Loosening nuts on radiator pipe

t45

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone could advise me on loosening nuts on radiator pipes?
Basically trying to remove radiator to decorate behind – have closed the valves on TVR Manual Control side and also turned spindle on Lockshield side.
Managed to loosen nut on manual control side BUT the nut (think it’s called Union nut) on the lockshield side is really tough to budge. Using an adjustable spanner.
Would anyone know of there is a specific direction to loosen nut ether turn towards me or turn away or is there anything i could put on (like a spray i.e WD40) on nut to loosen it.
Many thanks

Alex1983

Make sure you use grips on the valve itself to stop it moving, put your adjustable on the union and then find something to go over the adjustable to make it longer, something like a small piece of scaffold tube and then it will give you more leverage.

spadoosh

Righty tighty, Lefty loosey

t45

wonderful! im laughing Spadoosh! didnt realize pipe work and radiator could be so funny!

t45

does this mean left is clockwise and right anti clockwise?
would another spanner work as the grip on the valve?
not sure how to extend the adjustable to make it longer?

DavidFx

Left side radiator valve - push down wrench to undo.
Right side radiator valve - lift up wrench to undo.

Gloomendoom

Can you get an 18" Stillson on it?

spadoosh

t45 wrote: »

does this mean left is clockwise and right anti clockwise?
would another spanner work as the grip on the valve?
not sure how to extend the adjustable to make it longer?

as your looking at the flat surface (away from the end that attaches) right is clockwise and left is anti clockwise.



So on that one right is clockwise and will tighten. Left will loosen.



On this one (opposite way round to the nut image above) left will be clockwise and left will tighten.


Edit: the righty tighty is applicable to most nuts and screws and is from the perspective of looking at the flat side of the nut, not the side where the thread starts.

t45

Appreciate the lovely images but what do you mean by flat surface>?is it the smooth bit that is circular – it looks like?
Away from the end that attaches? Does that mean the end that attaches the pipe to the valve?
Im a Novice

t45

Just did a bit of research and there is a tool called a radiator spanner that i think can be used to hold the valve in place whilst i would use the adjustable spanner to loosen the nut.....when they say apply leverage is this just a bit of pressure to hold the valve?
Im a girl so this is all very new but I’m keen to work this one out!
There is a also a tool called a stilson?..is this just a long spanner that is adjustable?

Alex1983

Looking at the radiator the left hand side you will need to pull the adjustable up to undo and the right hand side push down to undo.

You need to hold the valve tight with grip or something similar because if it’s really tight and you try undoing the union the radiator valve will twist and you will damage the pipe.