Need suggestions for removing broken “Duck Plug”

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Saturn94

Saturn94

Bronze Supporter
Mar 11, 2015
1,864
SE Virginia
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
At closing I use these “Duck Plugs” to plug the returns.

8D4FB3B8-F85F-4AFF-91E5-4FA4D5AF5A7A.jpeg

I accidentally overtightened one of them and the octagonal part sheared off, leaving the threaded section screwed in the return with nothing to grip to unscrew it.

Any ideas on how to remove it?

Thanks.
 
Turbo1Ton said:
Need something like a pipe nipple extractor.


--Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea. Those are too small, but something along that line that’s big enough may work.

Whatever I use, I need to make sure it doesn’t damage the return threads.

I wonder if something like this would grip enough to unscrew the damaged Duck Plug?

 
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Saturn94 said:
Thanks for the idea. Those are too small, but something along that line that’s big enough may work.

Whatever I use, I need to make sure it doesn’t damage the return threads.

I wonder if something like this would grip enough to unscrew the damaged Duck Plug?

Click to expand...
I would think that would do it. Expand it so it fits in really tight and hopefully it will come loose. I don't think there is any way you could damage it. You could also try a little saw and cut the duck almost all the way through and I bet it would break apart.
 
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If it's tight in there, that rubber plug won't do anything but give to it. In my previous career of things mechanical, I ran across broken fitting daily. For larger stuck fitting, like stated above, it was easy enough to carefully saw in 2 places, 180-degrees apart, careful to not cut deep into female threads, and pry out. With plastic pipe, if stuck hard, any easyout type twisting might break you off deeper and cause more issue.
 
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Saturn94 said:
This looks promising if I have a chisel that’s wide enough.


I greatly appreciate the ideas. Keep ‘em coming. 👍
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That will do it if you know when to say "uncle" and give up twisting. Like I said above, if you have to twist too hard, you might come out with more pipe than you wanted to remove.
 
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I was really disappointed with the duck plug I bought. It was such cheap junk. Hopefully it comes right out because it shattered from being cheap, not from the force of tightening it too much.

Next year use a bungee plug.
 
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Toxophilite said:
If it's tight in there, that rubber plug won't do anything but give to it. In my previous career of things mechanical, I ran across broken fitting daily. For larger stuck fitting, like stated above, it was easy enough to carefully saw in 2 places, 180-degrees apart, careful to not cut deep into female threads, and pry out. With plastic pipe, if stuck hard, any easyout type twisting might break you off deeper and cause more issue.
Click to expand...

Toxophilite said:
That will do it if you know when to say "uncle" and give up twisting. Like I said above, if you have to twist too hard, you might come out with more pipe than you wanted to remove.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully it’s not too tight in there. When it broke, it didn’t feel really tight, which is why I was surprised when the octagonal part sheared off.

Newdude said:
I was really disappointed with the duck plug I bought. It was such cheap junk. Hopefully it comes right out because it shattered from being cheap, not from the force of tightening it too much.

Next year use a bungee plug.
Click to expand...

Up until now, my experience with them has been good. I bought these in 2012 and didn’t have any issues until I closed last fall. I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and replace all of them this season in case the others are weakening as well.

Do you have something in particular you like? Anyone have experience with these?

Amazon.com : Aqua Group Aqua Products Plug for 1.5 Inch Lines BP15 : Tools & Home Improvement

Amazon.com : Aqua Group Aqua Products Plug for 1.5 Inch Lines BP15 : Tools & Home Improvement
www.amazon.com
 

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Call me simple but …
can u not just glue a short piece of pvc to the inside of the fitting & then after it sets turn the whole mamma jamma? Be careful not to use too much glue so it doesn’t get on your return fitting.
 
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Mdragger88 said:
Call me simple but …
can u not just glue a short piece of pvc to the inside of the fitting & then after it sets turn the whole mamma jamma? Be careful not to use too much glue so it doesn’t get on your return fitting.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that. Can it be done underwater? I really hope I don’t have to drain below the return lines to get this done.
 
Saturn94 said:
I use to uses these
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I had those trouble free for 8 years on the inground. Drained anyway so no splashing. Moved and winterized the inherited AB and was so excited to use the duck plug I had read so much about. I used it but didn't trust it and my gut was right. The cap popped off and the lips leaked. I was tearing the pool down so no harm. But I'd use bungees for blowouts if ever below water again.
 
Saturn94 said:
I wondered about that. Can it be done underwater? I really hope I don’t have to drain below the return lines to get this done.
Click to expand...
Gluing wet pipe can make the glue run which might not turn out well for your fitting. They do make pvc cement for wet conditions like oatey rain or shine.
 
Newdude said:
I had those trouble free for 8 years on the inground. Drained anyway so no splashing. Moved and winterized the inherited AB and was so excited to use the duck plug I had read so much about. I used it but didn't trust it and my gut was right. The cap popped off and the lips leaked. I was tearing the pool down so no harm. But I'd use bungees for blowouts if ever below water again.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the yellow caps are useless. The description says they are for ice protection, but here it never freezes that far down, if at all, so I don’t bother with the caps. I could probably get away with not blowing out the lines, but once in a great while it can get really cold, so it doesn’t seem worth the risk.

Mdragger88 said:
Gluing wet pipe can make the glue run which might not turn out well for your fitting. They do make pvc cement for wet conditions like oatey rain or shine.
Click to expand...

Mdragger88 said:
What type of returns do u have? Are they removable?
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I’m not sure about the type of returns. It has eyeball fittings that screw into the wall fitting. I unscrew the eyeball fittings then screw in the Duck Plugs at closing. The wall fittings aren’t removable as far as I can tell. Here’s a pic of the eyeball fitting
93812D6A-0E42-46F7-8D51-A6EFC7082FFC.jpeg

I looked online and found our local Ace carries Locktite Marine Epoxy. It says it can be applied and cured underwater, but then the directions say make sure the surface is “clean and dry”. 🙄 😂

Y’all have given me some good ideas I didn’t think of. 😀👍
 
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The idea about putting another plug in it - expanding said plug then pulling them both out seems the least tumultuous of your options.
They have them readily available for cheap at most pool stores. Take a spare duck plug with u to ensure fitment.
 
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