pilot gas tubing

Roy Tenn

Hi All,

Just wandering if any of you have as much trouble as me re-installing the pilot gas tubing after a gas valve replacement.Seems like everytime I re-install the tubing to the gas valve it leaks. I get very paranoid about cross threading and damaging the gas valve threads. I know the proper procedure is finger tight the brass fitting flush to the gas valve and then tighten with wrench, but I always
seem to leave a couple of threads and as a result hesistant to use the wrench to start tightening in fear of cross threading and damaging the gas valve threads.When I do install it finally, I find myself testing for leaks ten
or twenty times before I leave the job. I think this fear is due to bad experience as a rookie apprentice a few years back.Any tips or technic would be appreciated.Thanks.

Randy Tibbits

I can understand being paranoid about cross threading that fitting,I've done it. I use a drop of oil from my zoom spout oiler on the threads and on the tubing. The oil loosens the fitting up and it is easier to finger tighten into the valve. I then tighten the fitting with a wrench. I can't remember the last time I had a leak on a pilot line.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Just my take. I usually disconnect the tubing on both ends. When putting it back on start the end with the most difficult connection first. A drop of oil is ok but don't get any in the valve. This way you can wiggle the tubing until you get the first thread started and squared up. Then make the easier connection last and don't put a wrench on either connection untill you are sure that they are started correctly.

ED

Unknown

Spray a little

WD-40 on the tubing nut, then spray some on a Q-Tip and apply inside the pilot gas tubing connection on the gas valve.

Before you put the valve in place screw a fitting into the valve a couple of times to make sure it is going to go in easily. Also make sure the tubing nut is free wheeling before you get it into a tight spot.

It is good to know this I guess, I have been doing this for over 40 years and every once in a while I still have a problem. It usually occurs in front of a class with everyone watching me.

Mike Reavis_2

what everyone else said and

I always turn the nut ccw and find where the thread just takes up at. I go back and forward a time or two, then go forward(it helps to be gently pulling upward/backward on the tubing while rotating the nut) I guess you could use a tiny bit of anti-seize on the threads to help it to get started. I also use a nut/ferrule without the tubing in it to be sure the threads are clean and sound before I install the real item.

Mike

Dale

Just in case

We have gas tap kits that have thermocouple and pilot tube thread taps. If you do get a new valve that's tight the tap seems to clean it out nicely. A older guy I knew kept the pilot tube ends on new valves and would saw a little slot in the threads to use like a tap to chase tight threads.

just me

If only He Cared!

Yesterday, I read this Post about the Pilot Tube and agreed that this is sometimes a job within itself. Today, on the otherhand. I got a call from a guy who just had his Boiler serviced two days ago. He said his boiler was "pinging" and just to be on the safeside he turned off the gas. The technician that was there two days ago, for whatever reason changed the 24 volt gas valve.

I arrive on the job and after looking the system over, turn the gas on (First Mistake), I then take my torch and Light the Pilot (Second Mistake), I then watch and almost "Run" for my life when the boiler snds 5' flames and damn near explodes in the boiler room.

Well, First, I turned off the gas main, then the power, then I changed My Pants!

After looking over everything One More Time (This time much more carefully) I Changed the Pilot Assembly (The Explosion really kicked it), I changed the Thermocouple (Just in case) and I soaped everythng down. That's when I found the problem!

Aparently, the threads were crossed and the gas filled the fire chamber prior to ignition.

Again, I say If Only He Cared!

The Moral of this story......

First: Care enough to soap it down when your done!

As for me, for now on when I get there, if the pilot is out and the gas is off, I'm doing a "Soap Test" befor I even think about anything else.

Sheeesh!