Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
#1
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
I have been using the AirPower 3 and 4 way Fittings that dreamworks sells for about 3 years now. At first, they were great, every one in the package provided a leak free solution. But about 2 years ago, I started getting one or two per package that would leak around the white "sealant" between the machined block and the air nipple. I've got a fairly large stash of about 30 of these things, and just checked 5 of them at random, and everyone of them has a leak..
Has or is anyone else having issues with these things? Its a little frustrating spending a few hours plumbing an entire air-system for a plane, then only to pressurize the thing and see that it leaks 50+ psi in less than 3 minutes due to the Tee fittings..
Anyone have TRUE "leak-free" solution other than these things?
Has or is anyone else having issues with these things? Its a little frustrating spending a few hours plumbing an entire air-system for a plane, then only to pressurize the thing and see that it leaks 50+ psi in less than 3 minutes due to the Tee fittings..
Anyone have TRUE "leak-free" solution other than these things?
#3
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
Normally i would just ignore it, but since its becoming more of an issue and at $13 and $15 per pack, its getting expensive.
#4
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Longwood ,
FL
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
I have found most of them to be "leakers" too. I went back to the plastic Robart tees......
#5
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: Harley Condra
Are these the fittings you are referring to?
I have found most of them to be ''leakers'' too. I went back to the plastic Robart tees......
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
Can you 'rejuvinate' the seals or rings with O-ring oil/lube?
I have found most of them to be ''leakers'' too. I went back to the plastic Robart tees......
Those are the culprits...
#6
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
If they came from Dreamworks, I'm confident that Todd will replace them. If you're the least bit handy you should be able to chip away the epoxy seal with a hobby knife, unscrew the fitting and clean the threads with a wire brush. Then clean the boss and fitting with acetone and reinstall the fitting using hysol or equivelant.
#7
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: Square Nozzle
If they came from Dreamworks, I'm confident that Todd will replace them. If you're the least bit handy you should be able to chip away the epoxy seal with a hobby knife, unscrew the fitting and clean the threads with a wire brush. Then clean the boss and fitting with acetone and reinstall the fitting using hysol or equivelant.
If they came from Dreamworks, I'm confident that Todd will replace them. If you're the least bit handy you should be able to chip away the epoxy seal with a hobby knife, unscrew the fitting and clean the threads with a wire brush. Then clean the boss and fitting with acetone and reinstall the fitting using hysol or equivelant.
#8
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Thomas, my suggestion to talk to Todd was two fold. First, as I said, I'm sure he'll replace them and secondly I'm also sure he will do his best to resolve the problem with the manufacturer, that you and others seem to have. Honestly, I haven't taken one apart (I'll sacrifice one of mine to see what makes them tick) but when I see a brass fitting inserted into an aluminum boss I immediately assume they are either threaded together or press fit. In either case, they should be able to be taken apart and be resealed.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: farnborough, , UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Thomas, the Mem-Co fittings are silver soldered and excellent quality - on your side of the pond too. T1 and X1 parts are the items I think you are after but a scan through the catalogue would verify.
marcs
marcs
#11
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Thomas, I took one apart and the nipple is threaded into the boss. I just chipped away the seal, which appears to be epoxy, with my exacto knife. Then I grabbed the base of the nipple, avoiding the barb on the nipple (used a pair of needle nose pliers - my fitting has a round base as opposed to a hex) and put a small adjustable wrench on the boss and twisted and the fitting threaded out. Seems like a lot of trouble for just a little fitting but I love to tinker and investigate these sort of things and I get a warm fuzzy when I can fix them.
#12
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Festo makes excellent T-fittings in different size. Never had a problem with Robart or BVM fittings either like LGM says, just that the Festo Ts look muck stronger and work great.
Chatty.
Chatty.
#13
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: marc s
Thomas, the Mem-Co fittings are silver soldered and excellent quality - on your side of the pond too. T1 and X1 parts are the items I think you are after but a scan through the catalogue would verify.
marcs
Thomas, the Mem-Co fittings are silver soldered and excellent quality - on your side of the pond too. T1 and X1 parts are the items I think you are after but a scan through the catalogue would verify.
marcs
Great source! I've actually acquired a few of their fittings over the years and have never been able to figure out who made them, till now.. Thanks!
