Removing shower pipe

[threeputt]

I live in a home built in 1958. I need to replace the shower head with one that has a hose. So far nothing I have done works to break the pipe free.

I took a large Phillip screwdriver and stuck it in the chrome pipe using grip pliers after soaking it with Kroil Penetrating Oil and tried to break it loose from 1/2 inch galvanized 90. Won't move. I have a torch but don't really want to use it in this tight area.

Other than cutting into part of wall in closet and just replace everything does anyone have a tip on how I might break this outdated pipe loose so I can install a new shower head assembly.
If I had room I could just break it off and use a hacksaw blade to remove what's left .

 

[glentre]

Keep soaking it for a day or two to let the lubricant seep into the threads. Trying it immediately after applying the Kroll won't do it. The chrome shower pipe is brass and the ell looks like galvanized steel so the galvanic action between the two dissimilar metals tends to weld them together. When originally installed, they may not have used pipe dope on the threads (teflon tape was invented yet) because there is not much pressure on that joint since it only sees water when the shower is turned on. That would make the connection harder to break loose. You could also heat the chrome pipe with a torch well away from the wall. Being brass, the heat will travel up to the ell fitting fairly quickly.

Glen

 

[threeputt]

I just figured it out. I had a tool I made years ago to remove the nut on my sink. Took a 1/2 drive extension connected to my homemade tool , slide it over the pipe and got it out. I was determined to get it out or break it off. It came out.

 

[59 wagon man]

all you needed was a simple pipe wrench

 

[firebirdparts]

If I had room I could just break it off and use a hacksaw blade to remove what's left .

Man, don't do that. Give the kroil some time.

P.S. I see you got it.

 

[driftpin]

all you needed was a simple pipe wrench

He should know, he's a plumber!

Heat, properly-applied, will usually do the trick, if you're also using a liquid penetrant.

And the correct wrenches, of-course!

I've had luck with stubborn fasteners where some shock, as-in a few raps with a hammer, and then trying to move the fastener both-ways, to break things loose, and used in-conjunction with penetrating oil, heat, and the correct tools.

I treat it as an escalation.

First, the tool. If it doesn't move, a few raps and some penetrating oil, a few more raps.

Back to the tool, try it both ways, R and L.

That doesn't do it, heat. Be careful of how you use it. Maybe use a heat-retardant blanket.

 

[threeputt]

I tried a small pipe wrench. Could not get it to move. I didn't have anything larger . Maybe if could have found a cheater pipe it would have came off.

I had this socket welded on a piece of pipe that I made years ago for one project.

I then took a 1/2 inch extension 2 foot long and stuck in the welded socket. Put the pipe end over part I was trying to remove. The extra leverage made it move right out. Picture I uploaded shows 1 foot extension. I used it to finish turning it because the 2 foot one was too long.
Don't think I have used this tool in 40 years but I did today.

 

[nadogail]

When I was still a High School student, an old man told me "The longer the stick, the better the fight". That was 65 years ago.