Gauge stuck on Reg

[jeevusmaximus]

Right, I have a problem which is really pissing me off. I have a Centerflag Dynaflow and the gauges are huge so I bought some nice Dye ones. I got one gauge off but the other refused to budge. Now its at the point where the edges on the gauge shaft bit are fully work down and the gauge "head" has snapped off. I have now sawn into the neck piece to see if I could unscrew it with a screwdriver and some heat but still no movement.

Does anyone have any suggestions?!?!

 

[le-pig]

molegrips

 

[F3Z]

heat, d40, mule and a strong clamp ohhh or get some1 else to do it.

 

[jeevusmaximus]

WTF are molegrips?!
F3Z, did you mean WD40 when you said D40?

Cheers

 

[Booti]

molefrips are basically pilers that you can lock onto an item

that way you do not have to squeeze the item as well as turn it

this is what they look like

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040210504&r=2077&g=111

 

[jeevusmaximus]

Ahhh... those! Yeah I have some and they don't seem to work on the rounded neck, no matter how tight.

 

[dr.strangelove]

'Round these parts we call those Vise Grips, and if you can't get it off with those, you ain't getting it off with anything. Try this, take the vise grips, clamp them VERY tightly onto what's left of the guage, put the reg in a stationary vise, heat up the guage and crank on it. That should do it. If you don't have a stationary vise, try putting a strap wrench on the reg, and turning the opposite direction of the way you're turning the guage.

 

[Chris Lacey]

What concerns us is that whatever loctite has been used may well have eaten into the threads of the reg. If you do manage to rip what is left of the gauge out the integrity of the metal in the thread may be significantly reduced.

The problem is that if you got to the stage where you fitted the new gauge and the thread on the reg isn't strong enough to hold it the new gauge could fire out like a bullet. The risk is highest if it is the high pressure side but the risk is still high enough on the low.

The best advice may be to replace the reg altogether. We often service markers with threaded parts that seem to be fused together by overly strong loctite, it's a real problem. Don't take any risks.

 

[jeevusmaximus]

Cheers guys. I didn't manage to get it off yet but have given it to someone with machining tools to see if he can have a go. I was gonna chuck it anyway cos it pissed me off so much.

Jeevus

 

[Tom Allen]

If you can't get it off let me know, i'll get it off.