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I am trying to tighten a washing machine and kitchen tap valve to an angle valve. However, I noticed that the nut that I am tightening seems to be sitting tight while the valve is still moving along the axis. What am I doing wrong? More tightening doesn't solve the problem of the valve moving and water leaking of course when I open the angle valve.

Place of residence is in Germany.

photo of valve joining at an angle

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    You are stripping the threads. All threaded attachments/nuts must go on straight, not at an angle. Remove it and check the threads, they might be(probably) damaged and pieces need to replaced. If very lucky and no damage to the threads, make sure everything is in a straight line(like to right edge) and try again.
    – crip659
    Feb 23 at 23:54
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    Check and verify it needs a washer, you may be missing that.
    – Gil
    Feb 24 at 0:21
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    I don't like the apparent angle where the fitting on the left enters the problem joint. That might be why you got it cross-threaded in the first place
    – Chris H
    Feb 24 at 11:55
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    pretty cool how it's leaking water just above the electrical socket.
    – D Duck
    Feb 24 at 19:28
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    @cbeleitesunhappywithSX you could well be right - you're closer to the OP than me. Here in the UK, flat washers are often used on hose connections, but compression fittings are much more common on joints in rigid pipework, including valves. Anyway there should be something, and neither will work with the fitting cross-threaded
    – Chris H
    Feb 25 at 15:44

1 Answer 1

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That appears to be cross-threaded. i.e. the threads on the male and female parts are not correctly engaged with each other. The parts should be straight to each other, not off at an angle like that.

cross threaded connection

Depending how badly it's mangled, it might need to be replaced. At minimum it needs to be removed and started correctly (which may be difficult if the damage from cross-threading is severe.) Sometimes you can salvage the threads with a triangular file following the true thread path.

You can usually avoid this by making sure the parts thread together most of the way easily by hand. If you need a wrench before you have gotten very far, that's a sign that you might not be starting the threads together correctly. You should only need a wrench for final tightening.

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    Definitely cross threaded. Depending on what that shiny chrome piece with the red thing on it is and how much it cost, you might be able to repair the threads with a die. Odds are good that the nut will be much more cost/time efficient to simply replace unless it's captive on the bit on the left.
    – FreeMan
    Feb 24 at 1:13
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    Use open end wrenches, not pliers or Channellocks, might be too late in this case.
    – JACK
    Feb 24 at 2:07
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    I avoid cross threading by initially turning the male part in a counter clock-wise direction until I feel a slight bump...which means the threads are lined up and then I turn it clockwise. (And of course the male and female parts have to be aligned).
    – Steve Wellens
    Feb 24 at 5:45
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    @SteveWellens: agreed. This has even gotten me teased with the lefty loosy, righty tighty slogan. But then I explained I was ensuring proper thread alignment, said ridicule was rescinded.
    – zedmelon
    Feb 25 at 0:49

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