How to remove plug from bulkhead

[GothFishKeeper]

I bought a used storage drum for RO but I can’t get this plug out of the bulkhead.



I also can’t move it out of the shower because it’s filled with vinegar and water that I was using to clean it. But now idk how to drain it aside from siphoning the water out, and regardless of that I want the bottom bulkhead to be able to transfer water. Idk how these bulkhead plugs work as I’ve never seen them before, but there was silicone around the edge of it. The bulkhead can be turned slightly with immense force on my part but it doesn’t actually unscrew.

 

[UncommonSense]

could you get a closer photo of the bulkhead part in question for identification purposes?

 

[GothFishKeeper]

could you get a closer photo of the bulkhead part in question for identification purposes?

Yeah sorry for the late response, gimme one sec

 

[GothFishKeeper]

could you get a closer photo of the bulkhead part in question for identification purposes?

 

[UncommonSense]

Okay! So, this is a standard tank bulkhead fitting, like a hardware store stocks!

It is installed with the bulkhead flange and rubber sealing gasket on the interior of the tank, and the locking gland nut on the exterior!

— This style of threaded bulkhead body lacks any flat faces to grab with pliers (avoiding ruining the threads)

— the only part of the bulkhead fitting’s body which can be grabbed and spun is the flange, on the interior of the tank…

So, your options are:

A: unscrew the bulkhead fitting locking gland nut, this will make all the fluid in the container rapidly drain around the bulkhead fitting’s body/rubber gasket! — from here, you would remove the bulkhead from the interior of the container, and unscrew the pipe plug now that you can grab the hexagonal flange side of the bulkhead fitting!

B: unscrew gland nut and remove bulkhead as stated above, then just replace it altogether!

C: grab the threaded bulkhead body with one set of those pictured channel lock pliers or a pipe wrench (this will destroy the bulkhead body threads used to unscrew the gland nut), grab the pipe plug with another set of large pliers or a pipe wrench… unscrew with all your might and pray that the whoever put it together didn’t use pipe cement on the threads of that plug (if the plug is cemented, you will need to replace the entire bulkhead fitting)

 

[GothFishKeeper]

Okay! So, this is a standard tank bulkhead fitting, like a hardware store stocks!

It is installed with the bulkhead flange and rubber sealing gasket on the interior of the tank, and the locking gland nut on the exterior!

— This style of threaded bulkhead body lacks any flat faces to grab with pliers (avoiding ruining the threads)

— the only part of the bulkhead fitting’s body which can be grabbed and spun is the flange, on the interior of the tank…

So, your options are:

A: unscrew the bulkhead fitting locking gland nut, this will make all the fluid in the container rapidly drain around the bulkhead fitting’s body/rubber gasket! — from here, you would remove the bulkhead from the interior of the container, and unscrew the pipe plug now that you can grab the hexagonal flange side of the bulkhead fitting!

B: unscrew gland nut and remove bulkhead as stated above, then just replace it altogether!

C: grab the threaded bulkhead body with one set of those pictured channel lock pliers or a pipe wrench (this will destroy the bulkhead body threads used to unscrew the gland nut), grab the pipe plug with another set of large pliers or a pipe wrench… unscrew with all your might and pray that the whoever put it together didn’t use pipe cement on the threads of that plug (if the plug is cemented, you will need to replace the entire bulkhead fitting)

So I guess I’ve been trying to do option A this whole time, but the gland nut won’t budge because i can’t get a wrench to grip it enough. When you say it’s locking, what does that exactly mean?

 

[UncommonSense]

When you say it’s locking, what does that exactly mean?

Apologies, I mean that it is used as a clamping mechanism! — when fully threaded tight, it will clamp the rubber bulkhead gasket tight between the tank wall, and bulkhead flange! (Effectively clamping, or “locking” the bulkhead in place/sealed)

because i can’t get a wrench to grip it enough

Okay! So, a few things here:

— it looks like the bulkhead gland nut is siliconed in place here, that would be what’s preventing you from turning it!

— this might work to your advantage to let you unscrew the pipe plug from the bulkhead without taking the bulkhead apart! (Bulkheads installed as they should be [no silicone adhesive/sealant] are liable to spin when you try unscrewing parts from them; this one may be well enough seized in place with silicone to prevent it spinning)

— if you don’t already know, it’s important to note that both the channel lock pliers pictured above, and traditional pipe wrenches are NOT ambidextrous! — that is, they are only designed to grab and spin things in one direction, and will slip badly if used backwards for grasping and levering! (The serrated teeth are actually ramp shaped, you flip the tool itself over to switch direction of rotation!)

