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Thread: Quick fix for line leak?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Saratoga, NY
    Posts
    426

    Default Quick fix for line leak?

    Hey all, anyone have a good, quick fix approach for a small air leak in a line of tubing? I'm hoping to temporarily cover the spot where air is clearly pouring into the line (it's 3/16th in case it matters) until I can run a new section from one drop to the next.

    Teflon tape?
    --
    2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
    2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
    2017: SAME
    2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
    2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
    2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
    2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
    2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
    2023: SAME
    2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hartford, MI
    Posts
    191

    Default

    Electrical tape,tight
    5th generation
    2 1/2 Buckets
    815 gravity
    2 new flat pans. Back pan now has 16 V's
    Rebuilt the block arch 3x12
    Homemade pre-heater,steamhood
    MES Dolly RO

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2022
    Location
    Scotland Ontario Canada
    Posts
    37

    Default

    You could try electrical tape as a quick temp fix.
    Black Walnut tapping
    2021 - 3 trees 5 taps enough to boil a sample.
    ~ 2 acres, 35+ mature Black Walnut
    2022 - 30 Southern Ontario Walnuts tapped, 69 spouts.
    650 litres (143 Imp gals) on sap bags, 14 litres (3 Imp gals) walnut syrup on turkey fryer.
    2023 - 35 trees tapped, 28 mech vacuum & 7 on gravity. Propane fired custom evaporator, 2'x2' divided pan, 2'x1' preheat pan.
    882 litres (194 Imp gals) mechanical & gravity vac turned into 18.25 litres (4.8 Imp gals) syrup off my DIY evaporator

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,059

    Default

    More specifically, Scotch 33+ electrical tape. Never go in the woods with out it and flagging.
    305 taps on 2 Shurflo's, 31 taps on 3/16" and 229 taps on gravity. 565 in all
    Mountain Maple S3 controller for 145 of the vacuum taps
    2x6 Darveau Mystique Oil Fired Evaporator w/ Smoky Lake Simplicity Auto Draw
    Wesfab 7” filter press

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,349

    Default

    I used to tape them, but anymore I have about 50 feet of tubing and my work bucket in the UTV whenever I go into the bush. I fix them when I find them. It takes very lttle time to clamp on the tubing tool and put in a coupler. I try to leave enough slack to undo a side tie and pull some line.
    125-150 taps
    Smokey Lakes Full pint Hybrid pan
    Modified half pint arch
    Air over fire
    All 3/16 tubing
    Southern Ohio

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Gaylord Michigan
    Posts
    147

    Default

    same here electrical tape will fix a small chew. it also marks the line for future repair.
    Tim Schmidt
    2013 13 Taps 4 Gallons Syrup, Drum evap.
    2014 50 Taps 14 Gallons Syrup, Drum evap.
    2015 60 Taps on 3/16 gravity, 40 Taps on buckets, 42 Gallons Syrup, Home built 30 x 60 arch and flat pan
    2016 125 Taps all on 3/16 gravity average 18 in. vacuum, 43 Gallons Syrup, Same Arch and Pan
    2017 125 Taps all on 3/16 gravity average 18 in. vacuum, 44 Gallons Syrup, Same Arch and Pan
    2018 155 Taps all on 3/16 gravity average 18 in. vacuum, Same Arch and Pan, home built 100 gph ro unit

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Saratoga, NY
    Posts
    426

    Default

    Thanks, all - electricians tape it is!
    --
    2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
    2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
    2017: SAME
    2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
    2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
    2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
    2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
    2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
    2023: SAME
    2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Somewhere between Poultney and Bellows Falls
    Posts
    53

    Default

    I've actually had pretty good luck putting a splice in, as an alternative to replacing the lateral from drop to drop. I clamp the line on the upstream and downstream side of the chew hole, then cut the spot out, press a splice in, then release my clamps. I know, replacing the entire section is the better way to go, but the splices have worked great for me. They're cheap, air tight, and if you clamp the lines on both sides when you put them in, you don't lose any significant vacuum.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,583

    Default

    Only high end electrical tape, cheap tape will not work as well, poorer adhesion and too thick to stretch as well.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Saratoga, NY
    Posts
    426

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by peteinvermont View Post
    I've actually had pretty good luck putting a splice in, as an alternative to replacing the lateral from drop to drop. I clamp the line on the upstream and downstream side of the chew hole, then cut the spot out, press a splice in, then release my clamps. I know, replacing the entire section is the better way to go, but the splices have worked great for me. They're cheap, air tight, and if you clamp the lines on both sides when you put them in, you don't lose any significant vacuum.
    That makes complete sense and would ideally be what i would do however i dont have a tubing tool and usually am working by myself. I probably need to just break down and buy one!
    --
    2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
    2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
    2017: SAME
    2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
    2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
    2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
    2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
    2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
    2023: SAME
    2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system

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