Cast iron rad piping

[Riley]

Turned up to fit rads for a customer today not aware of the fact that they were getting cast iron rads. The rads they have are reconditioned and have been sent away for sandblasting and repainting. They've come back and have f & r top and bottom on the left. Where it's been painted the stoppers are now locked in place so I run the risk of damaging the paint job getting them out. If I have to do that I will but before I do is it actually a necessity that I pipe this top and bottom on the left or can I convert this to bottom on both sides.

Sorry dont have a great deal of experience with cast

 

[ShaunCorbs]

No fine as they are too flow bottom return as normal

Just flush it out before you install and watch the rad bleed screws when moving

 

[bright spark]

As Shaun said make sure ye flush em

 

[ShaunCorbs]

No fine as they are too flow bottom return as normal

Just flush it out before you install and watch the rad bleed screws when moving

was meant to say flow top and bottom return 😀

 

[Riley]

Thanks chaps The owner wants them piped up as modern radiators so she will have to deal with touching up the paint afterwards

 

[oz-plumber]

You might find you have a great deal of trouble getting the end fittings out.

I would be hesitant in trying to remove the fittings and pipe up the rads as they are.

Chances are the first couple you alter will be easy, but there will be a some that will be absolute dogs to remove.

Proceed with caution!!!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

It will either come out easy or will require heat putting on it

 

[oz-plumber]

The problem with cast iron rads is that the seal is not done by the thread, it's done by a gasket, so the threads are exposed to the water in the system.

In the past, we have totally stuffed up threads and end fittings trying to remove them from cast iron rads.
You have to be careful how much heat you put on a fitting, because too much can cause damage to the gasket on the next section. The gaskets are generally of the paper type and don't like the heat that is requires to remove the end fitting.

 

[Riley]

Thanks guys

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Thanks guys

Pressure test them first tho just incase you need to replace a few gaskets as the sandblasting produces a bit of heat

 

[Riley]

Cheers all