Peggy, More questions...I'm replacing a T fitting with a Y valve at my holding tank so I can switch between the deck pump-out and the macerator. With the T fitting, the macerator hose fills up as the tank fills. Just another hose to smell, etc. To insert the Y valve, I had to replace the lower tank fitting, which was an elbow, with a straight fitting. The elbow as VERY difficult to get out, but the straight fitting went in VERY easily (yes, I wrapped the threads with teflon tape). Should I be concerned about this? I'm concerned the fitting will leak. Should the straight fitting have tapered rather than straight threads, for a tighter fit? I thought if you knew off hand it would save me having to tear the whole thing apart again if it leaks...Thanks
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There HAS to be a better way...
Peggy, Okay, I switched out the lower fitting with another brand, and it snugs up nicely...but now I can't get the new hose on the Y valve, nor was I able to get the hose on the lower fitting to snug up completely. I heated the hose in hot water, and then with a heat gun, and smeared Softsoap on the fitting and the hose before installing, but I can still get the hose only over the first barbs on the Y valve. It has a good half inch before it snugs up, and I can't get it on any further...or off, for that matter. I thought about leaving it, but there is really only room for a single clamp at this point. Must this stuff be so difficult? I've worked on cars for years---cooling system hoses are under a lot of pressure, and they are never as difficult to get on and off as sanitation hose. Any advice beyond what you say in your article?
Peggy, Okay, I switched out the lower fitting with another brand, and it snugs up nicely...but now I can't get the new hose on the Y valve, nor was I able to get the hose on the lower fitting to snug up completely. I heated the hose in hot water, and then with a heat gun, and smeared Softsoap on the fitting and the hose before installing, but I can still get the hose only over the first barbs on the Y valve. It has a good half inch before it snugs up, and I can't get it on any further...or off, for that matter. I thought about leaving it, but there is really only room for a single clamp at this point. Must this stuff be so difficult? I've worked on cars for years---cooling system hoses are under a lot of pressure, and they are never as difficult to get on and off as sanitation hose. Any advice beyond what you say in your article?
Try a blow dryer and some patience
I've never found that dunking a hose in hot water helps much. Unless you have a means of keeping the water on the boil where you're working (and the prospect of spilling it has never thrilled me either), either the hose or the water is gonna cool off too much to soften the hose enough to do much good. And, nobody ever leaves it IN the hot water long enough either. However, a blow dryer can be right beside you without risking 3rd degree burns...and it will--if you're patient enough--soften the hose enough to get it onto a fitting fairly easily if you also grease both the hose and the fitting with KY jelly--much slipprier than dish soap, water soluble so it dries out and readily available from any drug store. As for why boat hoses have to be so much harder to work with than automotive hoses...all I can say is, it's a boat--it's supposed to be hard to work on.
I've never found that dunking a hose in hot water helps much. Unless you have a means of keeping the water on the boil where you're working (and the prospect of spilling it has never thrilled me either), either the hose or the water is gonna cool off too much to soften the hose enough to do much good. And, nobody ever leaves it IN the hot water long enough either. However, a blow dryer can be right beside you without risking 3rd degree burns...and it will--if you're patient enough--soften the hose enough to get it onto a fitting fairly easily if you also grease both the hose and the fitting with KY jelly--much slipprier than dish soap, water soluble so it dries out and readily available from any drug store. As for why boat hoses have to be so much harder to work with than automotive hoses...all I can say is, it's a boat--it's supposed to be hard to work on.
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