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MB_NOLA
Jun 4, 2007, 05:33 PM
I have a shower fixture with female threaded bronze fitting. I am connecting male 1/4 NPT copper fittings into it. One of them I think was overtighten

I put it together the first time and it leaked, just a little.. Took it apart (unsoldering other joints) and put it back together a second time with more teflon tape and tightened it up. It still leaks and I'm afraid it was over tightened... Should the copper fitting be replaced now?[1] Or can I reassemble?

I was planning to reassemble it with RectorSeal Tplus2, instead of teflon tape.

Should I replace the fitting?

Thanks



[1] HD employee said that the copper doesn't "spring back" if it is overtightned. :)

ballengerb1
Jun 4, 2007, 05:47 PM
Replace the cooper fitting. This time give it three full wraps of teflon before you tighten.

MB_NOLA
Jun 4, 2007, 07:53 PM
Do you agree with the HD employee that the copper fitting has been compressed by overtightening? I thought he might have just been blowing smoke, since these are standard 1/2 NTP fittings, not compression fittings.

ballengerb1
Jun 5, 2007, 07:00 AM
If you overtighten copper you can distort it to the point it will crack let alone stretch. Also, it's a huge pain to try to resweat copper fiitings especially female.

MB_NOLA
Jun 5, 2007, 10:20 PM
Thanks. Resweating on the male copper fitting isn't a huge deal. At least the bronze shower fixture didn't crack.

It's not leaking now!