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Post Info TOPIC: Failure of "push fit" water connections
Kooka


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Failure of "push fit" water connections
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Make sure that you turn off your water pump when not occupying the van or travelling.

 

Just finished helping a neighbour clean out and fix his van - a "push fit" connection became

dislodged on a bit of rough road, and because his pump was on, it emptied a couple of

hundred litres of water into his van before he stopped and went to the van for morning

tea. These connectors are great, but need to be watched.

 

TURN THE SWITCH OFF!

 

Kooka.



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Peter_n_Margaret


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Cheap fittings or JG without a locking clip, or simply badly assembled in the first place?
Properly done, they DO NOT come apart.
Cheers,
Peter

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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Kooka


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Failure of "push fit" water connections
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Maybe a bit of vibration or a loose food tin, etc crashed into it - there's a little locking collar

that when depressed can release the pipe to be removed.

 

Not worth the risk - better to turn the water off?

 

Kooka

 

Nice looking houseboat? biggrin

 

 



-- Edited by Kooka on Tuesday 18th of September 2018 11:09:19 AM



-- Edited by Kooka on Tuesday 18th of September 2018 11:09:54 AM

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Treecrest


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I'm guessing it is John Guest fittings. some manufacturers don't insert the securing clip which stops the pipe from pulling out! They are as cheap as anything, but?
www.coastrv.com.au/products/plumbing/john-guest-plumbing-fittings/item/john-guest-12mm-locking-clip

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Kooka


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Failure of "push fit" water connections
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Spot-on.

 

Did not know these were available!

 

Typical van manufacturers - cheapest rules.

 

'Wonder if they are available retrospectively?

 

Actually not that important now since given the mate's drama, out switch goes OFF!

 

Kooka



-- Edited by Kooka on Tuesday 18th of September 2018 01:22:20 PM

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BaldEd


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My caravan came with heaps of JG fittings, all without any of those locking clips fitted!!!!!!!!! Have since purchased and fitted the clips to all fittings.

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herks


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RE: Failure of "push fit" water connections
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BaldEd wrote:

My caravan came with heaps of JG fittings, all without any of those locking clips fitted!!!!!!!!! Have since purchased and fitted the clips to all fittings.

 x2

I think it was around 60 odd I had to fit after ensuring the joint was correctly fitted. Very tedious job but now have piece of mind and yes the pump is always off while travelling.



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Aus-Kiwi


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RE: Failure of
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I found making sure the hose is parallel to fitting helps big time . I use hair dryer to apply alittle heat and bend hose to form better connection . Some light petroleum jelly a slight chamfer on end so doesnt wreck the O ring when connecting . The white hose doesnt last in hot areas . Replaced it with approved. Some camping ground mains pressure is a little high ! We use the inbuilt pump . Lower pressure .,

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Cupie


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Failure of "push fit" water connections
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Another hint for John Guest fittings.

As well as using the red locking clips, ALWAYS use the collar inserts into the pipe at every joint.

 

http://www.coastrv.com.au/products/plumbing/john-guest-plumbing-fittings/item/john-guest-12mm-tube-insert



-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 21st of September 2018 10:43:57 PM

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malken


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I have had one let go as well on the filtered water tap. The van next door noticed water pouring out of the van from everywhere and turned the tap off. It let go again the next day but luckily we were there. I got the local plumber in Cooktown to disconnect and bypass it. His opinion was that it was a faulty JG fitting and he noted that usually the water pipe feels a little 'roughed up' where it connected and mine did not. It had the locking clip fitted.
Too scared to do anything about it now so will do without filtered water at the sink.
Cheers
Mal



-- Edited by malken on Friday 21st of September 2018 06:42:15 PM



-- Edited by malken on Friday 21st of September 2018 06:42:59 PM

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Kooka


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Did you read that Peter n Margaret?

 

Kooka

 



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Peter_n_Margaret


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Yep.

As I said, properly done they do not come apart.

2 problems can arise during assembly......

The first is that they are not pushed together far enough. It is impossible to see this during assembly and I found that the only way to ensure that they wer pushed together properly was to mark the insertion length on the pipe and check that it went in properly. 

If a poorly inserted pipe comes out, it will not show the teeth marks on the outside (as described by Mal. That is confirmation that proper insertion was never achieved in the first place.

The second problem that can arise is that the pipe gets scratched on the outside while being pulled through holes in the chassis or floor etc. The fittings seal via 'O' ring on the outside of the pipe. Any scratch on the outside in the area of the 'O' ring seal and they will probably leak.

I have made both of these errors myself - I have learned from bitter early experience.

Properly assembled and they perform well for many years. Most of mine are now 14 years old and have been exposed to some of the worst conditions imaginable.

Cheers,

Peter



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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Cupie


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malken wrote:

I have had one let go as well on the filtered water tap. The van next door noticed water pouring out of the van from everywhere and turned the tap off. It let go again the next day but luckily we were there. I got the local plumber in Cooktown to disconnect and bypass it. His opinion was that it was a faulty JG fitting and he noted that usually the water pipe feels a little 'roughed up' where it connected and mine did not. It had the locking clip fitted.
Too scared to do anything about it now so will do without filtered water at the sink.
Cheers
Mal



-- Edited by malken on Friday 21st of September 2018 06:42:15 PM



-- Edited by malken on Friday 21st of September 2018 06:42:59 PM

 The tube insert keeps the pipe rigid ensuring that the fingers dig into the pipe, holding it in place.

Did the offending connection have one fitted?

 

http://www.coastrv.com.au/products/plumbing/john-guest-plumbing-fittings/item/john-guest-12mm-tube-insert

 

No need to be 'scared' of JG fittings, they have been used widely for decades and if correctly fitted will last 'forever'.



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Bagmaker


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Failure of
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I hate to be the devils advocate here -but why would you use them? OR keep using them?
There are respectable folk here who have had a good run with JG fittings (so sorry Peter) but as someone with a background in high pressure hydraulics, I have to point out that they have been surpassed in every economic. engineering and ergonomic argument out there.
IMHO replace every tube and fitting with a DECENT bit of plumbing kit available at every large green shed with a hammer printed on it.
like PLUMBERS use.
JG fittings have been copied by our chinese mates and you wont know the difference until the pump is hot.
The tubing is suspect when bent, wont handle heat combined with pressure (it never could) and the only real advantage it holds over real PEX tubing is an availability of different colors so the nuff-nuffs in a caravan assembly factory can tell the difference between hot and cold. The pathetic little 12mm fittings have no wall thickness, no side strength and MUST (as prev. posted) have the little locking clips in to be close to safe.
Do yourselves a favour and get BRASS and PEX gear like the PLUMBERS use

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Santa


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Date:
RE: Failure of "push fit" water connections
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Have never experienced any problems with John Guest fittings, have used them for pneumatic connections in the mining industry for many years and now in our motor home, I suspect the problems are the way they are fitted rather than the fittings themselves.smile



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Cheers,

Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.
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