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A kindly guide decided to replace a frayed o-ring in my LP port last month. Without telling me.
I've just tried to remove the hose as I want to replace it. I cannot for love nor money get it off. It is way over tightened. I'm just wrecking the metal now trying to unscrew it and there'll be no threads for a spanner or wrench to grip on soon.
Am wondering what's the best approach here? WD40? Is that ok to use? Soapy water? Any other ways to get the damn thing unscrewed.
I'd try an extended soak in warm water. If it still doesn't come off, take it to a nearby LDS. You're replacing the hose, so worst case scenario is that they/you have to use vise grips on the hose nut and the hose is unusable after the "intervention."
FWIW, it would help to not be using an adjustable wrench. Crappy ones can open up a little when force is applied and lead to stripping the nut. A good-quality, appropriately sized non-adjustable wrench is a better option.
At a reg shop, they'll have a first stage handle that can be inserted into an open HP or LP port. The handle can then be set in a benchtop vise. This will give the tech more leverage. Resorting to this really shouldn't be necessary with a reg hose, though.
I haven't had much experience with stuck reg hoses. As you already know, all that's required is hand-tight installation of the hose into the LP port followed by a smidge of tool-tightening. Don't let the guy who overtightened the hose near your reg ever again.
I'd try an extended soak in warm water. If it still doesn't come off, take it to a nearby LDS. You're replacing the hose, so worst case scenario is that they/you have to use vise grips on the hose nut and the hose is unusable after the "intervention."
FWIW, it would help to not be using an adjustable wrench. Crappy ones can open up a little when force is applied and lead to stripping the nut. A good-quality, appropriately sized non-adjustable wrench is a better option.
At a reg shop, they'll have a first stage handle that can be inserted into an open HP or LP port. The handle can then be set in a benchtop vise. This will give the tech more leverage. Resorting to this really shouldn't be necessary with a reg hose, though.
I haven't had much experience with stuck reg hoses. As you already know, all that's required is hand-tight installation of the hose into the LP port followed by a smidge of tool-tightening. Don't let the guy who overtightened the hose near your reg ever again.
Good luck.
Cheers Bubble.
Yeah I won't let that person touch my gear again. I mean it is tight like you cannot believe.
I'll give it a soak in soapy water in case any salt crystals aren't helping the situation. Failing that bring it down the sole remaining LDS in my area. But I've already tried all the tools you've just advised against and I can verify that your advice is indeed correct. Nut is fairly well stripped. And I wouldn't risk using the hose again now after the dance I had with it in the bedroom earlier. Pretty hard to get leverage cos the first stage is hard to pin down stationary.
Will see how the soapy water goes. BTW - are WD40 or other oil based lubricants a no-no with first stages? Sorry for my ignorance.
I wouldn't get WD40 anywhere near my reg. It's a petroleum-based product that is flammable and really hard to remove. It will likely displace any o-ring lubricant that it comes into contact with. My concern would be damaging the rest of the reg, which appears to be functioning just fine.
I would prefer soaking the reg in warm water over soaking in soapy water. The detergent will not harm the chrome or plastic parts, but, theoretically, it can remove o-ring lubricant. Probably not the best idea unless you plan to overhaul the reg in the very near future.
If you're going to be working on regs, it can be very helpful to obtain a first stage handle. The one sold by Scubatools.com is a good quality one. It can be mounted in a benchtop vise or used with the included T-handle for hand repairs. Alternatively, you can screw an empty threaded CO2 cartridge (3/8" threads) into an open port. I highly recommend that you use a port adapter like the one on this page (7/16" to 3/8" adapter) in case the neck of the CO2 cartridge snaps off -- it simplifies removal of the broken part from the first stage.
The three methods of loosening stuck reg parts include: chemical, heat, and mechanical means. I recommend using a combination of heat and mechanical means. I'd be willing to bet that if you soaked the reg in warm water and then used an empty CO2 cartridge to give you a better grip (or mounted the first stage on a tank as willembad suggests), you could loosen the stuck hose nut with a non-adjustable wrench.
Last edited by Bubbletrubble; March 31st, 2010 at 06:15 PM.
Reason: added caution about WD40
A kindly guide decided to replace a frayed o-ring in my LP port last month. Without telling me.
I've just tried to remove the hose as I want to replace it. I cannot for love nor money get it off. It is way over tightened. I'm just wrecking the metal now trying to unscrew it and there'll be no threads for a spanner or wrench to grip on soon.
Am wondering what's the best approach here? WD40? Is that ok to use? Soapy water? Any other ways to get the damn thing unscrewed.
Thanks,
John
It's unlikely that over-tightening is causing the problem. It's much more likely that it's corroded or has salt (or something else) in the threads.
A nice long soak in warm water might help, but it's almost certain that more force isn't the answer.
It's unlikely that over-tightening is causing the problem. It's much more likely that it's corroded or has salt (or something else) in the threads.
A nice long soak in warm water might help, but it's almost certain that more force isn't the answer.
Terry
Ok thanks. One of the buttons on my stinger was stuck for a year or so until I started showering with it and it appears the shampoo dissolved whatever it was that was jamming it (salt I imagine). I'll try the same here but given that none of the other nuts are stuck and I know this one was removed a month ago, and the kit was really well washed by me afterwards, I'm struggling to see how it isn't over tightening. But whatever it is, it just is not budging. I actually think it was probably one of the boat hands rather than the guide that swapped it round. If they tighten nuts any way similar to how they drive the boats then this outcome is entirely predictable.
Anyhow, will get it sorted. And will definitely keep the WD40 for my bike chain and unloosening other joins that I'm unlikely to be breathing from anytime soon
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Originally Posted by Bubbletrubble
