Old Immersion Heater

[Redhotferrari]

Hi Guys,

Shot to bits immersion heater in Direct Cylinder, been in for god knows how many years!

Have tried, spanners, tapping spanner with hammer, tightening a bit, plus last resort of draining a couple of buckets out and heating up the area slightly with blow torch!!!

All to no avail!

Any old hands have any invaluable knowledge they could give me as a way of removing the offending immersion? Have all but given up and advised on new cylinder, but it seems a bit drastic, due to cost!

Many thanks

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

have you tried any lub on thread wd40 etc

 

[AlanE]

heating up the area slightly with blow torch!!!

How hot? Play blow torch into head of the old immersion it needs to be VERY hot!

 

[Redhotferrari]

Yep, tried WD40, sprayed loads, even went back and applied some more and left for 24 hrs, no joy!

Did not get VERY hot, was a bit worried due to the thin copper of the cylinder.

Think its been in for a good 8-10 years, but customer cant really remember!

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

you don't know what the last person put on the thread.
you have advised the customer that the tank could twist.
so the balls in their court, if they agree give it a good hard whack or if they don't don't waste any more time with it.

 

[Redhotferrari]

Thanks Hi-Spec, you have confirmed what I thought.

They have agreed to a new cylinder if needed so think I will just go down that route if a 'whack' does not do it!

 

[holty]

had one the other day, took the cylinder out for replacement. just for curiosity, tried taking the immersion out,not a chance.because the cylinder was already out we tried everthing.in the end the cylinder buckled.nothing you can do but advise the customer first hand that this will happen.

 

[Terrywookfit]

Drill a hole through the body of heater and cut thread with a hacksaw blade !!
Works every time!!

 

[holty]

always forget the simple ways,will remember that though in future

 

[Redhotferrari]

Sorry Terry..... Dont really understand!

Drilling through the body of the heater, OK! What do you mean about 'cutting through the thread'?

 

[Terrywookfit]

Looking down onto the heater drill a hole through the flat bit where the elements are! close to the side!!
Cut sideways into the brass but not past the threads!!
This will give the necessary clearance to undo it!!

Hope this makes sense just got back from pub!!! ****ed emoticon!!

 

[Redhotferrari]

Thanks for all the advice, just an update!

Changed the cylinder and once it was out thought I would have a go! Got out eventually with a very big hammer, but cylinder had taken on a nice new shape!!!!

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

you have a nice bit of scrap now

 

[Nige F]

heating up the area slightly with blow torch!!!

How hot? Play blow torch into head of the old immersion it needs to be VERY hot!

heat it until the washer goes BANG that way you won`t bugger the cylinder............oh, you already have Who needs old school plumbers when you can be a Corgi

 

[stardanny]

heating up the area slightly with blow torch!!!

How hot? Play blow torch into head of the old immersion it needs to be VERY hot!

heat it until the washer goes BANG that way you won`t b*****r the cylinder............oh, you already have Who needs old school plumbers when you can be a Corgi

When you heat up the boss, does the washer really goes bang? How?