Old timer saved my bacon on a boiler tube job in Detroit last month

We were installing a tube bundle at a power plant near Detroit, about 20 feet up on a scaffold. I was using a rolling expander and it kept slipping, making the tube loose. An old guy named Hank walks over, says I'm pulling too hard, and shows me to back off a quarter turn and let the tool do the work. Fixed the next 12 tubes in half the time with zero leaks. Has anyone else run into this trick with rolling expanders on firetube boilers?

4 comments

4 Comments

matthewdixon1mo ago

Shows how backing off a little can fix most things in life.

miles_hall1mo ago

Nah, backing off works in SOME situations but not all. Plenty of things need you to push harder or confront them head on. It's more about knowing WHICH approach fits the situation.

janah831mo agoTop Commenter

That's a fair point, and I agree with you Miles. @matthewdixon is right that backing off can solve a lot, but it's not a one-size-fits-all answer. I've found that if someone is being unreasonable or trying to take advantage, stepping back just makes things worse. In those cases, you have to hold your ground and be direct about the issue, not pushy, but firm. It's really about reading the other person and figuring out whether they need space or a clear boundary.

betty_kelly91mo ago

Yeah @miles_hall I used to think backing off was always best but you guys changed my mind on that.