Removing immersion heater

[Worcesterman]

Hi
I was wondering if anybody might know a solution to a problem I am having removing an immersion heater. I am really struggling to find a spanner to remove an immersion heater. The box spanner and another immersion heater spanner that I’ve tried are a few mm too small and won’t quite fit fit over the nut. Most of the Stilson wrenches also don’t seem to open wide enough. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[Dereekoo]

Could try one of these although when I tried one a few years ago it was everso slightly to big so I bottled the job and took it back

Dickie Dyer Heavy Duty Immersion Heater Spanner

Heavy duty, unbreakable SG cast iron. For reaching recessed elements on immersion heaters. Compatible with most immersion heaters.Heavy duty, unbreakable SG cast iron spanner. Designed for fitting or removing recessed elements on immersion heaters. Compatible with most immersion heaters.

www.toolstation.com

 

[Johntheo5]

Hi
I was wondering if anybody might know a solution to a problem I am having removing an immersion heater. I am really struggling to find a spanner to remove an immersion heater. The box spanner and another immersion heater spanner that I’ve tried are a few mm too small and won’t quite fit fit over the nut. Most of the Stilson wrenches also don’t seem to open wide enough. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Do not use a Stilson. Make sure you get a spanner with "two" handles in order to apply a coupling opening torque which helps to avoid tearing the cylinder top, first, if space allows, get a sharpish chisel and give it a good whack with a lump hammer in the anticlockwise direction to break the seal. Also, if a top mounted immersion, let the cylinder full of water.

 

[Stuckinarut]

Can you post a photo of it?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If the immersion heater is being replaced anyway - try to get some heat into the boss first, to expand it and to help crack it. Try tightening a fraction, before trying to undo.

 

[Worcesterman]

Immersion heater

 

[Worcesterman]

If the immersion heater is being replaced anyway - try to get some heat into the boss first, to expand it and to help crack it. Try tightening a fraction, before trying to undo.

That might work if I could get a spanner that will fit the nut but standard 86mm ones available are a little too small to fit

 

[Worcesterman]

Do not use a Stilson. Make sure you get a spanner with "two" handles in order to apply a coupling opening torque which helps to avoid tearing the cylinder top, first, if space allows, get a sharpish chisel and give it a good whack with a lump hammer in the anticlockwise direction to break the seal. Also, if a top mounted immersion, let the cylinder full of water.

The difficulty is finding a spanner that fits the nut

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That might work if I could get a spanner that will fit the nut but standard 86mm ones available are a little too small to fit

Immersion heaters, and the spanners to fit them, are a standard size. Are you sure what you have is actually an immersion heater spanner?

Can you show a picture of the spanner, on or nearly on, the 'nut'?

 

[Stuckinarut]

That might work if I could get a spanner that will fit the nut but standard 86mm ones available are a little too small to fit

Have you tried disconnecting the cable and wiring first?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Have you tried disconnecting the wiring first?

Surely not?

 

[Stuckinarut]

Surely not?

I don’t follow.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I don’t follow.

Surely, not the reason why the spanner will not fit?

 

[Stuckinarut]

Surely, not the reason why the spanner will not fit?

Why can’t it be the reason. OP might just think it doesn’t fit, they (spanners) don’t go over cables.

 

[Worcesterman]

Have you tried disconnecting the cable and wiring first?

Yes, just connected on photo