Gas Cylinder

[Homebrewer]

I've got an old 20 lb CO2 cylinder that can no longer be filled so I'm going to make it into a bell. Problem is, I'm having a heck of a time taking the valve off. Can anyone help?

Thanks!

[Teeps]

Well a huge wrench, and a (BFH) large sledge hammer, and possibly a very large vise come to mind. How are you attempting to remove? what sizes is it, I assume there are some flats to get a wrench on?

[Homebrewer]

I tried using a big pipe wrench to hold the neck of the cylinder while using a cresent wrench on the valve itself. I braced the pipe wrench against the floor then opened the valve and heated the threads with a propane torch. Then I jumped up and down on the cresent wrench with my 200 lbs. Did not even budge. It sure looks like a regular thread and not reversed so I was applying the lefty loosie technique. Over.

[Mike W]

I tried to get the valve out of an old propane tank. I couldn't budge it so I filled it almost to the top with water and then heated it with a oxy/act torch. It came out.

[Teeps]

Wow, that is some fusion there.

Actually, if the threads are part of the valve, heating them up inside the tank boss can make it more difficult to remove.

I would heat up the tank boss area, and cool it down, do this three times to try and get whatever gunk is on the threads to break free.

After pouring some water on it the third time, do the same thing you already tried, although using a big hammer on the crescent may give you more of an "impact" to start breaking it free more easily. (And thus man created the air-impact gun, lol).

I think a wrench might keep better fitment on there than a cresent, although a very large solid cresent with wide flats might be acceptable.

It's all about the 3 step expand, contract, and impact. If all else fails it's cutten time!

[_TJ]

PB Blaster. http://www.clean4less.com/_FileLibra...PBCatalyst.gif

[Roger]

Pipe theaded valves can be hard to remove from cylinder. They use pipe chain vice. Wrench has area for big hammer hits. A couple of hits with 2 pound hammer starts it turning. Valves are brass so need good fitting wrench. New valve is used after hydro because used pipe threads on valve are no good.