Left hand threads on steam radaitor?

tim smith

I had a local machine shop make me a couple before and they worked out great.

DennisGE

Left hand threads on steam radiators

Do some single pipe steam radiators have left hand threads?

michael_15

between sections?

In between sections? Sometimes, old radiators had nipples that twisted both ways. Here's a link -- read the top question:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=20

-Michael

Timco

I had a HW rad with left-hand threads. Actually, it was tapped for either. The LH threads were on the largest opening, but plugged with a LH thread bushing, that converted it to 3/4 RH thread. I was told it was to couple rads together with a special dog wrench. Never could find new caps with LH threads.

T

walter_5

if you are talking about the union between the radiator and the valve make sure you are turning it the correct way (coventional thread). The union nut stays on the nipple coming out of the radiator - it is not part of the valve.

thfurnitureguy_4

any thoughts on brazing a bushing in to the LHT tapping? I have one of these beauties and only need 1.25 tapping. The only left right nipples I have found are 4 " long. This makes for a big radiator in a tight spot.

thfurnitureguy_4

No as it is with all things that involve a pipe wrench.... This one was a left hand thread. I was told this was a way to attach additional sections to a radiator or additional radiators. Mine had a threaded plug (looked like the end of a beer can) threaded into the lower 2" tapping. It looked like an easy fix to remove it, add a bushing and the new valve. On this radiator the vent was on the same side as the supply and was not heating well. of course the LHT was on the side I wanted to locate the new valve.

Timco

If it is a LH thread plug you have, a machine shop will be able to tap a RH thread hole of any size up to the size below your plug. That's what I had done.

T