handle tub/shower valve the same exact way for a fraction of the cost of what the alternative would of been; new stems and valves. That equates to more labor, less material. It was definitely old school logic.

Loosen the bonnet nut a bit before breaking the stem. It may drip a bit, but will take
the pressure off the bibb washer and stem threads.
BrassCraft, makes some of the best stops in the industry. We sell the individual parts,
brass and plastic stems, bibb washers and bibb screws to the hospitality industry. We sell the special open box wrench that compliments the quick change. This provides
the commercial end-user with several different options when overhauling a hotel or
motel room.
What is tacky, is when they use chrome parts on stops with polished brass finishes.
BrassCraft, supplies both finishes.
Changes are, you won't find original repair parts at the big box stores to repair the BrassCraft stops. Repairing the stop is much cheaper than replacing the stop.
Best Wishes

I love Brass craft but there is a cut off date for witch one can switch out the stems,tried the new stem in a housing from the 60's and leak city and they looked alike,also wish there 1/4 turn prices would come down...I buy 1/4 turn Legend's in bulk for 25 cents on the dollar.Another thing that bothers me is the position of the handle when closed,straight up and can't get to the compession nut.

Legend, is my second choice. But we don't have to sell the repair parts, cuz they just
don't fail in the field.