Changing period bath taps

[El Greyo]

Hello

Anyone got any tips on how to loosen a tight back nut on a bath tap? Have managed to get a basin wrench on to it and I can get good leaverage but just can't get it to move at all. I've even phoned a couple of plumbers but I guess it's such a small job they aren't interested (i.e. they haven't turned up).

It's a cast iron bath and the taps have been there a while but otherwise nothing out-of-the-ordinary.

Thanks

 

[plasticpigeon]

Not really besides the obvious wd40. Also if it won't undo perhaps it can be turned just a second of a degree in the tightening direction, just to break the corrosion and then tried in the undoing direction a little and repeated until it loosens!

 

[88v8]

The taps may have been bedded in putty, &/or the threads sealed with hemp & Boss White.
I'd try some heat. Small blowlamp, I'd be careful not to locally heat the bath itself in case the enamel might crack.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

Sometimes a light tapping with a hammer can help in these situations by cracking and breaking up any corrosion - a similar principle to PP's suggestion of trying to tighten slightly before loosening. Even if it doesn't help immediately, any cracks may help penetrating oil or WD40 to penetrate the threads and loosen the joint and it's worth leaving overnight before trying again.

Heat can sometimes help by expanding the nut slightly, but can be difficult to apply only to the nut rather than the pipe. A high wattage soldering iron might be more effective for this than a blowtorch.

 

[Feltwell]

"Freeze Release" might be a safer bet than heat.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/arctic-crack-it-shock-release-spray/83415

I'd also try proper penetrating oil if WD40 doesn't work.

I take it that you want to keep both the bath and taps for re-use?

 

[El Greyo]

Thanks for the top tips. We do want to keep the bath and I would like to not damage the pipework if possible.

I've tried 3-in-1 but I may try giving it a long soak in a better penetrating oil. May have to try heat later but will have to be careful. I'm wary of using my blow torch under there and I don't think my soldering iron will be up to the job. But I think there are a few things to try there.

Thanks

 

[philpjuk100]

A bit destuctive but I have cut into the nut with a dremel in two opposite places and then broken the nut in two,this was for a tap fitted to an old porclain butlers type sink and the tap was incomplete.Only ok if you have a replacement tap or nut but if the thread is BSP then a nut should not be too dificult.

 

[Keithj]

Can you move the tap itself in either direction? We had one like that, and our excellent local plumber found that he could move the tap a few degrees in each direction. With me moving the tap back and forth its tiny amount and him attached to the WD40'd nut, it eventually saw things our way.