How to clean valve? - bearing siezed

[azcoyote]

I have what looks like a Taquitz (not sure of spelling,sorry) . jr hookah, about 18 " Bought it locally off craigslist with bag of accessories for $20. It works great but bearing is siezed inside valve body. Valve body doesn't want to unscrew from stem. Is this treaded on or what? Don't want to break it trying to get it loose. I can use the hookah without the valve, but I'd like to get it working again. Any suggestions?

[Scalliwag]

Soak it in rubbing alcohol until it comes loose. Not all of them are threaded. The safe bet is soaking and running a pipe cleaner up from the bottom and popping it out that way.

[azcoyote]

Yeah, the hose port is threaded and no problem to remove it. This valve is really on there. Will try soaking it. I hope it doesn't affect the finish. After soaking might just plug up the upper stem and try to blow it out with compressed air. BTW nice looking wood project there on your thread today!

[mushrat]

If there is a bearing, It's made to come off. If none of the rest of that works, heat the valve with a torch..heck a butane lighter might work, to get the metal to expand. Then using gloves or a pot holder, twist it off. We've used this method around here before. This also works for jammed in bearings.

[azcoyote]

Thanks guys, the alcohol is working, now able to unscrew it a bit. Thought it would be treaded like hose port. I guess the smoke residue works like locktight.

[Sonthert]

You can use Vise-Grip pliers with a thin towel wrapped around the metallic surface or a teeny-tiny strap wrench. Its actually the vapor coming through attracts moisture which has promoted rust which siezed the threads.