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Righty tighty lefty loosey or opposite...

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hutchinsron
hutchinsron Member Posts: 28
in Radiant Heating
Hi all,
I have began disassembling some American Radiators that are too big for dollys. This first plug is it righty tighty/lefty loosey or are they reverse threads?

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  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,519
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    Should be right handed as far as I know
    hutchinsron
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,637
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    What are you expecting to happen here? i think your chances of being able to re-assemble these in to working radiators after you disassemble them are pretty low unless you have a machine shop and a lot of time at your disposal.
    Ironman
  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 833
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    Why struggle with taking plugs and fittings out if you just want to disassemble the sections? That is just taking out the connecting rods and then wedging the sections apart--carefully. Cast iron radiators are nice things. Very good heaters. Be nice to them!
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    @psb75
    Am. Std. rad's have threaded nipples between the sections instead of push nipples.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • WMno57
    WMno57 Member Posts: 1,265
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    psb75 said:

    Why struggle with taking plugs and fittings out if you just want to disassemble the sections? That is just taking out the connecting rods and then wedging the sections

    The connecting rods might be hidden, and the connecting rod nuts might be behind the plugs. Take a look at the photos in his other posts. He tried to sell them. An item's value is only what someone is willing to pay minus transaction and shipping costs. Some really neat old things have negative value when you do the math.
    I DIY.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
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    WMno57 said:

    psb75 said:

    Why struggle with taking plugs and fittings out if you just want to disassemble the sections? That is just taking out the connecting rods and then wedging the sections

    The connecting rods might be hidden, and the connecting rod nuts might be behind the plugs. Take a look at the photos in his other posts. He tried to sell them. An item's value is only what someone is willing to pay minus transaction and shipping costs. Some really neat old things have negative value when you do the math.
    Not on those Cortos. Right/left threaded nipples were used to join the sections. there are no rods. Look at any "Ideal Fitter" book after 1925 or so and you'll see what I mean.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    WMno57
  • hutchinsron
    hutchinsron Member Posts: 28
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    Yes, these radiators have no connecting rods (would have loved that), they are R/L threaded connectors. I am only taking apart the beasts that are 8-9' long that cannot be moved with muscle alone. Based on my success on the one radiator I cut with a sawzall the threaded inserts do move and can be broken down in this way with a spud wrench.
  • JimP
    JimP Member Posts: 87
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    I've taken threaded nipples between sections out to divide long (attractive) radiators into two. One side of the nipple and casting is right hand and the other side is left hand. They aren't always a pipe thread. Sometimes they are a similar thread without a taper. A right or left hand NPT nipple or fitting can be used on the "new" end with a lot of tape and sealant. To divide the radiator I break one of the sections with a hammer to expose the nipples. A radiator needs to be special to justify the amount of time and effort this work requires.
    hutchinsron

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