Will I break this?

tomold

Want to try my hand at replacing this Warren Webster steam trap element but the cap is not budging. I’ve tried a 12” adjustable wrench but have not tried escalating to a cheater bar or impact wrench.

Should I back away slowly and call a pro or keep at it? Thanks!

Grallert

HEAT! and a bigger wrench. I'd use a big socket and a breaker bar. But first I'd heat it up with a torch and give it some taps with a hammer, not too hard but hard enough. Maybe some penetrating oil for good measure.

KarlW

It depends - can you afford to have your system broken for a couple of days while you wait for a mechanic at regular (vs. emergency) rates?

If you can, then I'd say go for it.

When I tried to break some of these old fittings, I'd wait until summer when the system was off and I could wait for the mechanic rather than break my system the winter and freeze my house.

I've managed to replace or repair 14 steam traps out of season this way.

On the other hand, when I do have an idea of something to do in the middle of the season, like add a vent to a slow radiator, I give it a try as you did. When I can't do it, rather than push to the point of breakage I call the mechanic.

mattmia2

If the system is functioning properly you should be able to just close the valve if the trap were to break. You can also remove it and cap the pipes or replace the whole trap. There should not be steam in the returns unless traps are bad somewhere.

Long Beach Ed

It's brass. It will come apart. As Grallert says, heat it. Hammer it. An impact wrench should do well too.

Jamie Hall

It's amazing what a little heat — not much — maybe a little penetrating oil… and an impact wrench will do.

But. Have a backup wrench on the body of the thing!

LRCCBJ

It's amazing what a little heat — not much — maybe a little penetrating oil… and an impact wrench will do.

The "penetrating oil" approach is a fallacy. It never gets inside the threads unless:

1. Gravity is driving it there
2. You wait for 36 hours, minimum to allow gravity to do the work.

You are correct regarding the heat. Nothing beats it. And, sometimes you need quite a bit of it. 225F or more to reduce the required torque significantly.

Intplm.

Good advice is offered above. But I would have a full replacement on hand just in case the whole thing gets damaged.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Put a backup wrench on the trap so you don't break the small pipe connections. Use a cheater on the back up wrench and a cheater on the socket or wrench on the cap. Socket is the best if you have one.

Hold the back up and hit the wrench that is on the cap with a hammer. You need three hands to do this sometimes. Penetrating oil will probably do nothing.

An impact with a socket is the best as vibration is your friend.

It will come off

I have rebuilt 100s of traps and very few if any would not come apart.

Worse comes to worse replace the trap and the radiator spud.

mattmia2

if there is a space for penetrating oil to get in to capillary action will pull it there buy usually stuff that is stuck has the threads pretty solidly filled in

tomold

Thanks for the advice, all!