"rangerssuck" wrote in message
...
Still working on this ice rink volume of the pipes problem. Step one
was to do a leak test because, as we had discussed, leakage in these
buried-in-concrete pipes would be a major game changer.

So, I hooked up a compressor and found, well, leakage. But it wasn't
coming from the pipes, the isolation valves were leaking enough to
make this test invalid. So, I decided to disconnect the pipes at the
isolation valves and plug them. Of course, they don't fit "normal"
test plugs, so I made up steel plates covered with closed-cell
neoprene foam sheet to sandwich between the pipe and valve flanges.

The two 2" supply pipes were no problem. The 4" return pipe, however,
required bigger wrenches than I have. "Easy." says I, "just go to HF
and get their jumbo combination wrenches with the 20% off coupon." So
I went and got the wrenches, and also picked up a set of big impact
sockets (3/4 inch drive - needed an adapter for that).

The friggin' wrenches don't fit. They are in 1/8" increments, and the
two sizes it turns out I need are 1 5/16 and 1 7/16. Totally useless,
they are. Near as I can tell, HF doesn't sell those 16th size at all.

Fortunately, the socket set is by 16ths, and I was able to use a 1
5/16 socket on the bolts and an adjustable on the nuts. But sheesh,
wouldn't ya think?

I have taken measurements off the fitting and cut a plate to size. In
the morning, I'll drill the holes in the plate and cover it with the
neoprene, bolt it up and get back to testing.

BTW, I was able to loosen one of the four bolts with my puny
Porter-Cable 1/4" 20V impact wrench, and the 1/4 hex to 1/2 square
adapter did NOT twist into a pretzel. My 1/2" air impact (bought from
enco 20 years ago) made quick work of the others.

======================

I've been using an oversized socket sleeved down with copper water
pipe since 1991 to loosen and tighten the chromed lug nuts on my
truck, which torque to 100 ft-Lbs. They've all come off at least once
a year to inspect the brakes. The copper has been replaced once. I
suspect 22 gauge sheet steel would last longer.
-jsw