Doesn't make a lot of sense. I have a wrench from the the standard old style Grinnell head (c1896-1922 or so) that still works fine and only engages the four tits on the base of the head. Not that I personally have used it much but it certainly shows lots of use. I also have my original Reliable wrench from the eighties (when I learned you weren't supposed to use an adjustable wrench), the one that looks like an offset spanner with the two ribs that slip into the valley on the proper boss on the base, and works like new. I have all the early socket wrenches too and they're all fine. Now granted that mine have less use than those of guys that have made a career solely of fitting, but way more than six heads.
On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 5:49 AM, John Corcoran <[email protected]>wrote: > When I started in the biz (Star Sprinkler, 1990s), we shipped heads with a > thread sealant (Vibraseal was the trade name - sort of a burnt umber > color). The stuff worked great installing the heads leak-free, but from all > accounts was just a beast to remove. I know other manufacturers used the > stuff before migrating to uncoated threads or charging a premium for > pre-taping the threads with Teflon tape. > Regardless if this describes your situation, I'm with Mr. Mote on using a > standard wrench for removal, then using the manufacturer-designed wrench > for installation. The manufacturer wrenches are designed to put heads into > a pristine system while minimizing over-torqueing...not the same conditions > you are facing taking them out of an existing system. > I know using 2 wrenches is a pain, but it should save on wear and tear and > speed up head removal. > > John Corcoran > Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation > > > > > John Corcoran > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Douglas Hicks > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 1:28 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Sprinkler Wrenches > > We have a job replacing sprinkler heads. So I ordered the specified > wrench, so we could change heads w/o damage to the new heads. My guys > changed 6 heads before the wrench wore out. We have had the same problem > with all the brands. What is the solution? The last wrench cost me > $150.00, that is an additional cost of $25.00 per head. I have been > thinking of having the welding shop build up the wrench with hard face > powder and then having the machine shop mill the wrench to the right size. > Any other options? > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 [email protected] http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC, WFSC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) A problem well stated is a problem half solved. -Charles F. Kettering, inventor and engineer (1876-1958) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
