Tips on removing stripped radiator nipple

Bob Schultz

Any tips before I attempt it would be appreciated. I have a stripped nipple on one of my old radiatiors. It's the supply nipple. My plan is to heat it up with a torch, I have part of my tire iron from my van that will fit in there and connect with the 2 tabs inside, put a wrench on it and turn hard. Does that sound like a good plan? How do the professionals do it? Thanks for any tips.

I did notice it was stripped before the bolt went on but when I would tighten it it would slip. Didn't seem to be a problem before but now that I have been on this board and put multivents at the end of my mains and have fixed all my steam traps it is leaking steam at that bolt now.

Thanks again,
Ted

Dennis Bellanti_2

Radiator Nipple

We stock a spud wrench that will fit inside that nipple. You can get one from any Oventrop dealer. I suggest removing the nipple and using Loctite 550 sealing cord to re-seal it. That stuff works great! Need any help?? Call me at 1-800-984-7473.

Empire_2

Spud wrench!!!

You need this, but what you will probably find is that when trying to remove the nipple, the nips will break. That's OK, its brass and it is soft. Use heat, but not to much and a-little penetrating oil is OK. If and when the nipps break off, you have one option left. Again heat the fitting not the brass fitting. Use a 24" pipe wrench. You will notice that it starts to deform and all looks all but lost, but repossition the wrench on the non crushed side. It'll come or break free. Sometimes you have to actually cut a slit in the nipple, cave it in and it eventually comes out.

Steve D_7

I agree with Dennis and Mike.

I found that getting the water below the level of the threads was important for me. Once the sealing string in the threads was dry the spud wrench worked fine. Before they were dry the spud wrench twisted like a candy cane.

Pop the fittings off the studs. Drain out any remaining water in the rad. Heat the spud and try the spud wrench. You might have more corrosion on a steam system than hot water which will make things tougher.

Steve

Bob Schultz

Thanks for the tips

Thanks for all your tips, in the end I used a sawzall to cut off the stripped bolt on the nipple. Heated the fitting and used a nice 24" wrench on it and it came out fine. Did use that tire on and some pipe dope to get the new one in. Nice to know about the spud wrench, I have been looking for an animal like that with no luck at the home stores. Will have to add it to my collection for future projects.
Ted

jeff_51

one more tip for next time

after you have stripped off the tips inside the rad nippel with the spud wrench. heat it and put the spud wrench back in when turning with the pipe wrench. The nip has a tendency to collapse, and this prevents it from doing more than distorting a little.