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Solray Radiator Disassembly
Long Beach Ed
Member Posts: 1,805
Anyone have experience separating the sections of a Weil-Mclain Sol-Ray radiator? Any suggestions? Of course this is a favor to someone...
(someone else's photos)
(someone else's photos)
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Comments
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Looks to me as though it might be push nipples? In which case... undo the tension rods and you'll need four spreaders (like ball joint spreaders or something of the sort) and very carefully and evenly start spreading all four joints. But... that's a guess.Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0 -
Yes, it's four tapered push nipples, Jamie between each 10" and 5" section. Nowhere to put the spreaders. I wouldn't push on the thin hollow tubes. Was considering a chisel point in a small demolition hammer or air chisel between the sections.0
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What you need is a hydraulic spreader. If you know any body men, they might be able to help you out. Otherwise you can get small, portable ones for about $100. Ask your friend to do you a favor and buy you one.
Otherwise, try punding a wooden wedge in between the sections. I wouldn't go at it with a chisel if I were you. Especially not an air chisel.Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-240 -
I can try a hydraulic spreader, with a 2 x 2 or some such thing. It's just basically a small jack. That would get the end off then I may be able to wiggle the straight sections... Really nothing to hook the spreader onto once the end is pressed off.
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That might work -- a few taps at a time on each of the four points... once you get it to move at all it will just come right apart (yeah, right...)Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England1 -
I Give you credit Long Beach Ed! Go slow,, take your time...Mad Dog 🐕1
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I never spread that type of radiator but for the regulator column rads I always used wooden wedges that I cut myself.
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Wooden wedge...
Why are you doing this?
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Fifteen minutes with a cold chisel and lump hammer. These radiators are beauties. Never fear resizing one of them!
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Nice work! See -- it wasn't that hard.Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England1 -
I mean it isn't back together and not leaking yet. I was thinking pipe clamps flipped around to push.0
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You could also use redi-rod with nuts and fender washers. Whatever you do, make they go in straight.Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-241 -
All done. Another unpaid labor of love accomplished.
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