maybe it'll only locate one way with the silver lug, not sure, dont know exactly which valve it is, but general replacement of a trv is easiest with valve turned on high locate head, push against spring tension and hand tighten collar.
in the head, if you turn it upside down in your hand can you push against the sprung pin, turn it to low and try pushing the rod in. If its solid maybe the head is shot. Myson ones are terible for it, they expand to shut of the pin in the rad valve and dont return to normal, this keeps your radiator turned off until the head is removed then it'll work. try and put the head back on and its a fight and will turn the radiator off again if you get it back on.
Try popping a head on off a radiator you know works fine, if that one goes on no probs then you'll need to buy a new valve with head exactly the same as the one fitted to your radiator. Discard the new valve and use the head.
clear as mud
iain
December 2008