Replacing glass in portlight - how to undo?

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NickNap

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I need to replace the glass in a Westerly circular portlight. It looks as though the insert should unscrew (see pic).

I've tried plus gas and a reasonable amount of force with a homemade tool, but I guess it's not been undone in its forty years.

Any suggestions?
 
Yes, large spanner with two lugs to locate in holes. But reached the point where force was beginning to distort the holes

It's been on WOA forum for a few weeks, no response so far
 
Get a large flat bar, about 3/8" thick and 1 1/2" long, 1 foot wide, get hardened steel pegs, the size of the holes welded to that bar, or fitted through and welded on the back. fit the bar in the holes, put a "G" cramp to hold the bar in place, on the glass and bar, slight heat to ring with hot air gun. G cramp will hold bar in place and straight, hold the porthole down with cramps on a bench or whatever, now turn the barshould come loose, I did 17 like this, chromed bronze portlights. I did break three glasses, but these days cheap and easy to get hold of replacements, I got them made. If the holes are too distorted drill new ones.
 
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NickNap said:
...Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Plusgas / diesel as you've already done & warming the surround will help, but I don't think brute force is the answer - the main thing is to apply a pure turning force to the ring without any sideways load whatsoever. You will probably need to clamp the frame to something and get a pin spanner with a handle on each end so you can simultaneously push on one end and and pull on the other to try and turn the ring without applying any other force - this sort of thing:

pimg0070.jpg


Try to turn it a little way in each direction first. Any off-centre force, or excessive force will cause it to jam solid, so go steady. You could try tapping the ring downwards (towards the glass) to try and break any corrosion between the ring and the frame whilst you are trying to turn the ring.

My 0.02p

Andy

Edit due to slow typing: OK - what he said^^^^^^^
 
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Portlight glass

Hi Nicknap
Smash the glass and remove all bits,then soak in diesel for a few days and make a tool with two prongs and a long handle and this should do it ,if not apply heat and keep trying.I freed off two like this but failed on one and got a new lock ring made up which did the job.
Good luck
Bacus
 
NickNap said:
I need to replace the glass in a Westerly circular portlight. It looks as though the insert should unscrew (see pic).

I've tried plus gas and a reasonable amount of force with a homemade tool, but I guess it's not been undone in its forty years.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
From your photo there seems to be a large amount of sealant between the glass and the frame - presumably applied to remedy historic leaks. This should be removed as much as possible before you try to remove the glass as it can provide quite a resistance to turning. I would try plus gas or similar for a few days before turning with a well-fitting tool. Final resort break the glass and remove completely as this will allow you to turn in both directions which will help break the corrosion seal.
 
Heres another idea........ If you can clamp the glass with a couple of G clamps using thin hard rubber penny washers as pads the sort you get from plumbers merchants then a bar between the two clamps will give you good leverage ,something may happen ,also try sharp taps with a hammer on lever to produce shock loading . If the glass comes loose it may free the part . Another idea is to boil the lot for an hour as boiling water can dissolve some types of corrosion .
 
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