Lesson learned lol

[Shwthomas1975]

Well I pulled the rod out of the hot water heater the end of last season to drain the hot water tank. Seems I should have put back in after it was empty. I just tried to scare it back in and it is so corroded I can’t get the threads to start. I write brushed both so they look ok, but I can’t get it to start. Anyone have any suggestions???
Thanks in advance.

[fj12ryder]

That's a good price for that size tap too. Since you're just chasing threads, that one should work just fine.

[dougrainer]

https://www.amazon.com/Drill-America-Qualtech-Carbon-Uncoated/dp/B00FXKW4F6/ref=asc_df_B00FXKW4F6/?t...

[p220sigman]

fj12ryder wrote:
Probably have to bite the bullet and get a 3/4" NPT tap and clean up the threads. That's what I did. I tried the "cut slots in a pipe" and a couple other things, but the tap is about the only thing you can depend on to do the trick.

Same. Tap worked great. I tried the slots in a pipe, using a rotary wire brush, etc. None of it worked. Two minutes with the tap and all was great.

[fj12ryder]

Probably have to bite the bullet and get a 3/4" NPT tap and clean up the threads. That's what I did. I tried the "cut slots in a pipe" and a couple other things, but the tap is about the only thing you can depend on to do the trick.

[MitchF150]

I empty my HW tank between uses using the low point drains.. I open both and then open the pressure relief valve on the HW tank and it drains out the bottom of the tank thru the cold water line. I get pretty much 6 gallons of water out (I put a bucket under the drain). This is the first trailer I have had that has the "rod" in it.. Guess I won't know if it does any good for a few more years, but that's what I'm doing for now.. I have removed it once already, but that was before I started doing it from the low point drains..

Good luck! Mitch

[Terry_25]

Tricky to get started. Had to kind of press down on the nut while turning to get rod parallel to bottom of tank. Easier to do than to explain. Good luck. You'll get it.

[2oldman]

Get a new one?