Little catastrophe..

[lynwlt]

..if there is any such thing!
It looks as if I cross-threaded the top of my GGTS and I can't budge it. It's the bit that screws onto the top and holds the attie connection.
Haven't used it for a couple of weeks and have no idea as to how and when I did this.
I've tried WD40 and am currently trying to ease a bit of Noalux into the threads. I suppose my next step might be boiling water but I don't imagine that will work on a brass to brass connection.
Big sigh..............brute force and tools might be my last resort unless someone else knows different.

Lynda..

[foxy9212]

Oh Lyn! The times I've done that!! Perhaps it's just stuck and not cross threaded so keep trying to ease it off. If you have something to clamp it with, you could try tapping it with, say, a rubber hammer (I use a wooden steak hammer for such things. Just be careful and I wish you luck!

Fox :-[

[atina]

I have read about someone (on uk vapers i think) soaking in oil for 2 days worked tho as long as there are no electrical connections etc should be safe.
Reminded me i must oil my connections today tho !
Apparently wd40 dries things out so good to clean but must oil after !

[Scylla]

I can only sympathise {{{Lyn}}} as I have no miracle cure for your catastrophe - which is a pretty big one, in my book

WD40 would take quite a while to penetrate right thru and maybe need to be repeated a few times. Have you asked Imeo?

scylla x

[lisaf01]

Where do you live Lynda? If we're close enough the best thing would be to meet up and see if I could help you out with it.

[lynwlt]

Thanks people..
I live miles away from Buckinghamshire so I guess that's a no-no.
I'm giving it a hot bath right now!
It is DEFINITELY cross threaded; I can see the bend.
My next step will be bathing it in oil and that will be followed by brute force.
I might do a bit more Googling before I start hitting it!
Wish me luck..
Lynda

[Chrissie]

Really wishing you lots of luck Lynda. I really can't think of anything to suggest myself.

[atina]

Good luck lynda i hope it comes apart ok.

[hopefulll]

Can you take a picture and post it here please.

i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz9/HoPeFuLLL/IMG_4122.jpg

Is it these two bits screwing together? That O-Ring can make taking it apart very hard.

Or top to Telescope, old or new model ... need pics

[Chrissie]

Hope, Lynda has the older model.

I'm guessing she means it's her brass attie end cap that's cross threaded onto the brass telescopic sleeve?

[lynwlt]

Yep Chrissie, that's absolutely right. I must have had a glass to much vinoe when I did that!!
Hadn't used it for a couple of weeks because I was fiddling with my tornados. (Should I be writing that on a public forum?? lol)
I guess it is out my a couple of mls. I might try the suggestion of hitting it with a hammer!
Lynda.

[hopefulll]

Ask the handy man near you.

Any pictures of the thread (macro)?

[Chrissie]

Actually, I've just been & asked a handy man near me. He has worked a lot with metal including tapping his own threads. He firstly suggested leaving it in boiling water for a while & if that doesn't work then try the following.

Wrap strips of fabric type elsataplast round the the brass telescopic tube. Then get something like a knitting needle & lay it across the tube at a right angle. Then wrap lots more of the elsastaplast round the knitting needle to hold it in place. You'll need to then firmly grip the end cap while using the knitting needle as a lever to hopefully slowly unscrew the crossed threads.

[lisaf01]

That is an excellent tip, Chrissie.
Another thing to try that has worked for me on this kind of thing is to use those strap wrenches - also known as jar openers. wouldn't be without mine now.
I also like using strips of rubber inside pliers.
As you can imagine, I've had a fair few stuck threaded parts here and so far I've managed using one of these two methods. Definitely will try this knitting needle one if my other methods fail me in the future.

[Chrissie]

TBH Lisa, I think your methods sound far better & easier