Stuck Nipples

Pahoo · September 26, 2007, 04:46 PM

Okay guys, try to keep it straight. I have two stuck nipples in my Roger Old Army. I have tried ever "Easy out Liquid" I can find. Have not tried any heat. Cylinder and nipples are S.S. I have drilled out studs before but never anything like this. Figure I have the following choices and what do you guys think. Pistol shoots great on all chambers but kind of like having a gorgeous girlfiend with a wart on her nose.

Send it back to the factory ??
Drill them out and clean the threads?
Try heat and extra torque??
Live with the wart ??

Raider2000 · September 26, 2007, 04:57 PM

I've had a problem like this once with my Repro. 3rd model Dragoon & had soaked the cylinder in hot cooking oil for bit of time to get it loosend up from a lot of shooting "& dummy me did not anti sieze the nipple threads."

Hawg · September 26, 2007, 05:37 PM

I'd try a little heat. Not enough to discolor the metal but enough to burn your hand. Heat the cylinder around the nipple, not the nipple itself

williamd · September 26, 2007, 05:45 PM

Edited by the moderator.

jhenry · September 26, 2007, 06:35 PM

Have you tried Kroil? That stuff penetrates better than any other stuff I have used. If that dosent work then use heat very carefully. Best of luck.

fisherman66 · September 26, 2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Okay guys, try to keep it straight.

A couple nipples always help.

K.A.T. · September 26, 2007, 07:30 PM

This is a problem that was posted on the The HIgh Road forum a while back.There was a lot of replies,you could do a search over there.

This is what I done.Soaked them in Liquid Wrench for 3 days,didn't work.Heated the cylinder with a blow drier,placed it on a workbench,placed the nipple wrench on the nipple and tapped it with a hammer 3or4 times,came right out.I had 3 nipples stuck in a used pistol that I bought,had already broke one nipple wrench.Maybe it was the combination of all the above but it worked.Don't hit it with a hammer,tapp on it with the hammer.

Some of the solutions on THR was soak the cylinder for a week in transmission fluid,some soaked it in deiseal fuel.See if you can find that thread.

James K · September 26, 2007, 07:44 PM

The main reason nipple wrenches fail is because they slip up off the nipples. If you have access to a drill press, try this.

Clamp the cylinder, rear end up, in the drill press vise using leather jaws to prevent marring the cylinder.

Knock the handle off the nipple wrench and chuck the wrench in the drill press chuck.

DO NOT TURN ON POWER.

Bring the nipple wrench down on the nipple and hold (or lock) the press down. This keeps the wrench from jumping off the nipple.

Turn the chuck by hand; it might take some "wiggling" back and forth, but the nipple will come out.

(This also works with tight screws, using those stubby screwdriver bits they make for the power tools or screwdriver sets.)

Jim

Doyle · September 26, 2007, 07:51 PM

Get a pot big enough to hold your gun. Remove the grips (and anything else that comes off easily). Put the gun into the pot and add enough water to cover the gun completely. Add a healthy shot of household ammonia and put it on the stove until it comes to a boil. Turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. Pull it out (use gloves for obvious reasons) and now try to pull the nipples off. I bet they'll pop right off. Black power primer is water and ammonia soluable. After you get them off, use compressed air to blow the gun completely dry - then oil it.

Hawg · September 26, 2007, 08:00 PM

Ammonia will remove bluing.

Hawg · September 26, 2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Clamp the cylinder, rear end up, in the drill press vise using leather jaws to prevent marring the cylinder.

A better way would be to use steel rods sligtly under chamber size in two opposite chambers. Clamp the rods in the vise. No marring the cylinder and a firm no slip grip. You could also use drill bits with the shank portion in the chambers.

arcticap · September 27, 2007, 12:45 AM

It was suggested to place it in a metal container partially filled with transmission oil and heat it up, and then continue to soak it and re-heating it for as long as it takes, several days if necessary.

marcseatac · September 27, 2007, 02:01 AM

Stick toothpicks in the nipples to plug them then fill the cylinders about half full of Break-Free CLP and let it sit until you see the oil bleeding from the nipples. I bet 20 bucks that will work.

Pahoo · September 28, 2007, 03:14 PM

Certianly want to thank Y'all for all the input. Going to put in order and try your suggestions. Will let Y'all know how I make out and really think that one or more of these suggestions will work. As for WilliamD, I'm reminded of the following;

Quote:

You can take the boy out of the Navy but you can't take the Navy out of the boy.

marcseatac · September 29, 2007, 05:12 PM

Don't keep us in suspense.................

