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How can I replace the leaking plate on the side of the boiler

EJW
EJW Member Posts: 321
in THE MAIN WALL
Need more info Tom.

Comments

  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15
    Leaking rusted plate on the side of boiler

    Can I replace the plate on the side of the boiler easily?
    Can I get the part?
    Should I use some sort of gasket or sealant to prevent it from happening again?
    I'm sure some bolts will break off.
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    and how old?

  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15


    Weil Mcclain
    20 years 0ld?
  • EJW
    EJW Member Posts: 321
    Boiler plate

    Can you post pictures??
  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15


  • Don Walsh
    Don Walsh Member Posts: 131
    Steamer inspection plates?

    Tom, if you are dealing with a steam boiler with inspection plates, the chances of removing the bolts are slim to none! I did a Burnham last spring that had both inspection plates weeping like a miniature Niagara Falls, when I tried to ease out the bolts, every blasted bolt head come off in the socket wrench. I removed the plates, ground the surfaces off flat, then center punched the bolts. You will be able to see them after you grind the surface flush. I used a series of drill bits starting with 1/8" and worked on up through 5/16ths. You have to be very careful not to drill all the way through the back of the casting! I then extracted the remains of the bolts and brushed the threads clean. Burnham had the replacement plates and gaskets but no bolts in the kit, so I got stainless bolts for the replacements. I cleaned the mating surfaces with alcohol, applied the new gaskets and plates, torqued the new bolts evenly and put it back in service. No leaks!! But it was very time consuming and messy, but it saved an otherwise good boiler from an early demise.

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  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15
    plates

  • EJW
    EJW Member Posts: 321
    Plates

    You have your hands full with the rectangular one. The lower bolts will surely break off. I think you will end up doing what grumpy did in his post, good luck. EJW
  • Mike Kraft_2
    Mike Kraft_2 Member Posts: 398
    Damn..........

    no wonder your Grumpy;)...........patience!Atta-boy!

    cheese
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Even if you get the bolts out

    I will bet the cast iron behind the steam coil plate is corroded away . It's not worth the money to try and get it to stop leaking , in my opinion . The Weil Gold is a fantastic replacement for the series you have , and I believe the tappings are all in the same places .
  • Robert O'Connor_7
    Robert O'Connor_7 Member Posts: 688
    Plate..

    Thats the place where the tankless would be but isn't. If you've never done one before your in for a treat. Fortunatly on the Weil the end section is pretty beefy there, but be for warned you may break some if not all of them off. In the proper mind set and with some experience and the right tools you can do it. Without all of the precautions, you be buying a block....Good luck.......Robert O'Connor/NJ
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    bit of a mechanic? .these are alot like exhaust manifold bolts

    the exercise is about the same except you may need a few more tools and explicitives deleted to get them off:) first try to tighten all of them 1/16 of a turn...brush them down tap them with a hammer....spray liquid fire or w- d 40 or some such on them ... try to teweak all of them 1/8 th of a turn off spray plenty liguid fire on them again and bink them three times with a hammer again .....now if one or two seems to be comming off easily thighten the urination out of it...that will make getting the less friendly ones to give it up:) should they all make it off...get some catapillar anti seize some stainless bolts some brass nuts and some chubby flat washers.i like thru bolts bettern bolts persay...oh also when you put the gasket back take some grip and paint one side or the other with it...then the next time any one takes it apart at least the gasket will come away in one piece:) I would not deny Any one of the opportunity :)))
  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15
    plates

    got one to come out broke two and the other five seem to be rounded off !!

    Grind them off or chisel them ?
  • Dave Faust
    Dave Faust Member Posts: 51
    HowCome?

    Why tighten the bolts, especially initially?
  • tommyoil
    tommyoil Member Posts: 612
    B4 you grind

    No looking back now. Try vice grips.
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    wondering

    Now I am wondering how he made out?? I would not want to be in his shoes...although been there, done that, no fun!!
  • DaveGateway
    DaveGateway Member Posts: 568


    > Why tighten the bolts, especially initially?



  • Don Walsh
    Don Walsh Member Posts: 131
    Oh My! I feel for you!

    Been there! Done that! Got the T-shirt!

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  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    they break --they break . move on

    heat up with torch and let 'er rip. they break---drill and tap. standard procedure
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    GeT the reverse drill bits:) out now :)

    now your into it :) the reverse drill bits ar the way ta cruise:) Have fun:)
  • Tom E_2
    Tom E_2 Member Posts: 1
    plates

    Thanks for the advice.Since I'm the HO, I guess I'll have til October some time before I need Heat!!
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    :)

    You The Man:) it is a life experience like no other...:) as the home owner you will be in the lime light for bragging rites after this one:) your next oil tech will justabout HAVE to let you have the last word:) Good for you!
  • Matt Undy
    Matt Undy Member Posts: 256


    Its not a real experience until its under a car on ramps or up agianst a wall. It could be much worse.

    Matt
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,883
    Or maybe ..

    Bad for you.

    There is NO Guarante that the face of the boiler is not ruined from the leaking and rusting.

    I would not do this job unless I told my customer there was no way of telling wether it would work or not. He would have to know that he may need a new boiler.

    I think this is a huge job for a home owner to attemp and one which has very low odds of completion.

    That being said, you'll probable show pictures two weeks from now with it all done.

    Scott

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  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    Yup :) Just Ta Spite you:))))

    Hes probably got his reamers out right Now:) and he has already drifted the face with some carborundum paper rolled a glass rodd across it to check the face for any micro deviations from perfectly Flat:) wait till he tells us a thing or two!:)
  • Robert O'Connor_7
    Robert O'Connor_7 Member Posts: 688
    TomE

    There was a commercial on TV not too long ago, I belive it was a Price Pfizter faucet spot that showed people holding up signs that said "I Just replaced my faucet". Tom, if you pull this off, I'm gonna make you your own sign. Don't take it the wrong way, I'm acually rooting for ya. Take your time..Robert O'Connor/NJ
  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15


    check it out
  • Tom E
    Tom E Member Posts: 15


    check it out
  • Tom E_3
    Tom E_3 Member Posts: 3
    boiler plate

    I have heat
  • Tom E_3
    Tom E_3 Member Posts: 3


    I have heat.It didn't take this long but I did have one small problem.
    Why do they call them E Z outs?
  • Phil_6
    Phil_6 Member Posts: 210


    > I have heat.It didn't take this long but I did

    > have one small problem. Why do they call them E

    > Z outs?



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