Water heater plastic plug cross thread

I found that a little corner of sheet metal was blocking most wrench movement for my heater plug. The sheet metal is part of the heat shielding. I bent the corner out of the way, being careful to move as little as possible so as to not affect it's heat shielding ability. Now I can fit a wrench there for the plug.

my drain plug is behind a copper tube so a standard socket will not work. I bought a double box end wrench at sears that had a ratchet mechanism that fits in the space and is easy to use. I "thought" that mine was a 3/4 NPT however??
bumpy

Drain hole is 1/2" NPT threads...........plug is High Temp Nylon also NPT threads

(NPT.....National Pipe Threads=====tapered)

Use a short brass pipe nipple (/2" NPT) to clean/chase the drain hole threads
THis will remove any crud between threads, straighten threads and clean them up

Then install NEW plug using fingers then snug up with a socket/long extension.
And just snug after finger tight....remember drain hole & plug are tampered

I got some extra plugs and a RV water heater wrench from Amazon. I always start it by hand, turning in the left (counter-clock-wise) direction a couple of turns which seems to help line up the threads. Then get it finger tight, and finish up with the wrench.

B-n-B wrote:

rjxj wrote:
Start it a few turns in by hand then use a short socket with a long extension.

+1

The long extension has made it easier for me as well.

Matt

rjxj wrote:
Start it a few turns in by hand then use a short socket with a long extension.

+1

Start it a few turns in by hand then use a short socket with a long extension.