Getting a nylon fitting out of a through hull

[jergofish]

My livewell pump started leaking around the gasket and since they're so cheap I decided to replace it rather than screw around with the O-ring. Everything was going fine with the exception of the fact that the new pump is a male fitting that will screw directly into the through hull. The old pump screwed into a nylon threaded fitting that the factory glued into the through hull with Rule. Now I have no clue why they would do such a thing rather than use teflon tape but the darn thing is in there tight and does NOT want to turn. I was thinking of heating the bronze through hull with a torch to soften the Rule. However I don't want to destroy any packing on the valve in the throughhull.

Any comments?

[PileDriver]

Only suggestion I have is return the pump and buy one with a female fitting so you dont have to mess with it.

[rudderhinge]

Jerry, I had the same thing happen to my boat. My pump discharge nozzle was cracked and leaking water into the boat when the pump was running. I bought a new pump and it had male threads on it. When I tried to remove the plastic fitting from the valve it would not come out of the valve. I removede the valve and put it in a vice, then removed the plastic fitting. I also use teflon tape when I put everything dack together. No leaks yet. If I had a way to hold the valve securely may-be I could have removed the fitting without removing the valve but the valve came off easily. Not much room around the valve. I also repositioned the valve handel and made it easier to open and shut through the deck hatch. Hope things work out, Bob

[jergofish]

Rudderhinge, I would have no problem removing the inside portion of the through hull and valve, however my boat is kept in the water.

I was hoping to avoid having to put it on the trailer for such a simple repair. I can't believe that the factory "glued" the nylon fitting into the through hull. Really a poor practice.

[ddewey]

Use a hair dryer to soften the rule. That's how I just removed a bilge through the hull fitting.

[jergofish]

ddewey, thanks, even better, I have a paint stripping gun. Not as much heat as a propane torch and a little more than a blow dryer. I'll give it a try on Wednesday!

[Codfish]

Jerry,

A torch does sound a little extreme, but. Since your boat is in the water, and the bronze is a great conductor of heat, you will need to apply a fast, hot heat to the fitting in order to retain it long enough to heat the rule and soften it. Most of your heat will be lost to the cooler water in contact with the bronze. If the paint stripper doesn't work, that will be the reason.

Hope you don' have to take the boat out.

Codfish

[PileDriver]

I still think my solution is easier

Originally Posted by PileDriver

Only suggestion I have is return the pump and buy one with a female fitting so you dont have to mess with it.

[MolarBoater]

Plumber's dope is a buggar. Good luck, vice or/and heat and torque and hopefully not break any plastic.

[jergofish]

Guys, I recently logged on and found that I never posted what worked.
The paint stripping gun heated up the fitting after about two minutes of blasting hot air at it and the fitting came out like butter. Thanks for the hints. I replaced the new pump using teflon tape rather than the Rule.