Taking apart WGP inline regs - what are your tricks without mauling up threads?

[Blackmagic71]

I’m in the process of rebuilding a couple of WGP autocockers, but I’ve never really disassembled the inline regulators before.

Does anybody have any good tricks that won’t mangle the threads?

Ideally I’d just like a wrench like in this video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VlWxSxaXeYg

[FrankW]

I used to use two conduit locknuts to get the top off. Screw one partly down, then the other up against it. Unscrew the top with the inner one. The pressure against the outer one with keep them from both coming off.

[Socalpumpballer]

Wrap a bunch of rubber bands as tight as you can around each section then unscrew them by hand

[PumpMan10988]

I took an old aluminum tank thread protector and cut a slot through it with a hacksaw. Thread that on, clamp some vice grips to the thread protector, and voila! No need for fancy thread pliers etc.

A strap wrench or soft jaws in the vice will be helpful for holding the base if the above trick isn't enough.

[Jonnydread]

This is clever

[lhamilton1807]

Awesome solution. I will have to do this to a spare reg cap I have.

[bacci paintball]

Going to have to try this, good idea!

[flyweightnate]

I used to use two conduit locknuts to get the top off. Screw one partly down, then the other up against it. Unscrew the top with the inner one. The pressure against the outer one with keep them from both coming off.

Ooh, I like this idea.

1/2 NPSM thread IIRC.

[iamthelazerviking]

Double strap wrench

[latches109]

Soft jaw vice liners and strap wrench

[Blackmagic71]

Staunchy just put this on his website and I picked one up to try it.

https://stanchy.com/collections/techtools/products/reg-wrench-safety-block

[Magmoormaster]

Pumpman's thread protector trick is really clever. If I didn't already have one of those welded vice clamps, I'd do that.

[mueller]

i've never had luck w/ strap wrenches and prefer something more... definitive, so

[bacci paintball]

I use zip ties with vice grips which works great but you have to use a new part of a zip tie every time you tighten and be meticulous about it to not scratch parts.

[SR_matt]

i've never had luck w/ strap wrenches and prefer something more... definitive, so

I have one of these on order. There was a guy on one of the autococker FB pages that was making some and I couldn’t pass it up… even though I will use it all of 1-4 times probably ever haha.

[mueller]

well, you hopefully won't break it and another paintballer will want it later --- so it's a "lease" as I see it!

[SR_matt]

I am not following, are you talking about giving away tools? people do that? you mean you don't have every tool you ever bought still... and in some cases multiples because you lost the first and then found it again?

but in all seriousness I am the person act acquires tool and then when I die people are going to have to sort out where the hell they can give them away to, I just inherited my grandfather's tools who taught auto mechanics until he was almost 90. Heven't even gotten to look through them yet but I finally get to have a big boy tool chest... once I can actually get a big boy house and not be stuck in a damn condo.

[Blackmagic71]

I tried the Staunchy thread protector tonight and it worked great. 👍