Bill Lee wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. When it is suggested to replace the
"T", does that mean to heat it sufficiently to pull it out of the pipes and
then put in a new one, or to cut the pipe on all three sides and use a
joiner on each side to connect the new "T". I've never tried to remove and
then replace a "T" before so I'm open to any tips one might have.

snipped

If you're real lucky you may find there's enough "give" or spring in the
piping going into that T to permit you to reuse one or more of the
original pipe ends after you heat the T and pull them out (or it off) of
them or it.

If you can pull a pipe end out, clean the old solder off it by heating
it 'till it's molten and then wiping it off with a wadded cloth. Then
use abrasive paper or a wire brush to clean up the pipe end as close to
bare copper as you can get. (Use a pocket mirror to check the backside
if you can't see it directly.

If you have to cut the piping because there's no slack to work with,
then make the cuts about 2-1/2" from the ends of the T and use stubs of
new copper pipe and "slip couplings" plus a new T to replace what's there.

Slip couplings have no stop ridge inside them so they can slide
completely onto a piece of pipe and then be slid back down onto the end
of the pipe it's being joined to. Tou have to eyeball or measure things
to be certain that the slip coupling is centered over the joint before
soldering of course.

When soldering plumbing, cleanlyness is next to Godlyness, so make sure
you wire brush or sandpaper everything to be soldered (including the
insides of the legs of the new T.) 'till they're shiney, and don't
forget to wipe a film of plumbing flux on all surfaces which will
receive solder.

Heat the joints 'till the flux bubbles and then apply the solder where
the pipe enters the fitting. If you're doing it properly the solder will
pull into the joint by capillary action and run all around it. If you
doubt your prowess, practice on the bench with some spare parts until
you feel confidant you can handle "the real thing".

HTH,
--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."