plumbing guru's

[moondoggy4]

How does one tighten a 1''1/2 bulk head in a very difficult place to get to. It is under the overflow and I can not get a pair of channel locks in there. I had to pull everything out from under my stand yesterday twice with lots of water on the floor:mad2: My wife is:mad2: :mad2: So any help will be appreciated.

 

[teesquare]

Find a steel hex head nut of the same size as your bulkhead.Put a thin film of high temp grease on it.
Get a piece of PVC pipe that is SLIGHLY smaller - gently heat the pipe w/hot air gun, and swedge it down over the nut.
As it cools, make sure it conforms to the shape of the nut.
Remove the nut, wipe out the grease -
Now - go tighten that bulkhead before the wife beats the tar out of you <G>
T

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

well if you have the gasket on correctly on the inside it will hold it in place, you should only need to tighten it from the outside with a bulkhead wrench

 

[teesquare]

I don't think he has a BHW....That's why I tried to explain how he could make one easily.
Bulkhead wrenches are not common everywhere...Wish they were, sure makes life easier.
T

 

[sjm817]

Use a moderately sharp screwdriver or chisel. Use the chisel to catch an edge and tap it with a hammer to sink it into the edge of the plastic nut. Tap on it to tighten. This is assuming you have the right angle to be able to do this.

 

[teesquare]

Or a LARGE set of "Slip Joint Water Pump Pliers" -similar to Channel Locks
The jaws are almost a 90 offset to the handles. I have used them vertically to grab and turn bulkhead nuts. ( I think I may have heard a bulkhead scream once...<G>)
T

 

[KevinYates]

channel locks are what i always use.

 

[teesquare]

It just all depends on how muh access you have moondoggy4....
if the holes in the top of the stand are large enough - any of the methods here should work...........
T

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks everyone for posting all great the ideas. When I built my first stand it was 18'' wide then when I put my 120 on it I put two 4X4's and two 2X4's on it and just extended the stand so I have 6 4X4's on my stand. so the bulk head fits in that grove. I will order the bulk head wrench, I could not used channel locks, the screwdriver should work. I like the idea of making my own wrench. What I did was go to Ace and got a reverse thread bulk head, I placed my durso stand on it put it in my overflow, hand tighten the nut backwards (lefty) and then when I put the other fittings on the bottom I just tighten them (righty) and it tighten the nut to the bulk head Nice and tight but not overly tight. Thanks again everyone almost told m wife you should of let me buy the Elos so none of this would of happened. I guess I just wanted to live more.

 

[teesquare]

Glad you found a fix for it! Nothing is as frustrating as a leaker....
T

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks again, still no leaks.