Chrome Elbow Fittings

[antsals]

Good Afternoon,
I'm after a little help. I installed a new radiator; one of these designer stainless steel ones. The 15mm tapping comes out of the bottom of the rad; so I purchased two chrome 15mm male to female so I could mount the trv.

The problem is the fittings on the 15mm males side have a o-ring to seal. I PTFE taped the thread about 10 wraps. When I tighten in its not at the 90 degree angle to my valve. What is the best way to acheive a good seal but make sure its tight enough that it doesn't move when knocked?

Cheers
Ant

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

what elbows did you get? have you got a pic?

 

[antsals]

This is what they gave me at the plumbers merchants.....any better ideas?

Cheers
Ant

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

where did you put ptfe? o-ring should go to the radiator but dont put anything else on the thread. shouldnt be any problem with it unless your pipes are not straight. never done these but should be ok

 

[antsals]

I put the ptfe tape around thread below the o-ring. The problem is it would be ok but when tightened up to nip up against the o-ring the elbow isn't at 90 degrees online with the radiator. If I slacken off to get it correct it's not solid enough?

Any ideas?

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

it should make proper seal, that what is made for. unless there was some original fitting supplied with your radiator. whats the gap like when tightened. i just think maybe the thread is not long enough. is radiator supported to the wall properly? there is also chance you have cross threaded the fitting and now is not screwing back properly. sorry, i was just trying to post all possible options i could think off now..

 

[oz-plumber]

Remove the O ring, put plenty of PTFE tape around the fitting, the tape will not only seal the thread but also make a gasket as the O ring should.
10 times is probably not enough.
The threads are probably parallel threads instead of tapered threads as with most radiator connections.

 

[clarky101]

Or old school hemp and paste...

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

you might use loctite 55 as well on thread.

 

[antsals]

My explanation was not great I guess and I've been meaning to re-post but never got around to it.

Input above great but what seems to happen is when I screw into the rad, the I rotate say 3 / 4 times at the point the 'o' ring engages / starts squeezing I'm past the point where I need to be to tap into the valve. If I back it off to correct position it just feels really slack. If someone knocked it ie hoover.....I wouldnt want to know what it would do!

Attached is a picture of an example of how I am using it to tap into the central heating.





Also the face the oring seals into isn't flat, it is slightly concaved. What am I best doing?

Ant

 

[stevetheplumber]

ive had the same problems with these just use loads of tape or 55

 

[antsals]

I have borrowed some loctite 577 from a pipe fitter. He said put all round the thread screw it in until you are at required angle then leave it 24 to 48 hours. He said it will be solid and won't leak. Does this sound like a plan?

When you had problem do you just load it up with ptfe tape screw onto correct angle and just leave it? Does it feel loose?

Cheers,
Ant

 

[Gray0689]

I have borrowed some loctite 577 from a pipe fitter. He said put all round the thread screw it in until you are at required angle then leave it 24 to 48 hours. He said it will be solid and won't leak. Does this sound like a plan?

When you had problem do you just load it up with ptfe tape screw onto correct angle and just leave it? Does it feel loose?

Cheers,
Ant

Only sounds good if it a good tight fit if loose it won't work

 

[Ermintrude]

Locktight 55 about 7 to 15 turns then a dollop of jet blue for good measure. Don't keep ptfe in van our shops or stores. Lock tight all the way.

When you roll it on go anticlockwise? So when you thred it in to rad it isn't pushed back. Start one or two threads in and build a nice bulge about 2/3 along nut with locktight.

 

[hammers4spanner]

scratch your thread (said with a sigh)

 

[Bunker]

Why not just use angled TRVs?

 

[Ermintrude]

Stick out abit though?

 

[antsals]

I originally used an angle trv but it does stick out too much and I prefer the trv being vertical jut looks better.
So you recon that even if I don't get the fitting tight the loctite 55 and blue jet will seal it? What about it being loose that can't be good?

Thanks
Ant

 

[Ermintrude]

Locktight will make it tighter than a landlord in January !

 

[oz-plumber]

Zebedy,
Are you serious about winding the locktite on anti-clockwise.
i would have thought that would undo the locktite when winding it into the fitting.
Unless of course its a left hand thread

 

[rpm]

Always wind the tape around the thread (or Olive) so the tail (end) of the tape goes the same way as the nut tightens.
Easy to get it wrong when working upside down though!

 

[Ermintrude]

Put a question mark next to it, do it without thinking so couldn't remember, tried to visualise but no joy! Your right clockwise!

 

[Gray0689]

Locktight 55 about 7 to 15 turns then a dollop of jet blue for good measure. Don't keep ptfe in van our shops or stores. Lock tight all the way.

When you roll it on go anticlockwise? So when you thred it in to rad it isn't pushed back. Start one or two threads in and build a nice bulge about 2/3 along nut with locktight.

Anticlockwise just pushes it all off no seal !!

 

[Ermintrude]

Put enough on no matter what you do it's tight!

 

[Gray0689]

Put enough on no matter what you do it's tight!

And I bet that looks neat