3/16 leaks

[Chasefamily]

Have about 10 different 3/16 lines out and for the most part they have all pulled over 25 inches of vacuum but had 4 that had hard ti.e getting past 5-8 inches, and could only find the leak on one of the line and it pulled 27 inches today so nice to see the difference but the other 3 lines I havnt found d anything wrong with as of yet. Just wondering what others are finding as causes of leaks and the best techniques for finding them

[n8hutch]

Could have some dry tap holes or maybe the trees are still froze up? Only leaks I have found on my 3/16 have been at the Tap hole

[Sandersyrup]

It's pretty obvious when you have a leak. No head of sap in the tube after the leak. Finding the leak you should look for tons of micro bubbles possibly a faint hissing noise.

Just make sure that everything is flowing downhill from start to finish and that the tube is filled with sap after the last tap and your locked and loaded.


~ John 3/16th"

[log cabin luke]

I have had similar problems finding the leaks. I have walked some lines 4 times and just could not find any leaks. I think that I have decided that any lines that are only pulling 5 or 8 inches have leaks at the tap hole. Thats the only thing I can come up with. I have about 650 out on 3/16. 17 individual lines. about 4 are pulling almost nothing compared to the others. All and all I like the 3/16 alot.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Possibly a hollow tree. You shouldn't lose that much vac on 3/16 unless you have several bad tap holes on the line.

[Chasefamily]

found two of my leaks real quick today, one was a hallow tree the sap would really speed up there, other was the barbs on a fitting. will have to wait for sap to run next to see if will pull over 25 inches but both had pulled higher tonight than before. Still have one line left that was pretty much nothing at all and the line is full of sap it just doesnt seem to move at all

[TRAILGUY]

pull the end tap to check for block

[pls009]

Here's my story: 3 lines all getting 18 inches. Couldn't figure out my issue and puzzled why they were all the same. I realized that I should have put teflon tape on my gauge threads where it is attached to the fitting I bought from DG. They now have 28 inches. What an idiot. I hope someone can learn from my error. Wish I would have figured it out a few weeks ago. I Felt the sap was moving too fast but just couldn't find any leaks.

[Chasefamily]

when u say end tap, take it that's on the tank side? That would be something simple I havnt even thought of. Just seems weird that I can't pull like any vacuum on it. Think seen like 1-2 Inches. The line is full, drops full, just doesn't seem to move

[DrTimPerkins]

3 lines all getting 18 inches. Couldn't figure out my issue and puzzled why they were all the same. I realized that I should have put teflon tape on my gauge threads where it is attached to the fitting I bought from DG. They now have 28 inches.

Leaks can be difficult to find. Glad you managed to locate the problem.

[steve J]

Chase I have never gotten a reading on my gauges either but reading thread above I did not put taflon tape on my gauge threads and maybe that's were my problem is. this is my second year with 3/16th.

[n8hutch]

I had some time & I walked my 3/16 line with 17 taps on it Monday, It has been at 10" vac all spring- sometimes 12",found a tap with lots of small bubbles near the end of the run. Tapped it in deeper and bubbles slowed.

Checked the line yesterday & it was pulling 16" and I got 20+ gallons of sap in 24 hrs.

[Old Homestead Farm]

This year I converted to clear spiles (my new favorite). Now I can see the leaks that occur at the tap/tree interface. Here is a youtube video I uploaded of a leak. https://youtu.be/iiVbJ6k9ruY
This is my third year on 3/16 tube and due to the lack of fittings in the beginning, I made adapters from 3/16 barb to 1/8 NPT tees and elbows. Just modified the interior of the 1/8 NPT end with a 1/4 inch reamer for a snug fit. Got almost perfect vacuum at the top trees. The third photo shows small air bubbles in the top of the sap in the spile. These are not leaks, but gases from the tree. They will sometimes sit or move very slowly towards the line.


116601166111662

[milligkl]

I had a leak that I couldn't figure out for the longest time and turns out it was some blockage where the 3/16 met the 5/16 at the saddle. I was averaging 27-30 vacuum throughout the season on 4 different gauges. What was your guys sugar content like from the vacuum compared to buckets? I had my sap hydrometer break at the start of the season and didn't get another one til near the end and I was ranging from 1-1.25% on vacuum compared to 2-2.25% from my buckets.