Radiator tails weeping

[kristeva]

Hi all,

I fitted my first rad the other day and unfortunately both tails are weeping. Whilst holding the tail in my left hand I wrapped ptfe between 15 and 20 turns clockwise. I screwed them in with my radiator spanner as far as they would go, not quite up to the last thread though.

Im going to drain the system (its only a couple of rads) and try again. I guess the options are to try and screw them in a little further? Or Shall I start again and try more turns or slightly less turns and make sure the tail is fully screwed in up to the last thread. Its a cast iron radiator.

Any tips appreciated.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

More ptfe around 24 wraps

 

[Gasmk1]

Buy some loctite 577 not cheap but really good

 

[oz-plumber]

While draining down the rad, why don't you cut the fixing bracket back and hide it inside the cast iron rad.
It's 3 column so you can hide it behind the first or second column.

Also, the connections where the tails connect to the rad are brutal. You might want to clean them out with screwing a 1/2" thread into them a few times to clean them out a little. Lubricate the female thread and then screw in your tail.
The cast iron tapping doesn't allow the tape into thread all that good due to its roughness.

When you remove the tail, I doubt there will be any tape in the threads

 

[kristeva]

Hi all

Finally got round to taking this rad down and this is what the tails look like when removed. As you can see a section of PTFE has been forced to the front of the thread.

Oz, what should I use to lubricate the female thread?

Or should I use liquid thread seal? I got some Flomasta pipe seal but i'm a bit dubious about using this..

 

[oz-plumber]

Scratch a hacksaw blade across the threads so you cause little grooves.
It's called 'roughing up the thread'.
Apply PTFE, lubricate the male and female threads and screw the thread in.
As said previously,the cast iron threads are brutal / sharp and tear the tape to pieces.
Roughing up the male thread assists with keeping the tape on the thread.

 

[exedon2]

Loctite 55 switched to it years ago never had a rad tail leak with it and at one point we were turning our over 20 dwellings a month.

 

[DAVE the old git]

Hi all,

I fitted my first rad the other day and unfortunately both tails are weeping. Whilst holding the tail in my left hand I wrapped ptfe between 15 and 20 turns clockwise. I screwed them in with my radiator spanner as far as they would go, not quite up to the last thread though.

Im going to drain the system (its only a couple of rads) and try again. I guess the options are to try and screw them in a little further? Or Shall I start again and try more turns or slightly less turns and make sure the tail is fully screwed in up to the last thread. Its a cast iron radiator.

Any tips appreciated.

View attachment 95157

This is your problem I am 45 years in the Plumbing industry and I would not use PTFE tabe on any joints if you go back a 1/8 of a turn it will leak nock off both sides of radiator then drain the Radiator of water remove the Radiator tale pieces clean the treads then get yourself a junior hacksaw and put saw cuts on the threads of the tail piece the idea of the saw cuts it stops the flax or hemp from running up the threads so you get yourself a small amount of flax and wrap the tail pieces the same way you rapped the PTFE then use Boss while or folic on the Flax replace the tail piece in both sides of the Radiator then refit rad valves to tail pieces job sorted just vent the Radiators all over the house just watch the pressure gauge on boiler that it does not go abouve 1 bar or 1.3 bar and more then this the safety valve will blow on boiler it's designed to blow at 3 bar