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Post by DIYDafty on May 27, 2019 13:46:58 GMT
So my oaf of a brother-in-law who has way more muscle below his neck than above closed a radiator vent with the key and snapped off the pin!
Vent itself has probably been then 30 years and and is rusted in although haven't tried it with a rad spanner yet because I don't have one (the last one I used wasn't strong enough and twisted).
I was thinking to buy new a rad spanner, drain down that radiator, then heat with blow torch and whack the spanner with a hammer to shock it. Will that likely work or do I need a new rad ?
Also is the replacement vent normally 1/2" or 1/4" ? I'm a dafty so don't know what to measure !
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Post by tomplum on May 27, 2019 15:55:23 GMT
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Post by DIYDafty on May 27, 2019 16:32:23 GMT
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Post by tomplum on May 27, 2019 16:58:37 GMT
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Post by DIYDafty on May 27, 2019 17:02:39 GMT
Thanks Tom. I guess I'm gonna need a lot of luck to get it out !
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Post by tomplum on May 27, 2019 17:07:03 GMT
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Post by crowsfoot on May 27, 2019 18:33:52 GMT
If you're really determined DD you could drill out the middle of the plug enough to get an hacksaw blade in then saw the plug in the direction of the radiator threads until you get to them - once you've done it - it should have weakened it's hold enough to turn it out with that spanner and a bit of heat. Keep cutting in the other directions (cutting it into 4) then it should tap out with an old screwdriver and hammer. A lot of messing about I know (I don't think I could be bothered) but as an exercise in determination "where there's a will" it's probably just worth a go  ! |
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Post by DIYDafty on May 27, 2019 19:02:43 GMT
If you're really determined DD you could drill out the middle of the plug enough to get an hacksaw blade in then saw the plug in the direction of the radiator threads until you get to them - once you've done it - it should have weakened it's hold enough to turn it out with that spanner and a bit of heat. Keep cutting in the other directions (cutting it into 4) then it should tap out with an old screwdriver and hammer. A lot of messing about I know (I don't think I could be bothered) but as an exercise in determination "where there's a will" it's probably just worth a go ! That is a cracking suggestion thanks a lot !! That said I'm filling up now but maybe next time I drain down (or we get to Winter and the wife notices the rad is cold at the top - lets hope she doesn't !). So far I managed deform the vent plug so its kind of only got 3 sides left. I used the exact tool Tom suggested (in case anyone reads this the Screwfix one is much stronger than the Toolstation one - I have an old Toolstation one that deformed quickly). Maybe I used too much heat ? In any case if it doesn't leak I'm planning to leave it but might try that method above if it does. Just to clarify the method though. Presumably if it turns after cutting the first of the 4 you don't need to carry on cutting the rest of them? And I guess if you're not careful and knacker the threads its definitely new rad time. |
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Post by tomplum on May 27, 2019 19:32:09 GMT
so may i suggest a Plan B in case of the missus noticeing a cold rad, turn the rad off at both sides, I'm assuming both valves are working here, drill out the nipple with an 1/8th drill and screw a self tapper wrapped in ptfe,  |
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Post by crowsfoot on May 28, 2019 6:12:56 GMT
When you hit the metal thread of the radiator it will become much harder to saw though, so you're unlikely to cause damage to the radiator thread (but you could if you were really going for it I suppose)!
Tom's idea is a lot easier (you'll have to use a screwdriver as the rad key for it from then onwards).
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Post by DIYDafty on May 28, 2019 14:17:15 GMT
Thanks a lot to you both.
Just to clarify when I read back his thread in a few months, I'll probably try Tom's method first so if I fk that up I can then move on to crowsfoot's. Hopefully last Dafty question, would you just wrap the head of the screw in pfte or the thread also?
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Post by tomplum on May 28, 2019 15:13:10 GMT
all the way thread and head using the time honoured theory of, if you throw enough shit, some will stick,  |
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Post by dickpuller on May 28, 2019 17:24:53 GMT
Given the age of the radiator, I think I’d just drill a pilot hole & screw in a self-tapper wrapped in PTFE.
The radiator looks older than me & I’m an auld cunt😄😄👍👍
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Post by tomplum on May 28, 2019 19:38:01 GMT
and i'm an even aulder cunt,  |
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Post by cylinderfella on May 28, 2019 20:00:52 GMT
Dick, I'd say that rad could be nearly as old as Tom. It's more fun fixing things though, replacement is too easy!!
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!
