Richardtr3a Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 I need some advice on a minor technical problem. On my 3A at the rear RHS, the hydraulic pipe fits to the wheel cylinder with a brass fitting. It will not be undone and is solid. It is now off the car and I tried to hold it in a vice but the brass pipe connection is getting damaged and is solid. There is no way it could be a left hand thread is there ? It is now soaking in WD 40 until tomorrow. It can not be more than 10years old and heat would be dangerous. Plumbing tools are causing damage to the brass. I need some advice from other owners who have sorted out problems like this. Thanks Richard & B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Its not L/hand thread but possibly been wound in too hard and the thread has bound up. Take the piston out and hold the cylinder in the vice with soft jaws to be able to get a better purchase on the fitting, you do need a proper pipe spanner to undo safely. Like this Brake pipe spanner Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 now it is off the car and held in the vice….Bit of heat.plus use the spanner type Stuart suggests. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Hi Richard, hold your tin of WD40 in your right hand and see how far you can throw it down the garden. Then leave it there. It is not a penetrating fluid (nor a lubricant etc etc.) PlusGas etc is what you need. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pfenlon Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 Just for information if you suspect a nut is Left hand thread it should have a nick as in the following pic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
acaie Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 2 hours ago, RogerH said: Hi Richard, hold your tin of WD40 in your right hand and see how far you can throw it down the garden. Then leave it there. It is not a penetrating fluid (nor a lubricant etc etc.) PlusGas etc is what you need. Roger Don't throw your WD40 away, it is very good for dispelling water and cleaning engine compartments and suchlike. It is rubbish at releasing difficult bolts. Unlike Plusgas which is great. Apply Plusgas and give it a day or so to work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted March 19, 2022 Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 +1 for the WD40 comments! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted March 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2022 I have been using WD 40 for decades and it helps with all sorts of difficulties including keeping the hand saw working smoothly when cutting logs for the winter fire. Sorry Roger I am not near your garden even if I try hard to throw it Thanks Richard & B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 After many years of getting nowhere with WD40 I recently bought a can of Plusgas. I have to admit that I was not that impressed. In fact I did not find it a lot better than WD40. What I did notice though was that the Plusgas did not have the same smell as I remember from when I last used it in the 1960’s. I wonder if it is another one of those things that for health and safety reasons has had to change the formulae. Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 10 hours ago, Richardtr3a said: Sorry Roger I am not near your garden even if I try hard to throw it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Charlie D said: After many years of getting nowhere with WD40 I recently bought a can of Plusgas. I have to admit that I was not that impressed. In fact I did not find it a lot better than WD40. What I did notice though was that the Plusgas did not have the same smell as I remember from when I last used it in the 1960’s. I wonder if it is another one of those things that for health and safety reasons has had to change the formulae. Charlie Charlie, The initials in WD40 stand for Water Dispersant Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 19 hours ago, RogerH said: Hi Richard, hold your tin of WD40 in your right hand and see how far you can throw it down the garden. Then leave it there. It is not a penetrating fluid (nor a lubricant etc etc.) PlusGas etc is what you need. Roger +1 The fact that one can quieten a squeaking fan belt most effectively with a quick spray of WD40 without the belt slipping suggests to me it is NOT a lubricant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 my garage shelf contains - 3 in 1 for general lubrication of nuts/bolts etc PlusGas or FreeWay penetrating fluid. Engine oil (20/50 ) in my squirty can Servisol switch cleaner Wynns Brake&clutch cleaner plus loads of other stuff - including WD40 (to occasionally remind me how awful it is) Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 You do have to be a bit careful what you are talking about with WD40. Besides the original dewatering stuff, they now have a range of other goops with the same overall name but different purposes: https://wd40.co.uk/products/wd-40-specialist/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Motorsport Mickey said: The initials in WD40 stand for Water Dispersant What... Like the stuff Moses used to part the Red Sea. So what does the 40 stand for? (And if you tell me that it was the 40TH attempt to get it right, what happened to WD1 - WD39) Charlie. Edited March 20, 2022 by Charlie D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 Hi Charlie, it was the 40th formulation that did what the inventor wanted. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted March 20, 2022 Report Share Posted March 20, 2022 2 hours ago, RogerH said: Hi Charlie, it was the 40th formulation that did what the inventor wanted. Roger Got him a patent and much money for a wazzy fluid that doesn't lubricate but does displace water. Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ralph Whitaker Posted March 21, 2022 Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 Even WD40 seems different to the original. I remember it used to leave a sort of varnish on dizzy caps and plug leads with regular use, but nowadays it just seems to evapourate away. Ralph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted March 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2022 Today I took the brake cylinder , with the pipe attached, to the local village garage. They said no problem and took it in. On the way home I called in and it was all finished. They would not charge me or accept a tip. After asking they explained that Cut off the pipe flush Find a quality socket and tap it over the brass nut. A small lever and it came out easily. I am sure that it works well with a quality socket but my tools are not Snap On and may not stand up to the pressure. So the next move is to get the complete back axle assembly to the overhaul specialist. I am hoping that it is not serious. Problem sorted and on to the next. Richard & B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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