September 26, 2007, 04:46 PM	#1
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Stuck Nipples Okay guys, try to keep it straight. I have two stuck nipples in my Roger Old Army. I have tried ever "Easy out Liquid" I can find. Have not tried any heat. Cylinder and nipples are S.S. I have drilled out studs before but never anything like this. Figure I have the following choices and what do you guys think. Pistol shoots great on all chambers but kind of like having a gorgeous girlfiend with a wart on her nose. Send it back to the factory ?? Drill them out and clean the threads? Try heat and extra torque?? Live with the wart ??

September 26, 2007, 05:45 PM	#4
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Edited by the moderator. __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich! Last edited by 4V50 Gary; September 26, 2007 at 08:10 PM. Reason: Poor taste for TFL.

September 26, 2007, 06:35 PM	#5
jhenry Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Location: Ozarks Posts: 1,840	Have you tried Kroil? That stuff penetrates better than any other stuff I have used. If that dosent work then use heat very carefully. Best of luck. __________________ "A Liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do, as long as it's mandatory". - Charles Krauthammer

September 26, 2007, 07:30 PM	#7
K.A.T. Member Join Date: May 31, 2007 Location: Gainesville,Ga. Posts: 80	This is a problem that was posted on the The HIgh Road forum a while back.There was a lot of replies,you could do a search over there. This is what I done.Soaked them in Liquid Wrench for 3 days,didn't work.Heated the cylinder with a blow drier,placed it on a workbench,placed the nipple wrench on the nipple and tapped it with a hammer 3or4 times,came right out.I had 3 nipples stuck in a used pistol that I bought,had already broke one nipple wrench.Maybe it was the combination of all the above but it worked.Don't hit it with a hammer,tapp on it with the hammer. Some of the solutions on THR was soak the cylinder for a week in transmission fluid,some soaked it in deiseal fuel.See if you can find that thread. __________________ Never mind the dog, beware of the Colt!

September 26, 2007, 04:57 PM	#2
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	I've had a problem like this once with my Repro. 3rd model Dragoon & had soaked the cylinder in hot cooking oil for bit of time to get it loosend up from a lot of shooting "& dummy me did not anti sieze the nipple threads."

September 26, 2007, 05:37 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	I'd try a little heat. Not enough to discolor the metal but enough to burn your hand. Heat the cylinder around the nipple, not the nipple itself

September 26, 2007, 07:44 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The main reason nipple wrenches fail is because they slip up off the nipples. If you have access to a drill press, try this. Clamp the cylinder, rear end up, in the drill press vise using leather jaws to prevent marring the cylinder. Knock the handle off the nipple wrench and chuck the wrench in the drill press chuck. DO NOT TURN ON POWER. Bring the nipple wrench down on the nipple and hold (or lock) the press down. This keeps the wrench from jumping off the nipple. Turn the chuck by hand; it might take some "wiggling" back and forth, but the nipple will come out. (This also works with tight screws, using those stubby screwdriver bits they make for the power tools or screwdriver sets.) Jim

September 26, 2007, 07:51 PM	#9
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Get a pot big enough to hold your gun. Remove the grips (and anything else that comes off easily). Put the gun into the pot and add enough water to cover the gun completely. Add a healthy shot of household ammonia and put it on the stove until it comes to a boil. Turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. Pull it out (use gloves for obvious reasons) and now try to pull the nipples off. I bet they'll pop right off. Black power primer is water and ammonia soluable. After you get them off, use compressed air to blow the gun completely dry - then oil it.

September 26, 2007, 08:00 PM	#10
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Ammonia will remove bluing.

September 27, 2007, 12:45 AM	#12
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	It was suggested to place it in a metal container partially filled with transmission oil and heat it up, and then continue to soak it and re-heating it for as long as it takes, several days if necessary.

September 27, 2007, 02:01 AM	#13
marcseatac Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 225	Stick toothpicks in the nipples to plug them then fill the cylinders about half full of Break-Free CLP and let it sit until you see the oil bleeding from the nipples. I bet 20 bucks that will work.

September 29, 2007, 05:12 PM	#15
marcseatac Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 225	Don't keep us in suspense.................