changing drops

[bossman]

the time has come to change droplines in one of my sugarbushes i have cdl end of line hooks at the end of the laterals was thinking of using end of line tees in front of the hooks and just cutting the current drop off. has anyone done this and were there any problems with the plug in the tee not being sealed tight

[morningstarfarm]

Tried the end of line tees...didnt like them...the sap has to run around the tree and then into the lateral...it was a pain to get them to run to my satisfaction..much prefer the end hooks and a tee...i just clamp a 2 handed tool over the tee and snip it out..then install new tee...They also now make one way tees for theends which makes the part that goes around the tree a total dead space

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I think he is referring to something total different than you are Chris. Yes, I use the end of line CDL hooks and the blue end of line Tees and I love them. On a one tap tree, the T is usually a few inches below the tree down the lateral line. I would do exactly as bossman is suggesting as the first couple years they didn't have them and the sap would back around the tree to the End line hook and would look crudy.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

That was the problem we had with using a tee and end of line hook.......sap would get stuck around the tree and crud up the line. Then you had to worry about that getting sucked through. I'm going to stop by the CDL store this week and check out these new blue ones. Sounds like that may be the best way to go.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Nice thing about the end of Line Tee is that if there is a chew anywhere above it there is no loss of Vacuum. That's why I like to put them a few inches down the lateral line on a one tap tree.

[wvsugarshak]

hey Brandon is it best to cut the tees out on the lateral lines or can i get away with taking the drop line of the top of the tee and use a single clamp tool and add the new drop on that way?

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

replace the T. Removing the tubing from the T usually scores the T and you will likely have a micro leak.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Agreed, just put in a new T along with the drop, too many micro leaks trying to cut off the drop off the top of the T.