Immersion Heater

[JT]

I cannot remove my faulty immersion heater, I have tried box and open spanners, hitting them sharply with a hammer. Also used a blow lamp to heat the boss of the immersion heater all to no avail. I believe the problem is due to boss white being used to fit the heater.

Is there any none solder gizmo that I can use if I cut the immersion heater out of the tank which would allow me to fit new immersion.

The tank is coated with fibreglass.

 

[breezer]

have you tried (very carefully) a knife to break the seal?

tried tightening it first, again to break the seal

but be VERY careful

 

[IanDB]

Had the same problem many years ago. I used an 18" stilson wrench on it.

Bent the tank and ended up replacing it. Take care with it.

 

[croydoncorgi]

As others have said - BE CAREFUL.
With the cylinder FULL but with the supply to it OFF, use a box spanner and hit the tommy bar sharply with a hammer first to TIGHTEN the joint (clockwise), then try loosening it again.

Luck of the draw applies - if you're lucky, it'll come undone. Otherwise you'll buckle / shear the tank top and will need to replace it.

Once it's buckled, there's no practical way to repair it.

 

[weargas]

I had my immersion box spanner drilled out to 20mm and used a 1m long 18mm steel bar instead of the one provided with the spanner. There wasn't an immersion heater I couldn't shift......................ahhhh those were the days.

 

[JT]

Thanks for all the advice, I am resolved to buying a new cylinder and then venting my rage on the old cylinder with a sledge hammmer.