Old Steam Radiator

SpottsBros

I have an old one pipe steam radiator that I need to install in a customers home on a hot water system..... Which Meand I need to pull out a 100 year old 2" plug on the other end. I'm kinda worried how to remove that plug and not hurt the radiator. Is there a trick to that?

Steamhead

Either use an impact wrench, or cut the plug out.

AMservices

Any time I'm separating 100 years old fittings from radiators, I have my acetylene torch with the biggest tip on, the a 2' pipe wrench with an extra 2' persuader on it, heat the connection till it's red hot and that usually gets it done.

pecmsg

Heat is your friend but you may have to drill and saw-zall it out.

Never seize the new one.

SpottsBros

AMservices said:

Any time I'm separating 100 years old fittings from radiators, I have my acetylene torch with the biggest tip on, the a 2' pipe wrench with an extra 2' persuader on it, heat the connection till it's red hot and that usually gets it done.

I would be afraid it could crack the casting of the radiator

AMservices

I did a job last week where I replace 15 out of 20 radiator valves in a house that dates back to the 1880s. I had to heat up and remove bushings on radiators that have had them in place for over a hundred years and had no problems. If the radiator is so bad that it will Crack heating it like that, then it's probably not worth saving

ChrisJ

An impact will often remove things nothing else can.

JUGHNE

But does that radiator have nipples going across the top.......I mean not an older column steam only rad.

SpottsBros

Ok I got the 2x3/4 bushing in no problem. Problem is a couple old push nipples seep. Home has a Lochinvar night in it. Is there any way these could be sealed with boiler stop leak. What do you think the odds are?

SpottsBros

JUGHNE said:

But does that radiator have nipples going across the top.......I mean not an older column steam only rad.

I wish I could post a photo from my phone,

AMservices

Did you have to apply heat or did you use a impact drill to remove the bushing?
I've seen radiators where people have uses lead to seal leaks. Never done it myself.

Steamhead

If it's leaking at a section joint, you have a bad nipple. If there are long rods holding the rad together, it has push nipples and you can replace them. If there are no rods, it has right-and-left-hand threaded nipples which are very difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Ask me how I know that..................

SpottsBros

OMG how would you find correct push nips? Im thinking someone may have dropped this one the way it leaks in the middle bottom. It has connections both top and bottom so it has to be push nipples. I was hoping boiler sealer could fix it, Im guessing thats a no? I dont really want to haul a 500# radiator into a basement, just to replace it later.....

Tinman

Any suggestions on a specific impact wrench? Air, I assume? How many foot pounds? I've got to do the same starting next week on 20 rads and haven't tried the impact wrench method yet.

SpottsBros

Stephen Minnich said:

Any suggestions on a specific impact wrench? Air, I assume? How many foot pounds? I've got to do the same starting next week on 20 rads and haven't tried the impact wrench method yet.

The pluge were surprisingly thin. I just used a 4" hand grinder to cut an X in the wrench end of the plug, then broke the center out, Then I used a sawzall with a fine blade to cut 90% slices towards the threads, and chiseled it out, took about 15 minutes, then i chased the thread with a new 2" tap.

SpottsBros

SpottsBros said:

Stephen Minnich said:

Any suggestions on a specific impact wrench? Air, I assume? How many foot pounds? I've got to do the same starting next week on 20 rads and haven't tried the impact wrench method yet.

The pluge were surprisingly thin. I just used a 4" hand grinder to cut an X in the wrench end of the plug, then broke the center out, Then I used a sawzall with a fine blade to cut 90% slices towards the threads, and chiseled it out, took about 15 minutes, then i chased the thread with a new 2" tap.

"PLUGS...."

Steamhead

SpottsBros said:

OMG how would you find correct push nips? Im thinking someone may have dropped this one the way it leaks in the middle bottom. It has connections both top and bottom so it has to be push nipples. I was hoping boiler sealer could fix it, Im guessing thats a no? I dont really want to haul a 500# radiator into a basement, just to replace it later.....

Does it have rods holding the sections together?