plug stuck in steam boiler section

Charles G.

What size plug? What size wrench? Solid or cored? Keep at it until you're convinced it won't budge or there's nothing left to grip. Then center drill it, increase the opening size and GENTLY work the threads out with chisel/awl/whatever. Bad news is it may take a while; good news is it's summertime. Just don't start beating on it with a hammer because you KNOW what's going to give first.

Chris_60

plug stuck in steam boiler section

I've been working on my two pipe steam system getting ready for this winter. When the boiler was installed they only used one of the openings at the top of the boiler. Now I'm trying to remove the other plug but I can't seem to break it loose. I've heated it with a torch and used screw loose for about a week but am having no luck. This is a Peerless boiler installed in the late 90's. Any ideas?

Ed N.Y.C.

PLUG

WHY???? ED

Charles G.

Plug

Sshhh--don't discourage him. Maybe it's therapy.

Blackoakbob

Plug,,,,that reminds me......

early in the spring I replaced a boiler casting on an atomospheric natural gas boiler, parts under warranty not labor. It leaked at the drain taping in the rear. The new casting arrived well crated and went in very easily ( the left end boiler in a group of three). We pressurized it with city water at 45# and every thing looked good, so we piped in the supply and return and circulated system water as we assembled the gas line and controls. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a drip, drip, drip at the rear of the boiler from the steel plug in the righthand drain port. So, I drained the water and removed the plug, finding there was no pipe dope of any kind on the plug, well, a little Loctite and reassembly and everything should be great! NO...such luck, as I circulated warm system water thru the casting there was another drip and as I tightened the plug more I could see the crack in the casting widen.
With disappointment, I notified the customer we would reorder and do it all over again.
Luckily, I had space under the unit isolation valves for one more coupling in the supply and return lines. The second casting swapped out well and started up uneventfully. I returned the failed casting to the supplier with a bill for additional labor and have never heard about it again. OOPS! Burn(ham)ed, again!
That stuck plug story just made me remember my plug story
Keep working on that plug! Some people pay big fees to sweat at clubs and you can do it for free, like me. Best Regards.

frank_25

Burn[ham]ed et tu?

A few years back,'00-'01, a certain boiler mfg changed its push nipple castings and "forgot' to tell the locals who were shipping w/wrong nips. Actually the wrong/old sections sent w/new smaller PN. BUT, no old style PN available. Disconnected and replaced both boilers. Boiler Co. stood by the misteak and paid labor. We still sell that line.

Dave Belisle

I either drill or cut the top of the plug off so I have a hole in the plug. Then with a small blade in a sawzall I make two pie shape cuts to the outside of the plug making sure to stop just before the treads.
Then I tap out the pie shaped piece.
The rest of the plug will turn out easy and
it doesn't take that long to do.
We do it all the time and haven't lost a boiler or radiator yet.

Dave

BP&H