Been struggling installing mainline y fittings. We are using 1 inch pipe. What tools are out there to help push the pipe on?
Installing mainline y’s
Been struggling installing mainline y fittings. We are using 1 inch pipe. What tools are out there to help push the pipe on?
Matthew Cross
Madison, Ohio
400 taps on vacuum with surge sp-22
200 buckets
30 x 10 leader max
w/ enhanced steam away and Pre-heater
Not sure what tools you are using or what type of fittings you are working with (plastic or stainless). But the trick is to gently heat the mainline with a torch to put them on. Sometimes you can do plastic fittings by hand but tools are needed for stainless fittings. Y fittings are tougher too because of the angle. Anyway, they make mainline tools like this one:
https://www.rothsugarbush.com/product/mainline-tool/
The tool and heat is what you need. Just be careful, there is a fine line of the right amount of heat to make the tubing workable and too much heat that will deform the pipe when you put pressure on it. I'd suggest practicing a little with some of the cheaper plastic fittings. Much easier as a two person job. Have the hose clamps ready to go and tighten them down as soon you get the pipe on while it is still warm for a good seal.
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
Heat gun works great battery powered
Backyard sapper
Mason 2X4 XL with blower
12x24 post and beam shack
30 taps on 5-Gallon buckets
134 taps on tubing into the shack
15-30 gallons a year for family and friends
Shave the inside edge of the tubing before heat.
Ken & Sherry
Williston, VT
16x34 Sugarhouse
1,500 taps on high vacuum, Electric Releaser & CDL Sap Lifter
Wood-Fired Leader 30"x10' Vortex Arch & Max Raised Flue with Rev Syrup Pan & CDL1200 RO
https://www.facebook.com/pumpkinhillmaple/
heat with torch, then use mainline cutter or linemans pliers to flare the end a little, then reheat a tad, push on and double clamp. have been doing it this way for a while, i do all my 1" by hand unless i need the tool to bring the line together. sizes over 1" you definetely need a tool, the sidewall thickness makes it tough to get fittings on.
7000 taps on vacuum, just trying to get a little better every year.
We are using stainless ys and 30p mainline. We have trimmed the inside of the mainline but haven’t used heat.
Matthew Cross
Madison, Ohio
400 taps on vacuum with surge sp-22
200 buckets
30 x 10 leader max
w/ enhanced steam away and Pre-heater
I bring a thermos of very hot water to dip the main in and they slide right on.
44 27'08/71 27'56
300 totalish taps 250 on tube and bosworth sap sucker
50 bucket and bags about 40-50 gallons a season
on a 2 by 7 home made evaporator and sugar shack
1st gen circa 1966 still learning stuff
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