Radiator Key

[Onoff]

I need a circa 4.5mm radiator key. None of my usual keys fit. They measure about 5mm² to 5.5mm². This is about 4.5mm².

Even tried 3D printing one!

A 1/4" drive to 4.5mm square socket might work.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

 

[Agroshield]

3DP an insert for the larger one to reduce it.

Or use brass shim superglued in.

Wax up the head of the bleed nipple, splodge some JB Weld into the key, push it on and wait 24h.

 

[Mark 5]

I need a circa 4.5mm radiator key. None of my usual keys fit. They measure about 5mm² to 5.5mm². This is about 4.5mm².

Even tried 3D printing one!

A 1/4" drive to 4.5mm square socket might work.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

It might be me but from the photo it looks like a slot head is visible?

 

[Onoff]

It might be me but from the photo it looks like a slot head is visible?

I'll look again. Tbh it's stuck tight. SWMBO's been on at me for ages to look at the rad in my daughter's room, that she's tried bleeding it etc.

Tried the various keys on each of the two rad panels (double rad). Then thought hang on, both panels are cold.

Stuck pin in the TRV! Gave it a tap with the adjustable and a squirt of Lidl W5 WD40 clone.

All good now.

 

[Mark 5]

I'll look again. Tbh it's stuck tight. SWMBO's been on at me for ages to look at the rad in my daughter's room, that she's tried bleeding it etc.

Tried the various keys on each of the two rad panels (double rad). Then thought hang on, both panels are cold.

Stuck pin in the TRV! Gave it a tap with the adjustable and a squirt of Lidl W5 WD40 clone.

All good now.

Ah stuck TRV pin, caused many a panic moment, as you say, releasing agent and a quick tap, generally sorts them out.

Yeah, look again I swear down I'm seeing a slot head, hope that's the case.

 

[Kayos]

It's worn, Myson rads are terrible for it. Possibly over tightened and rounded

 

[voipio]

How about getting a clock winding key. They come in different sizes (see below).

Looking at the "Ultimate radiator key" on Amazon, the imperial size hole looks smaller than the metric side. It's shocking that no one who is selling these radiator keys bothers to supply the measurements of the business end(s), allowing the buyer to make a better informed choice. I've just tried simply scaling the images in the Amazon listing and, if the metric end is 5.0mm across the flats, then the imperial end will be about 4.5mm across the flats.

Clock key sizes
# mm
00 2.00
0 2.25
1 2.50
2 2.75
3 3.00
4 3.25
5 3.50
6 3.75
7 4.00
8 4.25
9 4.50
10 4.75
11 5.00
12 5.25
13 5.50
14 5.75
15 6.00

 

[gaz1]

clock type are no good for rads

brass rad key and a pair of pliers or grips to crack them loose

Brass Radiator Key

This traditional radiator key is an essential tool for plumbers and is a useful addition to any homeowner's tool box. It's primarily used for bleeding excess air from water-filled radiators. If left in the system, excess air can cause the performance of your central heating setup to drop.This...

www.toolstation.com

open and close that trv valve a few times to losen any crap thats there and also give a few taps at full flow shifts most crap lose on them

 

[Melvyn Best]

I turned our central heating on and bled all the radiators early October just in case we had problems, sure enough we had a couple of stuck TRVs

 

[brightspark]

I turned our central heating on and bled all the radiators early October just in case we had problems, sure enough we had a couple of stuck TRVs

take the heads off and squirt the pin and give it a rogering up and down with pliers works every time unless there well knacked

 

[Blobber]

I seem to remember they are an odd size, can you not get some calipers in to measure?

 

[hunter27]

Myson radiators were supplied with a pressed spanner instead of the usual key at one time, the vent stuck out proud of the panel, it was not uncommon for them to be over tightened and snap the end of the vent due to the extra leverage. We fitted these radiators for a few years and had to replace many of them due of this when they had been in for a few years. Is it possible you are only seeing the stub of the valve, what does the adjoining panels vent look like?

 

[RichardM]

No help to you but I made my radiator key, lump of brass, drilled hole, square file for the same reason, poor fitting keys. I found keys a bit hit and miss, big holes notches to make them "square" and they slip on the valve head.

Cut a bit of old beer can up to act as a shim in the key, ought get you out of the **** with swmbo. Then hurry off to the pub.........

 

[dobbslc]

If it's a slot in the valve put a flat blade screwdriver bit in it and turn with a spanner.

 

[DickyDoDah]

If you still need a key

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radiator-Bleed-Key-4-00mm-4-25mm/dp/B0BWWYZPDM/ref=pd_bxgy_thbs_d_sccl_1/260-4994574-7829258?pd_rd_w=5U5Oz&content-id=amzn1.sym.02820c73-8608-4218-9735-1554b4beb596&pf_rd_p=02820c73-8608-4218-9735-1554b4beb596&pf_rd_r=YET8F3J56DNWBVM4F71M&pd_rd_wg=2NGIK&pd_rd_r=2c21443b-667e-46f9-85ed-7df9007221d5&pd_rd_i=B0BWWYZPDM&psc=1

 

[Onoff]

It might be me but from the photo it looks like a slot head is visible?

Definitely not. Photo of the same rad type in another room. The normal keys fit this. Can only be that the nipples on the problem rad are worn / rounded off. Problem solved for now as the rad is hot through sorting the TRV.