tricks for removing stuck nipples needed.

[walruskid1]

i have a 1860 cylinder with 3 stuck nipples. broke 2 wrenchs removing the other 3. any tricks or ideas to remove the stubborn offenders.

 

[bwhoffman]

soak the cylinder in CocaCola, works on old tractors that have stuck pistons.

also, take one of the broken nipple wrcnhes, put it over the nipple and tap it fairly good with a small hammer. might break the seal and allow it to come out.

Ideas and advice are free!

Brett

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Don't know about that 'Coke Soak' idea, but take a drift or punch that will fit on the nipples and give them a sharp whack a few times after soaking with your favorite penetrating oil (Liquid Wrench or J-B Blaster are both effective) overnight, then heat with propane torch until smoking hot. Probably will loosen them so's the wrench will twist 'em out. Otherwise it's off to a machine shop to get 'em drilled out and retapped.

 

[philo426]

To prevent that from happening be sure to coat the threads with gun oil before installing the nipples.this will prevent them from freezing up.

 

[walruskid1]

just burned the livin' crap out of my thumb and broke another wrench. going to the log cabin on monday, i'll let oz remove them before i tear something up or hurt myself worse.

 

[renovato]

A bit of penetrating oil such as Liquid Wrench or Kroil might help. Let it set overnight, tap the nipples a bit to loosen any rust, then turn.

 

[walruskid1]

plink - thanks but i been that route. i was a auto mechanic for 16 yrs and thought i was the master of the rusty fastner. these are probably going to be drilled and easy-outed. i'll let the gunsmith handle it. i wish i had a drill press. i would hate to screw up a cylinder. by the way, kroil kicks butt, mixed with hoppes 9 it makes a great centerfire bore cleaner.

 

[Rebel]

Might be cheaper just to order a new cylinder and nipples.

 

[mike alexandre]

You could try some heat on the nipples first or Loctite are doing a freeze and release spray that lowers the temp of the metal and cracks the rust in the thread.

 

[Tight_Wad]

I bought an original 1865 Rogers & Spencer .44 Army revolver in excellent condition earlier this year. Despite being assured the nipples would come out ok, after I'd had it shipped over the pond to the U.K I discovered they were stuck fast. I plugged the nipple vents with bluetack and filled the chambers with penetrating oil for a week - still wouldn't budge. Took it to my local 'smith who heated the nipples up until the oil was boiling and smoking but even he had to give up. Don't want to have them drilled out on an original so I've just had to leave them in place. Luckily the gun appears to have had little use and the nipples are in very good shape but ideally I would like to have been able to take them out.

I've replaced all the nipples on my repro's with beryllium ones and take them out and clean/oil them every time after use. No problems.

Good luck with your problem and please let us know if you succeed in getting them out.

Tight Wad :v

 

[WRussell]

Before you give up, put it in the freezer, then the oven, then the freezer, then the oven, etc.

Have penetrating oil in there when you warm them.

If you have an impact tool of some sort, repeated sharp blows can often do the job. Even a hammer on a wrench, if you have enough endurance.

 

[Pork Chop]

I hear that some ex-wives, ex-husbands and their divorce attorneys are so good at getting things apart that they can get blood from a turnip!

 

[Smokin6Gun]

Frozen cones, soak in diesel fuel for 5 days or so. Most always works. Broken nipple wrench, slot a decent socket 1/4 drive(deep or shallow depending)and use the breaker bar with it.

 

[crockett]

I think there is JB Blaster or something like that but if you are an auto mechanic- probably know it.
If you are busting the nipple wrenches then you need a better wrench. You may have to modify the nipple somehow to get more torque. You'll lose the nipple but save the cylinder.

 

[walruskid1]

still soaking in kroil. 3 out 3 to go. i may drill and easy-out them. still easier to drop it off at the gunsmiths. :hmm:

 

[renovato]

It's always easier to drop it off at the 'smith, but it's sure a lot more satisfying to do it yourself. I don't know how many projects I've done myself rather than let the smith handle it, only to end up having spent more money than if I just took it in! LOL

 

[walruskid1]

FINAL CHAPTER - Took the cylinder down to the log cabin today. Oz took the 3 nipples out in a matter of 5 minutes. he locked the cylinder in a vise on the milling table and used the chuck on the mill to hold a nipple wrench. even after soaked in Kroil for two weeks he still broke a wrench. He said they weren't rusted in, just over-tightened. gotta' tell my friend Ray to quit using a breaker bar on his pistols. now i know why he sold them to me. LOL i used choke tube lube on the replacements. always do on all percussion nipples, never have a problem. WK1

 

[renovato]

Choke lube is a great idea. Thanks for the reminder. I have some around, too.

 

[jdixon]

Had a used Old Army I bought up at Friendship once. Had a nipple stuck fast. Tried pretty much everything mentioned here - nothing worked. Rounded the shoulders off of the nipple trying to get it out. Finally had to drill it out using a bit that was just 0.002" larger than the barrel of the nipple. I did this carefully on a drill press. After running the bit all the way through, the remainder of the stuck nipple housing came out easily. Didn't even bugger up the threads and a new nipple went in just fine.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

That's a technique I've used on stuck/frozen bolts in the past, drilling thru removes lot of strength from the part and it can be backed out.
Never tryed it myself but an expert machinist I know (I'm just a lowly fabricator) would use a left twist drill (commercially available thru many fastener warehouses) to drill, everytime I saw him use this the stuck/broken bolt would back out when he was near thru.