Stuck pipe fitting

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 9:52 am

I'm dying here. I've been trying to remove a galvanized
pipe nipple from my head. It's screwed in the port where
the temp sender goes.

I started last week with PB Blaster, soaking every few hours,
then the next day tried heat with a propane torch, cooling,
then trying a pipe wrench.

Started again today. PB, soak, propane torch, cool, pipe wrench.

It won't budge.

Help?

Post by **wesk** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 9:54 am

Acetylene torch. Red hot then turn while glowing deep red.

That method seldom fails but when it does you are reduced to the drill carefully and clean threads.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:01 am

Ah, Man. That's what previous posts recommend but I don't have
an acetylene rig. Will a MAP torch work?

southpw · Post by **southpw** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:18 am

MAP torch should work. Try turning it while its hot

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:23 am

Thanks Lefty. Headed to TS to get one now.

I really need an acetylene setup, but geez getting the gas is more than the hoses, regulators and torches anymore.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 1:40 pm

Ok. Tried the MAP torch with oxygen. Scared to death I'd melt or burn something else in the engine compartment with that long flame. It barely got
dull red but only as long as I held the flame to it, and the flame is about the size of the end of a mechanical pencil (not the lead).

Did learn one lesson. I settled for an off-brand pipe wrench the other day instead of holding out for a Rigid. This stupid thing is almost impossible to keep tight on the fitting. It loosens itself.

Anyway. No go. I was able to get good bites but could not budge the fitting. It is starting to deform due to the pipe wrench not being full encirclement.

So now. Drill it out a bit at a time until thin enough to extract?
It's 1/2" pipe so the largest bit I have which is 1/2" won't barely clean the junk off the inside. And how far inside do I go? Pretty sure there is important stuff in there in close proximity to that water jacket. Tape on the drill bit to determine depth?

Do I cut it off close to the head before I start?

Ahhhhhh, Man. Not feeling good about this at all now.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 2:18 pm

Ok, right before I ate a bullet......

I went back and tried the heat thing one more time.
Still could not get a decent bite with that POS pipe wrench.

In desperation looked over to the workbench and saw the old, gnarly water pump pliers I've had forever.

I took a bite and tried tightening and it moved a millimeter.

Reversed and tried again and it loosened about three mm.

I took a deep breath and tried again and it moved about 1/4 of an inch.

Well, it's out. The threads need cleaning, and there is some gunk in the head, but it's out.

I have decided to call it a win and put everything up and maybe do the dishes for SWMBO. Something nice for somebody else. In celebration. Then perhaps an adult beverage.

Not sure if in the end it was a combination of everything, and am sure the proper heat helped, as well as actually being able to get a grip on the thing. I did try the water pump pliers the other day, but it started to crush the fitting. Today I put a bolt in it as suggested.

This board is like drinking from a fire hose, if you know which plug to pull up to.

Thanks Guys.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:00 pm

4x4M38 wrote:. Then perhaps an adult beverage.

I'll hoist one this PM to your success.

PS: small flat rate box headed your way, should be there Monday..

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 4:29 pm

You de Man!

Yours may pass mine on the road somewhere in Colorado!

southpw · Post by **southpw** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:28 pm

Congrats

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:38 pm

Thank you Brad.

leecarr · Post by **leecarr** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 6:20 pm

Make sure you have the right tap to clean out the threads, a pipe tap is tapered if you go
too deep the new fitting may not tighten up properly. Good luck

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 6:26 pm

Thread chaser I think is the right term. I have threaded a spare
1/2" NPT fitting in and it goes in pretty cleanly.

I'm going to run a wire brush in just to make sure, but will run by Ace
tomorrow and see if they have a thread chaser.

Thanks Lee

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Sat Aug 06, 2016 6:24 am

Glad you got the fitting out. But in your original post you stated that the fitting was in the hole where "the temp sender goes". If I'm not mistaken, the temp sender goes in the right side of the block. The head has a port on the front for the pre-heater hose and one at the back for a cabin heater line. Neither of those ports are big enough for the standard temp sender.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sat Aug 06, 2016 6:34 am

Morning,
It screws into the right side of the head just aft of the distributor.
There's a 1/2" NPT thread hole there.

Bubba had a pipe fitting screwed in there, then a t fitting for what I
guessed was a heater hose. No heater in the jeep.

Our buddy.