Description
The Spears® 450-007 is the 3/4 in. PVC threaded plug that closes off any 3/4 in. female NPT port and stays openable — thread it in, tighten with a wrench on the hex head, unscrew later when the port needs to come back into service. The body is solid molded PVC; the threaded end is male NPT; the head is a hex / square wrench drive. Spears USA marking, domestic-manufactured to ASTM D2466.
Why You'd Reach for the 450-007
- Male NPT thread end — threads into any 3/4 in. female NPT port (a Spears 435 socket-FNPT adapter, a 401-style tee branch port, a 407 reducing elbow's threaded outlet, a valve outlet, a hose bib stub)
- Hex / square wrench head — takes a 1-1/16 in. open-end wrench or strap wrench for installation; unscrews cleanly when the port needs to come back into service
- Solid molded PVC body — not hollow; full-depth pressure sealing surface
- Openable closure — the alternative to a cemented cap — use this when the line might need to be re-tapped, pressure-tested, or extended later. The Spears 447 series end cap is permanent (cemented, no removal); this 450 plug screws in and out at will
- Molded PVC (Type I, cell class 12454) — conforms to ASTM D1784; chemically resistant to soil acids, irrigation fertilizers, chlorine, and typical municipal water
- Schedule 40 / standard dimensions — matches any 3/4 in. schedule 40 PVC female NPT port in the system
- Manufactured per ASTM D2466 — the controlling spec for PVC pressure pipe fittings; carries the NSF-pw mark for potable water service
- Spears USA, domestic manufacture — computer-stress-analyzed mold with reinforced material at the thread base
Where It Fits in the System
- Pressure-testing bulkheads (the classic use): when a zone needs to be pressure-tested before backfill, thread a 450-007 into the riser drop or into a 401-style tee's branch port. Test, then unscrew to install the head or valve. No cementing, no cutting.
- Future-port stubs: a rough-in for a future sprinkler head, drip submain, or hose bib gets a 450-007 in the open female NPT port until the device is installed.
- Manifold tap blanks: a 3/4 in. manifold with extra threaded outlets gets a 450-007 in each unused port; when more zones are added the plugs come out instead of cutting into PVC.
- Winterization closures (cold-climate sprinkler systems): blow out the line, plug each exposed female NPT port with a 450-007 before freezing weather; remove in spring.
- Filter / valve service ports: any equipment port that takes 3/4 in. male NPT and may need to come back open for maintenance.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Spears Manufacturing Company
- Manufacturer part number: 450-007
- First Supply item number: P40TPF
- Series: 450 (standard SCH 40 PVC threaded plug, male NPT)
- Type: threaded plug, male NPT with hex / square wrench head
- Nominal size: 3/4 in.
- End: 3/4 in. male NPT thread (for any 3/4 in. female NPT port)
- Head: hex / square wrench drive (1-1/16 in. across the flats)
- Material: PVC, Type I, cell class 12454, molded white
- Pressure rating: matches 3/4 in. SCH 40 PVC pipe (cold water service)
- Maximum operating temperature: 140°F (PVC service-temperature ceiling)
- Origin: domestic, U.S.A.
- Certifications: NSF-pw (potable water service), Spears USA mark
- Reference standards: ASTM D2466 (PVC pressure fittings); base material ASTM D1784; threads per ANSI / ASME B1.20.1
- UPC: 10054211143169 (case GTIN-14)
- Suitable for: cold water only on schedule 40 PVC (for hot water above 73°F, use schedule 80 CPVC instead)
Installation Notes
Threading into a female NPT port: 2 to 3 wraps of PTFE thread tape (white tape is correct for PVC-on-PVC) clockwise around the male threads. Hand-tighten into the female port plus 1 to 2 turns with a wrench on the hex head — a strap wrench is safer on a PVC female port than a metal pipe wrench; an open-end wrench on the 450's hex head is fine.
DO NOT over-tighten. The thread interference is what seals the joint, not the torque. PVC female threads on receiving ports (like a 435 adapter or a 401 tee branch) can split if the plug is cranked too hard. Hand-tight + 1 to 2 wrench turns is the target; if the joint weeps, replace the tape and re-thread — don't keep tightening. Over-tightening is the #1 cause of cracked PVC female-thread ports in the field.
Hex head orientation: the head is symmetric — no installation orientation requirement. Set it to whatever wrench-access angle makes future removal easier.
Removal: back out with a wrench on the hex head, counterclockwise. Tape residue can come out with the plug or stay in the female port — clean and re-tape before the next thread-in.
What’s in the Box
- One Spears 450-007 3/4 in. PVC threaded plug, male NPT with hex head, bulk-packed
Compatible Accessories — Sold Separately
- PTFE thread tape (white for PVC-on-PVC; pink heavy-duty for metal-on-PVC)
- Spears 435-007 PVC female adapter (socket × FNPT) if the run terminates at cemented PVC and needs an openable plug downstream
- Spears 401 series tees, 407 reducing elbows, valves with threaded outlets — any 3/4 in. female NPT port accepts this plug
- Spears 447 series end caps for PERMANENT (cemented) closures — not openable
Stop by Garoppo’s to pick one up, or schedule local delivery within our service area.