I had stuck nipples

[NCWanderer]

As I was cleaning my 1858 Remy, I decided to remove the nipples and clean them too. Since I've only put about 200 rounds through it, I wasn't too concerned about them seizing. As I started removing them with my new nipple wrench, I noticed they were very tight......too tight. And sure enough two of them refused to budge. So I soaked the cylinder 24 hours in WD-40 and tried again unsuccessfully. So I soaked them four days in Liquid Wrench. Same story. So I tried heating them in boiling water several times. Still they refused to budge. And by now I had damaged my nipple wrench so badly I was afraid to use it anymore for fear of damaging the nipples. Then I remembered I'd read on THR about making a wrench out of a socket. So I made me one and tried again after soaking a couple more days in Liquid Wrench. Nope.....still stuck and I was afraid I was going to wring them off. Then I remembered I'd read about a product called PB Blaster and another called Kroil. Couldn't find Kroil in any local stores but Lowes Had PB. So I let them soak about 4 hours in PB. (while I mowed the yard) And they were still pretty tight, but they both came out. Forgot to mention that I had already looked at the threads of the other nipples and there was something on them. I wonder if the knot heads at Pietta put thread locker on those threads? If they did .....it just don't make no sense. Do any of you know if they do? You can bet that when I but them back in, there will be anti seize on those threads and I'll only slightly snug them. And hey, I won't be buying any more nipple wrenches either. My homemade one worked great.

 

[Ratdog68]

Well... I haven't fired any of my revolvers yet, but, I've already pulled all the nipples and cleaned 'em up and dabbed each one's threads with anti-seize and snugged 'em back into place. Infact... I'm probably going to see to it that mine have a moly-based anti-seize on 'em. So far... mine do not appear to have had any kind of thread locking compound on 'em.

Yup... Kroil is great stuff, glad to hear you got 'em all worked free.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

I made that socket the day the day that tread came out...used me and Mr. Dremel had alot of fun and made a wrench that din't break ... I thank the man that invented the proceedure I can't remember the name...

 

[NCWanderer]

I can't remember his name either, SG but he's got a big ol' thank you from me.

 

[Ratdog68]

I can't remember his name either, SG but he's got a big ol' thank you from me.

Wasn't that his Jaegerness that posted up the homemade nipple wrench from a socket?

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5754328&highlight=socket#post5754328

 

[madcratebuilder]

The home made socket nipple wrench was been floating around for several years and is revived from time to time. It is the best tool I have used for stubborn nipples. A little anti-seize is the best method I know of to keep them from seizing again.

 

[NCWanderer]

I don't know what was on those threads....may not have been thread locker, but it looked like it. I do know I was starting to worry a little. They were way too tight. I'm just thankful I was able to get them out with doing any damage

 

[ClemBert]

I'm glad you got them out. I was just about to suggest you turn the nipple wrench counterclockwise for a change.

 

[NCWanderer]

ClemBert I don't think that would have been cool
to you too

 

[NCWanderer]

oops that didn't make sense did it?

 

[ClemBert]

Hehehehe....if I was standing within arms reach of you while you had that problem and suggested you turn the wrench the correct way I'm sure you'd have me eat that wrench.

 

[NCWanderer]

Not my brand new home made wrench.
Now I've got to make a right hand one to put them back in with