Clear seasonal spouts backing out problem

[RedMapleCreek]

I am finding many of my taps with Leader clear seasonal spouts frequently back out of the tap hole by 1/8" to 1/4". I go around with a hammer and gently tap them back in until I get the dull thud, but a day later some are back out. Is anyone else seeing this problem? I have not had any such problems with the black plastic Leader Tree Saver spouts, which are a slightly softer plastic and have 3 small ribs which likely help retain the spout in the tap hole. The clear seasonal spouts are very smooth hard plastic so don't really offer any good retention in the tap hole. The Tree Saver spouts cost twice as much, but I can't be continually re-seating spouts all the time.

My trees are on a north facing slope and still have 2 ft of snow in the woods, so really haven't seen any kind of a decent run yet.

[maple flats]

If you haven't had a good run yet, likely frost or ice is pushing the taps loose. You might want to use a different tap next year.
I use 3 different taps, one is a clear seasonal tap, one a Leader CV tap and one a Zap Bac tap. So for, I've only had issue with the CV, they occasionally push the line off or loose on the tap. I'm quite sure ice does it. It seems to happen if I get a slow sap flow and then it freezes hard or freezes for a longer time. There I'm guessing the check ball seals (doing it's job) and the ice expands pushing the drop line off or loose on the tap. The other 2 have not done that. Unfortunately I don't know who made the clear seasonal taps, I had a full bag from years ago and used them. They have not had taps pushing loose.

[NH Maplemaker]

If you think your having trouble with the clear spouts now wait until you try to remove them from your stubby at he end of the season! I will never use them again.

[tcross]

i think all spouts are vulnerable to that issue. i tried 100 cdl 45 degree spouts this year and after the first run i had to re set well over half of them. my other taps are all leader seasonal and i only had 3 to re set!

[DrTimPerkins]

It may have more to do with the tubing than the spout. Tubing size has a certain amount of leeway (tolerance) during manufacture. Some of it is a little smaller than usual (making it really hard to put fittings on) and some is larger than usual (which makes fittings pop off more easily). Combine tubing that is a tiny bit oversized with with a fitting batch that runs a little small and you've got a great recipe for pop-offs. Some combinations from different manufacturers will tend to do this more as well.

Regardless, in some weather, pop-offs happen a good bit.

One of the Maple Extension folks in Quebec made a small sizing gauge he gave out to his producers to check tubing when they bought it to make sure it was properly sized. Great little tool.

[RedMapleCreek]

It may have more to do with the tubing than the spout. Tubing size has a certain amount of leeway (tolerance) during manufacture. Some of it is a little smaller than usual (making it really hard to put fittings on) and some is larger than usual (which makes fittings pop off more easily). Combine tubing that is a tiny bit oversized with with a fitting batch that runs a little small and you've got a great recipe for pop-offs. Some combinations from different manufacturers will tend to do this more as well.

Regardless, in some weather, pop-offs happen a good bit.

One of the Maple Extension folks in Quebec made a small sizing gauge he gave out to his producers to check tubing when they bought it to make sure it was properly sized. Great little tool.

Just to clarify, my problem is with the spouts backing out of the tree and having to be tapped back in, not the tubing coming off of the spout.

[DrTimPerkins]

Are you using the appropriate sized bit recommended by the spout manufacturer? If so...perhaps one extra tap with the hammer when you put them in is needed.

[toquin]

Never had one back out.4 years of use. 4 or 5 taps with small rubber mallet,you can hear a different sound when it is seated