Mainline fittings

[wilson maple]

I was wondering what mainline fittings would be best to use where your taking the mainlines apart every year after season to open up logging roads and trails.

[bill m]

I only have one mainline I need to disconnect and am using Banjo brand cam lock fittings. No problems yet but it's only been a couple of years with them.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Cam locks work good but can leak under vacuum, particularly after a few years out in the woods so keep an eye on that. To help with that, make sure they are not under tension when connected, leave a little slack in the mainline while maintaining pitch.

[maple flats]

It is also a good idea to keep spare gaskets, they lose their "loft" with time and that can cause a leak.

[ennismaple]

We have mainlines that cross trails in 6 locations and have switched almost all of them over to Banjo quick connects. I prefer to use SS thread to insert connectors on the back side of the Banjos because the all plastic fittings are a significant reduction in the pipe diameter - almost one full pipe size (3/4" is actually 1/2" ID). A couple of the mainlines we need to use a come-along to pull the wire tight but we've switched most over to a large turnbuckle so we can loosely clip in across the trail by hand and use a hammer or screwdriver to tighten. We were running 25" Hg + on one vacuum line this year and no problems with it leaking.

[wilson maple]

Thanks I was thinking about cam locks but wasn't sure if they would leak under vaccuum... I was also thinking about the ss quick coupling that cdl sells.

[Shaun]

MES has some stainless unions that seem to work great. A little pricey but silicone gaskets and stainless will last a long time. I am happy with them. Just make sure you use a little slack when crossing a road if installing in the warm weather, the tubing shrinks when cold...