Variable result in 3/16 lines

[tgormley358]

Had a thought yesterday related to clearing clogs / plugs in the lines, so i thought i'd add it here. Is there such a thing as clear plastic tees? Since that's apparently where alot of plugs occur according to recent posts on this, it might make finding clogs alot easier. I read others here saying it's guesswork, just pull one spout at a time, and you rarely see the plug in a tee but that's where you find it. That's a helpful approach, but why not make it even easier, especially since clear plastic spouts are now pretty common. The tees i used are all black or solid green. A good portion of a few of my lines seem to be running slow -- sap sitting in drop lines not moving, so i need to get going on pulling things apart.

[Cedar Eater]

Most likely leaks or plugs at fittings. Tapping order shouldn't matter, unless you stopped partway through tapping to drill a hole in some metal or a rock with your tapping bit.

I've heard of tapping rock maples, but never metal maples. It's amazing what you learn on this site. http://mapletrader.com/community/images/smilies/lol.gif

[VTnewguy]

Had a thought yesterday related to clearing clogs / plugs in the lines, so i thought i'd add it here. Is there such a thing as clear plastic tees? Since that's apparently where alot of plugs occur according to recent posts on this, it might make finding clogs alot easier. I read others here saying it's guesswork, just pull one spout at a time, and you rarely see the plug in a tee but that's where you find it. That's a helpful approach, but why not make it even easier, especially since clear plastic spouts are now pretty common. The tees i used are all black or solid green. A good portion of a few of my lines seem to be running slow -- sap sitting in drop lines not moving, so i need to get going on pulling things apart.

This is a excellent idea! I would buy those!

[drewlamb]

This is a excellent idea! I would buy those!

Seriously. Me too. They do make polycarbonate spouts that are clear, but I've never seen a polycarbonate T.

[mol1jb]

Had a thought yesterday related to clearing clogs / plugs in the lines, so i thought i'd add it here. Is there such a thing as clear plastic tees? Since that's apparently where alot of plugs occur according to recent posts on this, it might make finding clogs alot easier. I read others here saying it's guesswork, just pull one spout at a time, and you rarely see the plug in a tee but that's where you find it. That's a helpful approach, but why not make it even easier, especially since clear plastic spouts are now pretty common. The tees i used are all black or solid green. A good portion of a few of my lines seem to be running slow -- sap sitting in drop lines not moving, so i need to get going on pulling things apart.

I wouldnt cut into a line just because the drops are moving slow. A lot of the drops on the lower part of my 3/16 runs move slow because they dont have as much vacuum as the higher drops at the begining of the runs. And sometimes my lines run slow because the temps are in the mid 30s and the trees just arent running as much compared to a 40 degree day.