Andy wrote:

As you mentioned in your previous reply though, actually removing the
valves could be a bit tricky if (as I suspect) there's no movement in the
22mm pipes either side of the valve. You mentioned cutting the valve

Removing will be dead easy, rather than bothering to unscrew the nut,
just cut the pipe above and below the valve. One of the small pipe
cutters should fit in between the pipes ok. Having said that you may
find there is play in the pipes anyway, especialy as the top section of
each pipe has a dog leg in it.

out and joining the two pipe ends with new pipe and solder connectors.
Wouldn't I have the same issues with pipe rigidity when assembling such
a connection setup i.e somethings got to give to allow the pipe to be fitted
inside a solder connector....

You you are right, the key word in my original suggestion however was
"slip"... as in solder "slip connector". These are like ordinary solder
fittings except they don't have the depression in the centre that stops
them sliding right over the pipe. Hence as long as you can get a pipes
thickness of lateral movement out of at least one pipe, you simply flux
it up, slide it right onto the pipe so that it does not overlap the end,
re-align the pipes, and slide it half way back again before soldering.
You can achieve the same result with a compression fitting if you want
by drilling out the stop in the middle of it so it will pass right onto
a pipe (tricky without a big drill bit and a drill press mind you!) If
you really don't fancy that, then you could use a couple of push fit
elbows and a short section of flexible plastic pipe instead.

--
Cheers,

John.

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