TheMapleMoose
03-10-2014, 06:02 AM
Just a few thoughts from a weekend of tubing installation. This was the first year we have tried Leaders new entrance fitting. I only used the 3/4" ones as that is what I have for main lines. They seemed to be relatively easy to install compared to the record fitting. Drilled a 5/16" hole in the main line and then inserted the gasket, then jammed the fitting onto the gasket and snapped the buckle, and used a one handed tool to slide the tubing on. It was a little hard to tell how far to install the tubing. I slid it on until it just touched the place where the fitting grows back to 5/16". Maye its a little too far on, but wanted to make sure it was completely over both barbs.
My father was a little concerned about using them because there is no way to tighten them if they leak like the records he uses but it seems to me like they were a very leak resistant seal. The buckle seemed a little cheap when we first opened the bag and I was a little worried about them breaking in the cold but I installed 130 of them and had no problems. Might be nice if they included a few spare gaskets in the bag in case one gets dropped in the snow. I havent checked the catalog but I'm assuming they can be bought separately.
All in all they seem like a good fitting so far.....time will tell when the vacuum turns on and the sap runs.
My father was a little concerned about using them because there is no way to tighten them if they leak like the records he uses but it seems to me like they were a very leak resistant seal. The buckle seemed a little cheap when we first opened the bag and I was a little worried about them breaking in the cold but I installed 130 of them and had no problems. Might be nice if they included a few spare gaskets in the bag in case one gets dropped in the snow. I havent checked the catalog but I'm assuming they can be bought separately.
All in all they seem like a good fitting so far.....time will tell when the vacuum turns on and the sap runs.