Can't remove Pressure Reducing Valve. HELP!

[JEDI]

it's a Watts 35b and is leaking.
I got a replacement part. (watts 45b since the 35b is no longer made.)

but I cant remove the 35b.
the union joint on the bottom was easy to unscrew but I cant spin it loose.
I have 12" channel locks and it wont budge.

I have one pair of channel locks on the top pipe and another on the 35b.
I'm holding the top one steady and going from right to left on the bottom one.
it's not moving.

any suggestions?

 

[JEDI]

what is that between the top of the 35b and the threads?
I tried to scape it off with a small screwdriver but nothing would come off.
is it solder??

 

[pcgeek11]

Looks like it is soldered in place by the threads...

It could be pipe dope or sealant, but it really looks like solder to me.

Get out the saw.

 

[JEDI]

Looks like it is soldered in place by the threads...

It could be pipe dope or sealant, but it really looks like solder to me.

Get out the saw.

if it is just old pipe dope that's hardened, how would you try to remove the valve w/o cutting?

 

[pcgeek11]

If it is old pipe dope you should be able to break it loose with force. Or maybe a little heat from a propane torch.

If it is soldered, I wouldn't bother and just cut it out and sweat in a new piece of pipe and a nipple.

 

[Greenman]

It seems like we've had this same thread before.

The upper fitting sure looks like it's soldered. I'd cut the pipe off on both sides of the valve and replace it all. One hour job.

 

[Sgt. York]

Will the guts from the 45 lb valve fit in the 35 lb valve. If so, you know what to do.


Also, I remember another thread exactly like this, up to and including pics.

 

[JEDI]

I finally bit the bullet, cut out the old prv, and soldered in parts with lead free silver solder.

screwed in the new watts 45B.
no leaks after adding a few more wraps of Teflon.

what took the longest time was draining all the water out of the house.
had to do it 3 times.
1st time when I tried to blowtorch melt the old solder off.
had to turn back on the water since I wasn't going to cut the old pvr that day.

2nd time was when I cut out the old pvr.

3rd time was when the new pvr install had a minor (droplet) leak. it didn't show up at first.
after a couple of min, I saw it.
had to take it apart and add more Teflon onto the threads.

 

[pcgeek11]

Good on you!

 

[BarkingGhostar]

A thought ... next time put in a spigot on the low pressure side so that you can attach a garden hose to run out of the house and make evacuating the water much easier.

 

[NutBucket]

What moron thought it was a good idea to solder that threaded connection. LAME!

 

[Greenman]

What moron thought it was a good idea to solder that threaded connection. LAME!

A plumber that ran out of pipe dope.