reassembly of cast iron radiator

billd

I have taken apart a large 32 section radiator to remove a couple of bad sections. Everything went fine until trying to press the sections back together. I assume the "dead men" assembled these large radiators on site as It wouldn't be possible to get them up to 2nd and 3rd floors. This one is about 8 feet long and weighs many hundreds of pounds.
I have tried a large dead blow hammer but just can't get that last 1/8 inch to close up. Because of this gap the threaded rod is too short and I'm afraid of stripping the threads. The rod seems to be a holding device rather than an assembly tool.
Any thoughts?

zeb_3

rad. assy

we use new, correctly sized (lenght), threaded rod to draw the sections together, tighten all rods evenly, kinda like the way you tighten the lug nuts when changing a tire

Bill Nye_2

Bill

Make sure your push nipple is "square" and not cocked. Did you use a little lubricant or pipe dope on the nipple?

8 feet is huge. I hope you had it laying on its side while you tried to draw it up. I would suggest a plank or sheet of plywood on a flat level surface.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"