Remembering turn direction on acetylene bottles

Don't all the left hand thread nuts on the hoses have a small nick machined into the nut body to remind you?

MikeB

Just to confuse matters I have some RH threaded unions with the same nicks that would usually be on LH ones. I don't know why they came that way but I know from the application which way to unscrew them.

Well, yes. But when you're staring at those nicks trying to keep yourself from tightening the f*** out of your acetylene lines while attempting to take them off, do you do anything special? Or do you just automatically turn them the right (or perhaps I should say left) way?

To me, those nicks say "Warning! Warning! Confusion ahead!"

Go buy a paint marker from the craft section or an engraving pencil and tag the left hand fittings.

Just remember, flammable gasses threads are usually opposite to normal threads, or do you have problems with normal right hand threads as well?

I can screw and unscrew bolts inside of blind spaces with my arm cranked up like a pretzel. I never have a problem with right hand threads.

I think my problem is that I've got right hand threads so ingrained in my brain that as soon as I think "loose" or "tight" I turn the thing the correct direction -- for a right hand thread.

Interesting. I guess my problem is unique.

That depends a LOT on the gas, the tank type and size. Propane has at least 5 different threads with both left and right hand threads.

"Left on, right off"

But mostly..I know which is supposed to be which..and the little nicks in the corners of the flats certainly helps. Same with Tig coolers etc etc

Gunner

The methodology of the left has always been:

1. Lie
2. Repeat the lie as many times as possible
3. Have as many people repeat the lie as often as possible
4. Eventually, the uninformed believe the lie
5. The lie will then be made into some form oflaw
6. Then everyone must conform to the lie

Nope..its very very common with most people. Most folks have so little experience with lefthand threads that its rare and unique to most of them.

About the most lefthand thread use that I can think of were lug nuts on some older motor vehicles

And of course..bicycle cranks....

So how many people actually learn to turn em? Few.

Gunner

The methodology of the left has always been:

1. Lie
2. Repeat the lie as many times as possible
3. Have as many people repeat the lie as often as possible
4. Eventually, the uninformed believe the lie
5. The lie will then be made into some form oflaw
6. Then everyone must conform to the lie

Tie rod ends on most vehicle have one RH one LH. Some fan clutches as well. A few others still out there as well, usually in spots where a RH thread would tend to loosen from the predominant torque direction, or when a company wants to make it difficult for after market add-ons.

I learned the hard way. Thick paint covered the Ls on the wheel studs on the driver's side of the Army truck with a flat tire. I couldn't loosen a lug nut so I enlisted a buddy about my not-so-large size to help, and together we managed to turn it, the wrong way.

Then we sheepishly called on the motor pool mechanics to fix our little oops. They were so impressed that we were strong enough to strip the stud that they didn't give us any grief about replacing it. Afterwards they treated us with respect instead of like geeky electronic techs. jsw

The light bulbs in New York City subway stations have left-hand threaded edison bases to discourage theft.

Bicycle pedals? Lugnuts on older camper trailers?

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

Tie rod ends on most vehicle have one RH one LH. Some fan clutches as well. A few others still out there as well, usually in spots where a RH thread would tend to loosen from the predominant torque direction, or when a company wants to make it difficult for after market add-ons.

That, and they didn't want any more stripped studs to replace. :)

Well, we weren't going to make THAT mistake again. OTOH I wish I could have declined the honor of being entrusted to change split-rim truck tires. jsw

That is the one job I willingly paid for when I owned a stepvan.

No trouble here. Fuel gasses = left hand thread.

Did they at least allow you chains and cages while airing up?