Slip Fittings

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LasVegasLawyer

0
Jul 12, 2011
37
Las Vegas, NV
I've noticed that the four return inlets in the pool are all 1" pvc pipes. Two of them have what looks like the remnants of the eyeball fitting stub in them, but the threaded portion is totally missing. Essentially, it looks like someone tried to remove the fittings by pulling it straight off, and the force broke off the outer flange. So now I have two questions:

When I'm replacing the eyeball fitting, do I need to glue it into the inlet? If so, what adhesive do I use. I've tried shoving one in, but it seems like it isn't fitting snugly against the concrete, and I worry that the water pressure will push it out.

My other question is how do I remove the left-over fitting? Do I just gently use a hacksaw to cut through the fitting stub but not the inlet?
 
Well, I don't really have a picture, but maybe some more explanation might help. I bought a new eyeball fitting. It comes as three pieces: the inner holder, the eyeball, and the eyeball cap. The eyeball cap screws onto a flange on the inner holder. If you were to screw the cap on, secure the inner holder, and then really pull on the cap, it would probably rip the flange right off, leaving nothing but a small cylindrical pvc pipe which would fit inside the return inlet. It seems that, for two of my returns, someone might have pried the eyeballs off, taking the flange with it. The inner holder is still inside the return, blocking any attempt at installing a new fitting.
 
JasonLion said:
You should be able to get it out with a strap wrench.
Click to expand...

There's nothing for the strap wrench to grip. The only part remaining of the old fitting is the part that is actually inside the pipe in the wall. The outer ring is gone, as as the threaded portion of the holder that the outer ring screws onto. Nothing is sticking outside of the wall. I don't really have a way to take a picture of this, or I'd attach it. Basically, I have two concentric pipes, one inside the other. How do I remove the inner pipe? Do I cut it out? And when I put the new fitting in, do I rely on friction of some kind of pvc glue?
 
:blah: I am not recommending any specific company or tool as shown in the following links... they are only examples.

Removing a stuck PVC pipe fitting involves an inherent risk of breaking the the existing pipes and fittings so the following are done at your own risk. :blah:

Ok, with that said:

With ALL of the following, you will want to immobilize the outside pipe.... or you WILL have much more serious issues to deal with:

Try old school... take a short piece of wood... fold a piece of course sandpaper in half so that the grit is on the outside, wrap the paper around the wood, place inside the pipe and wedge/angle (angle is better) so as to create a friction grip, with a very gentle twisting and pulling motion try to get the inside pipe to turn and pull out enough to get a grip in things with a strap wrench.
Or try a new school approach:
Inside pipe wrench or a drain-key:
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/plumbing-drain-openers/brasscraft-internal-pipe-wrench-set-119732.html
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RIDGID-Internal-Pipe-Wrench-1VUV1
provided you can find the right size.
re-purpose a tool for use as a pipe wrench http://www.harborfreight.com/small-tail-pipe-expander-37352.html by using a pipe expander; however, in this case, you're trying to get a grip (I made a funny :) ) on the inside pipe

Try an inside seal puller http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=seal+puller

Try a bearing puller http://www.harborfreight.com/3-jaw-pilot-bearing-puller-4876.html

Try to "tap-n-thread"... by adding threads to the inside surface of the fitting, you might be able to screw in a cap or other pipe that will give you enough purchase to remove the part. http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-pipe-taps-42432.html Trick here is finding the correct size tap for the fitting.

Trick for the following is finding one with the correct size:
Try a pipe-extractor http://www.nextag.com/New-Ridgid-35...rices-html?nxtg=231c0a280504-ABFA592EDB1261A1 (also some on that granger site)
Try a nipple-extractor http://www.plumbest.com/internal-pipe-nipple-extractors-1-internal-nipple-extractor.html

Last ditch attempt is a pipe-reamer... they come in a bunch of styles too so I'll let you search for those.

-wc
 
Answer to second part of question...
Without knowing what the inside of the fitting looks like I don't think it safe to tell you if friction or glueing will work... for that fact, the fittings might have threads and you screw it togeither.
Once you get the parts seperated then we'll have a better idea as to the next steps...

-wc
 
wetchem said:
With ALL of the following, you will want to immobilize the outside pipe.... or you WILL have much more serious issues to deal with
Click to expand...
LasVegasLawyer said:
It's in the ground and buried under concrete decking. Not sure how much more immobilized the outside pipe can get. Thanks for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
Trust me... dig out around the pipe until you can get something on that pipe to keep it from twisting. The ground will not hold the pipe for very long or for enough force... the concrete on the other hand... well... when the pipe breaks of at the concrete... :hammer:
 
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