— if your existing channel lock pliers fail you (keep slipping, despite using correct grasping direction), I recommend trying a proper pipe wrench, and/or a larger, nicer set of channel lock pliers! (I’m quite partial to Knipex hand tools these days, personally!)

 

[mmorrison55]

Are you trying to remove the black part or white part?

If black part on the outsides it’s usually lefty tightly and righty loosey. backwards from normal.

This may help…

 

[GothFishKeeper]

Are you trying to remove the black part or white part?

If black part on the outsides it’s usually lefty tightly and righty loosey. backwards from normal.

This may help…

Oh my god ur right!

 

[GothFishKeeper]

When you say it’s locking, what does that exactly mean?

Apologies, I mean that it is used as a clamping mechanism! — when fully threaded tight, it will clamp the rubber bulkhead gasket tight between the tank wall, and bulkhead flange! (Effectively clamping, or “locking” the bulkhead in place/sealed)

because i can’t get a wrench to grip it enough

Okay! So, a few things here:

— it looks like the bulkhead gland nut is siliconed in place here, that would be what’s preventing you from turning it!

— this might work to your advantage to let you unscrew the pipe plug from the bulkhead without taking the bulkhead apart! (Bulkheads installed as they should be [no silicone adhesive/sealant] are liable to spin when you try unscrewing parts from them; this one may be well enough seized in place with silicone to prevent it spinning)

— if you don’t already know, it’s important to note that both the channel lock pliers pictured above, and traditional pipe wrenches are NOT ambidextrous! — that is, they are only designed to grab and spin things in one direction, and will slip badly if used backwards for grasping and levering! (The serrated teeth are actually ramp shaped, you flip the tool itself over to switch direction of rotation!)

— if your existing channel lock pliers fail you (keep slipping, despite using correct grasping direction), I recommend trying a proper pipe wrench, and/or a larger, nicer set of channel lock pliers! (I’m quite partial to Knipex hand tools these days, personally!)

View attachment 20251211_235236_62A209A9-6A55-4530-9C59-DAB6A3B3F628.mov
Made a video to show what’s going on because i don’t know how to explain it

 

[UncommonSense]

Made a video to show what’s going on because i don’t know how to explain it

What’s holding it in is water pressure, and a bit of residual silicone sealant! — you can just tear the silicone free with a bit of brute force!

The bulkhead nut is now loose, which is excellent work!

— it does actually unscrew completely and come off as just a nut, though!

— Your threads are damaged right at the end where the nut currently is, making it require more force to unscrew… try grabbing the white plug with one wrench, and the bulkhead nut with another wrench to keep the bulkhead nut unscrewing through the messed up threads!

 

[GothFishKeeper]

Made a video to show what’s going on because i don’t know how to explain it

What’s holding it in is water pressure, and a bit of residual silicone sealant!

The nut is now loose, which is excellent work! — it does actually unscrew completely and come off as just a nut, though!

— Your threads are damaged right at the end where the nut currently is, making it require more force to unscrew… try grabbing the white plug with one wrench, and the bulkhead nut with another wrench to keep the nut bulkhead nut unscrewing through the messed up threads!

Success!! Does this mean it’s time for blast off by pulling it out from the inside?

I plan on just replacing the bulkhead tomorrow if so

 

[UncommonSense]

Success!! Does this mean it’s time for blast off by pulling it out from the inside?

I plan on just replacing the bulkhead tomorrow if so

Very nicely done!

You will just push the bulkhead in through the hole from the outside, or get in there and yank it free from the inside to open the floodgates!

— Save the old bulkhead fitting to bring to the store, this will let you match body diameter to the new one! (If the new bulkhead has a larger diameter body, the hole in the container will be physically too small!)

 

[GothFishKeeper]

Success!! Does this mean it’s time for blast off by pulling it out from the inside?

I plan on just replacing the bulkhead tomorrow if so

Very nicely done!

You will just push the bulkhead in through the hole from the outside, or get in there and yank it free from the inside to open the floodgates!

— Save the old bulkhead fitting to bring to the store, this will let you match body diameter to the new one! (If the new bulkhead has a larger diameter body, the hole in the container will be physically too small!)

Noted, thank you so much!!