CI radiator transform

Bob_36

I'm changing a ci rad from steam to hot water. My question is if there is a technique to removing the lower plug for a return for the hot water. Do I just use a large wrench or maybe apply heat to the outside. Any hints would be helpful and appeciated. Thanks in advance.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If you have my luck the large wrench will just destroy the "nut part" of the plug. Supposedly ether (vehicle starting fluid) sprayed on the plug can help break the joint by cooling the plug, but again I haven't had much luck. (If you're in an area with lots of illegal meth making don't buy [or have in your vehicle] lithium batteries, Liquid Fire or allergy pills in the same trip!)

Top-bottom connections also work for an iron rad and you might have more luck removing the upper plugs as they won't have been surrounded by condensate for decades like the bottom connections. At least one person here sometimes taps an upper connection for air bleeder (it might be there already but plugged) and used ¼"? 3/8"? black iron for the return down to floor level. Looks strange, but he says it works fine.