New drops

[Wanabe1972]

What method does everyone do to replace drops? I replaced about 50 drops last year and had many of them with micro leaks after they were replaced. Every one that leaked and I checked I had cut into the barb a little while removing the old drop. I could hear vacuum leaks from a few. This year i was going to cut several inches a above the t and use a straight through connector to reattach the new drop line. Is this the common method? Jeff

[madmapler]

I pinch them on the side with a pair of Dikes. Works most of the time. I'm trying to find out about quick connects. I've heard they do well under vacuum.

[wiam]

I use a new T. Chasing leaks later makes it not worth it.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

They do make a tool to remove line from connectors and it works OK. I don't recommend it though....new tee, new drop and new tap all at once. Putting old fittings and taps on a new drop is defeating part of the purpose of the new drop. Not to mention the time spent trying to "save" $$$.

[Wanabe1972]

I will change everything as i run seasonal taps anyway. I just was going to make new drops with new tap, 30 inches of new drop line and a straight thru at the end of this and cut the old drop off just above the T and assemble there. I seems alot easier to do it this way rather than cut in a new t on every drop.

[n8hutch]

The only downside to doing it this way is your adding 2 places for potential leaks with every tap. I guess if I was just on gravity I wouldn't worry about it. If you were going for High Vac then it should be a consideration. Also with a 2 handed tool it's pretty quick putting the Tee in that is already connected to your drop and new tap.

[PerryFamily]

So I have quite a few drops to replace and I was also wondering if it might be easier to replace the entire T or go this route•

Heat the drop at the point where it attaches to the T with a small butane torch, being careful not to hear the T , just enough to relax the tubing and pull the drop off.

Now with the hot end system, slam a new drop on?

Any thoughts?

[Wanabe1972]

This is probably the way to do it. I dont have a hot end system but have a nice two handed tool that will work. I have a little torch i could use so this may be the way to go. I wont even have to buy the straight thrus and i have several hundred new taps on hand. Jeff

[Chicopee Sap Shack]

I replace the drop and the T with a 2 handed tool by cutting the old one out completely. No worries about micro leaks that way


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[fred]

Best thing to do is cut on each side if the tee and replace t, drop and spile every three years. Heating with a torch will compromise the 5/16 and cause loss of extended life. Putting a union in , is a restriction and time wasted as your talking about a 7 cent difference

[Wanabe1972]

Fred, This is the way im going to do it. Ive already made my new drops with taps and Ts. With my 2 handed tool i can cut a little extra out when replacing the T to tighten up the lines a bit. Thanks Jeff

[fred]

Good , you will be much happier