Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> What happens if you overtighten nut? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1117892696 Message started by me on Jun 4^th, 2005, 2:44pm

Title: What happens if you overtighten nut?
Post by me on Jun 4^th, 2005, 2:44pm

Hi all, great site - wish I'd found it before I started my bathroom!

Anyway, bathroom sink has pop-up waste and has been leaking. Following advice from someone, I took it to bits, dried it all off and reassembled as told to with plenty of silicone.

I'm a bit worried now though as I've read that you shouldn't overtighten nuts and I screwed on the large plastic nut that went underneath the sink to hole the waste on, really tightly. Hand tight then probably 3 (I think) quarter turns with tool.

Silicone is almost dry now so not easy to take off and redo. Is this an issue I need to worry about? I haven't checked for leaks as I was waiting until silicone was completely dry.

Does it really make a difference if the plastic nut is too tight? What would happen? Do I need to be concerned or am I worrying for nothing?

Cheers for any advice.

Title: Re: What happens if you overtighten nut?
Post by JerryD on Jun 4^th, 2005, 5:27pm

All that happens is that the plastic nut snaps or you strip the thread. You can be dead unlucky and crack the basin but usually the nut gives up first.

Sounds like you're ok though.......... :)

Title: Re: What happens if you overtighten nut?
Post by billythekid on Jun 5^th, 2005, 5:23pm

yeah with the addition of the silicon as a lubricant while tightening you're probably fine. The biggest "overtighten" problem comes with compression fittings on copper, if you overtighten those the olive(compression ring) can actually dig too far into the copper and burst it!

plastic nuts on basin wastes are a total bastard too tho! lol

btk

Title: Re: What happens if you overtighten nut?
Post by me on Jun 6^th, 2005, 12:18pm

Brilliant, thanks for replies.

Looks like I can breathe easy now then, the waste isn't leaking now so I really didn't want to have to take the nut off again. I just wasn't sure what the consequences could've been.

Useful to know about the copper fittings. I'll bear that in mind for future use.

Thanks again.