Cut a coupler

[bigtiller]

I have a 1.5 x 36" pipe that I will use as an extension to a 3/4" breaker bar for leverage. I also have a coupler to put on the pipe threads for a little more strength and to protect the threads and my delicate hands.

If I cut the coupler in half and use each half on both ends of the pipe, will the coupler survive the punishment of a stubborn rusty bolt? Will it crack and fall apart? Or will it last for ever?

 

[Redlands Okie]

If I am understand correctly the handle of the breaker is inside the pipe. If you cut the coupler in half and put half on each end there is going to be very little strain on the coupler. After all the pipe has most of the strain. The cheater is going to be way more strain on the breaker bar than anything.

Growing up around the oil field business a 3 foot cheater is on the shorter side

 

[farm boy00]

Go for it. The coupler will help strengthen the pipe and I've only seen pipe fittings ( I work with black pipe ) break when over tightened in a pipe threading machine or a bad fitting (factor defect in fitting)

 

[4570Man]

It would half to be better than nothing. As long as the breaker bar handle is close to the diameter of the inside of the pipe I don’t think you’ll have a problem.

 

[BHD]

use a steel merchant coupler instead of a cast water pipe coupler,
most merchant couplers are straight thread and the ridgid or water pipe couplers have a tapered thread,

but there are steel and not cast, thus less prone to cracking,

 

[WranglerX]

Not sure of need of coupler on end that goes over breaker bar... Put pipe cap on end that will be handle If your delicate hands need protection (gloves?).... I prefer a cheater when forced to use it without any threads.... Always grab steel handle off floor jack....

Best bet if you need cheater bar often would be to get torque multiplier... I lucked out and got 4:1 torque multiplier at yard sale... You can put up to 250 ft-lbs on input and it will create up to 1000 ft-lbs on output....

Above image is for reference only...

TM has 1/2 dive input and 3/4 inch drive output...

Also consider when using cheater bar, if it fails under full torque load, you are freewheeling and it may cause you injury... This also applies to socket or wrench you are using to grasp nut or bolt if the fail...

No not safety police, but have learned to avoid pain whenever possible....

Dale

 

[Diggin It]

I have a 1.5 x 36" pipe that I will use as an extension to a 3/4" breaker bar for leverage. I also have a coupler to put on the pipe threads for a little more strength and to protect the threads and my delicate hands.

If I cut the coupler in half and use each half on both ends of the pipe, will the coupler survive the punishment of a stubborn rusty bolt? Will it crack and fall apart? Or will it last for ever?

If your purpose is to be able to add another length as an extension, I'd recommend against that.

If your purpose is to eliminate sharp edges, why not just cut the threaded ends off and round them with a grinder?

But yeah, pipe to extend a breaker bar isn't always the best plan.

 

[WranglerX]

If your purpose is to be able to add another length as an extension, I'd recommend against that.

If your purpose is to eliminate sharp edges, why not just cut the threaded ends off and round them with a grinder?

But yeah, pipe to extend a breaker bar isn't always the best plan.

Yep... You can actually break a 3/4 inch breaker bar .... I know from experience.... That is why I have gone to Torque Multiplier

Dale

 

[bigtiller]

If your purpose is to be able to add another length as an extension, I'd recommend against that.

If your purpose is to eliminate sharp edges, why not just cut the threaded ends off and round them with a grinder?

But yeah, pipe to extend a breaker bar isn't always the best plan.

You're right, this is just to eliminate sharp edges without damaging the pipe so it could be used for other things in the future.

I don't plan on putting a large amount of force on the pipe. It's for making hard jobs a little easier without screwing something up. That is also why it is only 3' long.