Got It** Removing brass fitting from steel "T"

[olds]

I need to remove a brass hose bib from a galvanized "T". It's really in there.
I tried heating with propane and MAPP gas. No joy.

Any tricks?
Should I heat the steel over the brass or vice versa?

I actually tore a hole in the fitting trying to wrench it out. Now I have to get the bib out to replace it so I can turn my water back on.
The rest of the plumbing is as corroded/tight so it doesn't look like I can take parts off upstream (without damaging something else) and work my way to the bib.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Is the hose bib soldered or screwed in?

 

[iGas]

Try using a pipe nipple wrench. If that does work, use a small hack saw blade and work at it slowly till you cut a couple of groves through the brass with out damaging the iron threads, then use the nipple wrench or screw driver to knock it out.

Or, cut the length of pipe that you have access to, and spin the tee out and replace it with a new tee. Use 2 new length of pipe and a coupling (coupling must be accessible, and expose if the pipping is for gas).

Another method is to replace the length in question with flex gas pipping.

 

[iGas]

Is the hose bib soldered or screwed in?

It has to be threaded, because brass and iron combination can't be braze, solder, or weld.

 

[olds]

It's a threaded hose bib for water.
I have a nipple tool but I can't get the torque I can from a pipe wrench.

I got it though. I heated the hell out of the T, sprayed Kroil and dripped candle wax on the threads. Got my biggest pipe wrench. I figured if I tore anything up, it needed to be replaced any way. Used one pipe wrench to steady the rest of the plumbing and pulled like hell on the other. It slowly started moving. More heat and Kroil and it was off. The other fitting are not leaking so I am crossing my fingers.

But for future reference, heat the brass or the steel?

 

[olds]

All this for a skunk.
We have a skunk family that strolls by one or twice a week.
I bought a sprinkler that is motion activated to spray the suckers as the walk by. Bib had a bad packing on the stem and I figured I might as well replace the bib.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

But for future reference, heat the brass or the steel?

Always heat the female fitting.

 

[lxskllr]

Whatever's on the outside(female) I think. Or just beat the shit out of it with an ax. That never fails.

 

[olds]

Thanks.

 

[iGas]

Try using a pipe nipple wrench. If that does work, use a small hack saw blade and work at it slowly till you cut a couple of groves through the brass with out damaging the iron threads, then use the nipple wrench or screw driver to knock it out.

Or, cut the length of pipe that you have access to, and spin the tee out and replace it with a new tee. Use 2 new length of pipe and a coupling (coupling must be accessible, and expose if the pipping is for gas).

Another method is to replace the length in question with flex gas pipping.

Edit: I mean union instead of coupling.

I though you broke the brass right clean off the tee fitting, hence you need the drastic measure above.

 

[DrPizza]

If you ever have a problem like that again, heat the female side (as stated above), but of course, as you're heating it, heat will be transferred to the male fitting as well. Carefully pour water on the male side, as close as you can, avoiding the female side. As it contracts as it cools, it often makes it easy enough to turn (with tools, of course, too hot for skin.)

 

[olds]

If you ever have a problem like that again, heat the female side (as stated above), but of course, as you're heating it, heat will be transferred to the male fitting as well. Carefully pour water on the male side, as close as you can, avoiding the female side. As it contracts as it cools, it often makes it easy enough to turn (with tools, of course, too hot for skin.)

Sounds reasonable. I was assuming that the brass would expand quicker than the steel, there-by wedging itself in the T.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Smithers: Oh, thank you sir! For three days I've had nothing to read but clock setting instructions. 'Using the suspension spring above the pendulum leader, hang the pendulum on the pendulum guard,' GRRRR!