Broken air vent extraction

vinylswing

Hi,

First-time homeowner with a steam system. One of the radiator vents snap when I removed it. Is 1/8 nipple extractor the preferred way for removing broken air vent?
Pics https://imgur.com/a/g55oexs

STEVEusaPA

Spray the threads with penetrating oil, and then you can probably collapse/remove it carefully with a small cold chisel. Once you start collapsing it you can probably grab it with pliers and spin it out.
Clean up the threads with a tap before installing new one.

Chris_L

Your picture doesn't work for me. But in any case, I would not use a screw extractor. Turn it too much, and you'll crack the radiator. I know from experience.

Try the method @STEVEusaPA suggests, or just use the tap to clean the remains of the vent from the radiator. Most likely it is brass and once you start tapping it, it will come out, or you will cut it out to the original threads.

(Some big box stores sell a tool for extracting and tapping the vent hole, but I have never tried one so cant vouch for them.)

EBEBRATT-Ed

Get the right size drill bit and drill it out then use a 1/8" tap. If the threads are no good you can drill and tap it for 1/4" pipe and use a bushing on the new vent

vinylswing

Chris_L said:

Your picture doesn't work for me. But in any case, I would not use a screw extractor. Turn it too much, and you'll crack the radiator. I know from experience.

Try the method @STEVEusaPA suggests, or just use the tap to clean the remains of the vent from the radiator. Most likely it is brass and once you start tapping it, it will come out, or you will cut it out to the original threads.

(Some big box stores sell a tool for extracting and tapping the vent hole, but I have never tried one so cant vouch for them.)

Will try Steve's method tonight. Do you mean a tool like this?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plumbers-Edge-3-in-1-Radiator-Repair-Tool-PE8610/300905737

Chris_L

Yes, that is what I was thinking of. But after looking at it, the tap doesn't seem too impressive.

I'd either get this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Drill-America-1-8-in-Carbon-Steel-NPT-Pipe-Tap-and-R-High-Speed-Steel-Drill-Bit-Set-2-Piece-POU1-8NPTW-DRILL/304750418#overlay or just a good 1/8" NPT tap, assuming that is the correct size for your vent.

vinylswing

No luck in collapsing method. I'll try the npt method tomorrow once it arrives. It also appears this is the only radiator I have that has a hole smaller than 1/8. 

JUGHNE

If there was a rad vent in there it is not smaller than 1/8" pipe thread......don't know if there is a pipe size smaller than 1/8".

vinylswing

I attached a photo of the hole in question compared to the hole from another radiator at home. It could be the hole looks smaller because of the broken piece of vent stuck in there? How bad is it to run the boiler with one of the radiators has no vent? I may have to do it until the radiator is fixed. Thanks.

Small hole


Reg hole

JUGHNE

You could have a good stream of steam comin out of that hole.

Maybe the rad valve would shut off completely and stop the steam flow.

ethicalpaul

It just looks small. It’s 1/8 just like the other one (I assert)

you can carve a plug out of wood or something if the valve fails open

Grallert

You can get a set of reverse twist drill bits find the one that is smaller than the cast opening and a bit larger that the remaining vent nipple. put your drill in reverse and it should spin right out.

STEAM DOCTOR

It looks smaller because part of the nipple is still inside. The radiator hole is 1/8". The interior of the nipple is smaller. 

vinylswing

I tried the home depot 3-1 tool and it was no good. Was able to get it out with a drill. Thanks all.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@JUGHNE

There is a 1/16" pipe thread. The only thing it's used for that I know of is the bypass plugs in oil burner fuel pumps