Fitting Brand New Radiator

[AndyPRK]

Hi

I just wonder what people used to fit the valves/bleed into the 4 corners of the Rad. PTFE tape? or something else

Thanks

 

[Scally-Ho]

Being old school, and old, my preference always has been hemp and a decent jointing compound. My joints never leaked

 

[Wayners]

My last lot came with just a rubber and that's all I used.

If no rubber already fitted then PTFE tape

 

[amfisted]

Hi

I just wonder what people used to fit the valves/bleed into the 4 corners of the Rad. PTFE tape? or something else

Thanks

PTFE for me. It’s about the only situation where I use it nowadays.

 

[ChrisJP]

PTFE tape works well but I've found you need more turns of it than you first imagine. You need sufficient so that there is definite resistance felt as you screw the valve tail into the radiator threads.
Bleed and blanking plugs now nearly always come with rubber sealing washers and, with these, you need to be careful to remove any burrs from the radiator threads, and be careful not to tighten them too much. Both of these can damage the rubber sealing washer.

 

[CountryFan]

Loctite 55 is supposed to be good but only ever used ptfe be it water or gas (thicker). I have had some leaks with water ptfe.

Only needed it for the blanking plug/vent plug if seal is perished/compromised

 

[AndyPRK]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, now I look, the top ones have rubber seals on them

 

[Madrab]

Top ones are ok with rubber seals, if the tapping subsequently rusts, which they are know to, then the Rad can easily be isolated, pressure released, bleed and blank removed without draining etc, all cleaned up and then resealed. Much more of a farf if the tails are just rubber seals if the same happens.

For me it's 6-7 turns of gas PTFE tape and never had an issue.

 

[muggles]

Rapid Blu Stuff for me, been using it for about a year and it's never failed me