Can this radiator be fixed (Needs bleeding)

[Usjes]

Hi,

I have been bleeding my radiators but have come across a problem with one of them(IMG3.JPG) and am wondering if there is any solution or if I will have to replace it entirely. The problem is that the end has been sheared off the bleeding screw and so there is nothing for the bleeding key(IMG4) to take hold of. See IMG2.JPG, I have stripped away the paint around the bleeding valve and you can see that the end has been sheared off the bleeding screw (the square brass coloured bit at the center of the silver circle). Is it possible to fix this somehow, or might the entire silver circular valve be removable ? It looks to me like it is part of the body of the radiator with the bleeding screw being the only removable part, but it is hard to be sure. Any ideas ?

Thanks

IMG2:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=108806867&albumID=2325937&imageID=35741137
IMG3:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=108806867&albumID=2325937&imageID=35741145
IMG4:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=108806867&albumID=2325937&imageID=35741153

 

[DavyJones]

My worst nightmare.

Say yourself a load of hassle and buy new rad, cost less than €70 want a go at rremoving vent try this.

1 Turn off valves both side of rad
2 rip rad valve and drain rad into bucket
or
3 rip each valve together, place thumb over rad end , lift and spin upside down, I.E rad full of water but water not allowed to spill(due to thumb cover) A two man job and how plumbers do it.

4 After emptying rad, lay rad on flat surface, get metal drill slightly smaller than vent and drill slowly.

I have had mixed results with this, depends on rad condition and age. It's a long time since I tried it, easy to replace rad.

 

[Sonic1]

[broken link removed]

Saw this item while googling the other day! Looks quite interesting and seems to cut out having to bleed radiators. Would be interested in seeing what somebody with plumbing knowledge thinks of it, was thinking of getting them for my rads. Might be of some interest to you Usjes, save you having the above problem again.

No connection to above website

 

[Jus]

I would suggest as DavyJones above.
Though if you get the rad onto the floor you could drill a series of holes in a straight line with a small drill bit to make a groove for a screw driver. You could then remove the vent screw and replace with a new one. Can be hard to get new ones though, usually have to find an old rad.