Radiator drain off valve alignment

[shd1970]

I’m about to fit a new radiator with one of these integrated drain off valves on the return side

I’ve noticed a bit of a flaw whereby if you do up the piece that goes directly into the radiator to when it tightens up fully, the drain off is not pointing directly downwards…..ie. if you were looking at it from the end instead of pointing directly down at 6 o’clock on a clock face, it’s more like 8 o’clock on a clock face so it looks rubbish

So my question is, what can I do to make sure it’s pointing directly downwards?

My only thought was to count how many turns it typically takes to fully insert in to the radiator albeit being in the wrong position and then remove it, add five or six turns of Loctite 55 and then do it up but not to the number of revolutions where it was in the wrong position, but in sufficiently
I know when using Loctite 55 it can get really tight

Makes sense?

Is this the best way to get it nice and straight downwards or am I missing something?


TIA

 

[ChrisJP]

You just have to experiment with different numbers of turns of Loctite 55 or PTFE tape until the valve is correctly orientated when it is fully tight. This is a bit tedious but is pretty standard practice.

 

[Madrab]

+1

The tail doesn't need to be tightened all the way in, just like fitting an outside tap, it only needs to go it enough to allow the threads to seal with whatever thread sealant you use, once that's happened then the tail can be orientated correctly but only as it's tightening, if that makes sense, don't undo it to align it.

 

[shd1970]

@ChrisJP @Madrab - many thanks and yes that makes sense
When I’ve used Loctite 55 previously I think I may have focused overlapping the thread in too much of a smaller area meaning when I’m tightening it seems to get tight very quickly so would it sound sensible to spread out the thread over a wide apart of the thread I assume ?

 

[Madrab]

so would it sound sensible to spread out the thread over a wide apart of the thread I assume ?

Yes - you wind the cord over the length of the thread you want to insert.

I usually use gas tape though, as it's a medium I've always used without ever having an issue. I take the, if it aint broke approach. As always though. it's an each to their own approach too.

 

[Exedon]

I'm a big fan of loctite 55, you can actually 'back' fittings up to quarter turn all in instructions.
Used to do a lot of commercial work loctite 55 great on screwed steel I found it way better than ptfe.
As above whatever works for you!

 

[shd1970]

@Madrab @Exedon

Thanks again both for your inputs, much appreciated