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Trouble breaking loose connection

DCDIY23
DCDIY23 Member Posts: 2
in Gas Heating

Trying to replace gas valve. Can’t break loose this fitting. Suggestions? Is it ok to use penetrating oil on gas line fittings?

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Comments

  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,635
    edited November 26

    DISCLAIMER: Although I appear intelligent, I am demonstrable dumb. Proceed at your own risk.

    It looks like a flare fitting. Loosen the top brass fitting from the brass fitting in the BI tee and then heat the BI tee and remove the brass fitting in the BI tee. Turn off any gas before this.

  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,293

    Where is copper code for a gas line?😲

    You can try penetrating oil, but I'd suggest cutting the copper, unthreading from the gas valve and replacing it all with iron pipe.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,312
    edited November 26
    Screenshot 2024-11-25 at 9.24.20 PM.png

    It looks like you have rounded off the hex on the adaptor from copper flare to pipe tee fitting. You will need to hold that with a open end wrench that is the correct size, probably a 5/8" or 11/16" if that is 3/8" OD copper tubing. If it is 1/2" OD copper tubing the wrench will be 11/16" or 3/4" open end wrench. If you are using an adjustable wrench, that is your problem. They will slip off and round off the corners.

    If all else fails, you will need to get a thin jaw ViseGrip locking pliers to hold that fitting, then use a proper size open end wrench on the flare nut. Refrain from adjustable wrenches on brass fittings because they will slip and round off the corners of the hex fittings.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    HomerJSmithdelcrossvLarry WeingartenLRCCBJ
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,312
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822638#Comment_1822638

    You don't work on much propane gas stuff in NJ. All the LP companies use copper tubing there.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    delcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,293
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822649#Comment_1822649

    Nope, all natural gas. And Jersey? 😲

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,729

    As noted, don't use an adjustable wrench (Crescent or the like) on brass or copper. Use one sized to the fitting. Better yet, go and buy a special wrench made just for the purpose — it wraps around the hex further. Then you can try being a gorilla. Doesn't always work…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • DCDIY23
    DCDIY23 Member Posts: 2

    Thank you for the responses. It’s true, I used a crescent wrench, even though I knew it wasn’t the proper tool, due to my wrenches being at another location. It’s not as rounded as it looks in the photo thankfully. Nobody local sells a flare wrench that would fit. But I will go to my mothers to grab my wrenches.

    I thought the top part of the flare nut was fitted to the pipe. When I turn it, the copper pipe won’t spin with it?

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,729
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1822769#Comment_1822769

    Yeah flare wrenches are a bit hard to find. As to that top nut — it should spin on the pipe quite freely once you get it even a little loose of the fitting.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,400

    Hold the flare to pipe adapter with one wrench and the flare nut with another wrench and give it hell.

    There looks like a small amount of green corrosion on top of the flare nut.

    When your done whatever, it is your doing and have the gas back on be sure to soap all the joints to make sure you have no leaks, especially with propane which is heavier than air.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,589
    image.png
    image.png

    From the Copper Tube Handbook.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • PRR
    PRR Member Posts: 226
    edited November 28

    From the Copper Tube Handbook.

    https://copper.org/applications/plumbing/cth/

    https://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/copper_tube_handbook.pdf —22MB PDF file

    Worth saving in my Books folder.

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