Thanks--not sure which gripper should rotate towards me or away-tried both, no movement at all.

I also noticed a small amount of the purple cement under the ends of the check valve...frustrating

Larry-

You rotate them like you do any standard screw connection to loosen; e.g., the one on the top side would be rotated counterclockwise. I suspect that they are on tight enough that simple hand pressure will not do the trick. Get yourself a large pair of Channel-lock pliers to grip with; you don't need to squeeze the pliers very hard...just enough so they don't slip on the ribs that are on the edges of the fittings. I also think that the traces of "purple cement" are just primer, not cement, and are not interfering with getting this apart.

Bob

Tried the channel locks--nothing, perhaps a pipe wrench.Someone suggested that i just cut the threaded nuts off

If you cut the threaded nuts off, you're going to have a whole lot of repair work to do. You can't just use new nuts because there is no way to get them back on to the other fittings that are cemented. At the risk of being insulting, let me confirm: you are putting the Channel-lock pliers on the large nut and not the ribbed neck of the valve, correct? And you are trying to turn each one in its proper direction to loosen?

Yes and yes. I would never consider your comments as insults--you are guiding me and I do appreciate your input. I think that I may need a larger channel lock--but man oh man that thing seems locked in place

Threaded PVC pipes can be very difficult to loosen. Many times it seems like it takes a lot more effort to loosen them than it did to tighten them.

Use a large channel lock to hold the check valve from turning and put the other channel lock on the top nut and turn counterclockwise as indicated above. Give it a good grunt while you are doing it and be sure your jeans are loose in the back.

Already ordered a much larger CL--will give it a go. Have considered just buying some ear plugs. Will let you know

Thanks again