#14
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
ORIGINAL: Square Nozzle
Thomas, I took one apart and the nipple is threaded into the boss. I just chipped away the seal, which appears to be epoxy, with my exacto knife. Then I grabbed the base of the nipple, avoiding the barb on the nipple (used a pair of needle nose pliers - my fitting has a round base as opposed to a hex) and put a small adjustable wrench on the boss and twisted and the fitting threaded out. Seems like a lot of trouble for just a little fitting but I love to tinker and investigate these sort of things and I get a warm fuzzy when I can fix them.
Thomas, I took one apart and the nipple is threaded into the boss. I just chipped away the seal, which appears to be epoxy, with my exacto knife. Then I grabbed the base of the nipple, avoiding the barb on the nipple (used a pair of needle nose pliers - my fitting has a round base as opposed to a hex) and put a small adjustable wrench on the boss and twisted and the fitting threaded out. Seems like a lot of trouble for just a little fitting but I love to tinker and investigate these sort of things and I get a warm fuzzy when I can fix them.
#15
My Feedback: (67)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
The fittings from clippard are very good. They have reducers, tee fitings, 4 way, just about any barbed fitting. They are all one unit, no where to leak. They also have a very good barb on them, seals and retains the airline very good. In fact, you are not going to pull the airline off without cutting it. There airline is is also very nice, seals everytime, is is very reasonable in price.
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NewcastleNSW, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
I run the clippard minimatics gas parts in my armed R/C warship, pressurised to 150 PSI. Never had a failure on a joint where i used the slip-over collars.
#21
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
I only use festo T and Y fittings on my jets.....nothing else. I have encountered problems with some of the plastic t fittings leaking due to moulding lines on them. THe festo fittings are really well made and very strong. I am sure the clippard fittings would be good too. Both are commercial pneumatic fittings so you won't get any better than that.
#22
My Feedback: (24)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Daytona Beach
Posts: 6,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Thomas,
Just opened two packs and tested each one. None leaked for me. Can you tell me where you are finding the leaks? Is it where the fitting meets the base or is air seeping past the airline installed on the nipple? I personally use these fittings and have not found one to leak yet however; it has been a while since I pulled any off the shelve to use, perhaps we have a bad batch?
Please provide me some details so I can make sure this issue is resolved immediately. Although more expensive, we do have the Festo Tee fittings as well, see [link=http://dreamworksrc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=100]HERE[/link]
Todd
Just opened two packs and tested each one. None leaked for me. Can you tell me where you are finding the leaks? Is it where the fitting meets the base or is air seeping past the airline installed on the nipple? I personally use these fittings and have not found one to leak yet however; it has been a while since I pulled any off the shelve to use, perhaps we have a bad batch?
Please provide me some details so I can make sure this issue is resolved immediately. Although more expensive, we do have the Festo Tee fittings as well, see [link=http://dreamworksrc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=100]HERE[/link]
Todd
#23
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: farnborough, , UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
If you crack open a Festo barbed fitting, the one with blue plastic centres, you will see they are simply individual brass barbed fitting encapsulated in a plastic shell, when I first opened one up I was expecting a completely integrated fitting with a plastic piece over the top for looks and ease of handling.
Having 4 separate barbs held in place by a small plastic shell leaves me in doubt, silver soldered all metal just has to be more durable.
I know Festo do an all metal range, not sure though what size they go down to.
marcs
Having 4 separate barbs held in place by a small plastic shell leaves me in doubt, silver soldered all metal just has to be more durable.
I know Festo do an all metal range, not sure though what size they go down to.
marcs
#24
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (23)
RE: Anyone having issues with Airpower Air line fittings?
Todd,
At first, I thought it may of been air leaking past the nipple, but by putting a new tee in place, the leaks stopped.. the air is leaking throught the white sealant stuff at the base of the nipples. Sometimes only one, sometimes all three.
At first, I thought it may of been air leaking past the nipple, but by putting a new tee in place, the leaks stopped.. the air is leaking throught the white sealant stuff at the base of the nipples. Sometimes only one, sometimes all three.