Replacing the hose on a air hose reel

[FlameOut]

I bought two of those hose reels from Lowes a while back (The deal was posted on here, something like $29 each)

Well anyhow, the first one I used lasted about 6 months and the hose developed cracks and started leaking air pretty back. About 3 month ago, I dug out my second one, and have been using that, and now the same things. The hose is cracking and leaking air.

I bought 50' of goodyear air hose, and was wondering how tough it is replacing the hose on one of these reels. Looks like you have to unwind the entire hose, and be very careful it doesn't decide it wants to wind back in before you get it replaced

 

[Torque1st]

Unwind it and block the reel so it can't retract.

Why is the hose cracking? I have had hose for 15 years and it has not cracked.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Why is the hose cracking? I have had hose for 15 years and it has not cracked.

One word...................... China

Charles

 

[Jack Olsen]

I put the same hose on my Coxreels unit. It was really straightforward.

 

[Torque1st]

My 10 year old hose is Chinese and it has not cracked either. I have no idea where the old hose came from. It was cheap tho or I would not have been able to afford it.

 

[FlameOut]

Not sure why it cracked. It is right at the fitting. I think maybe I'm flexing it to much there when I connect it to tools. Is it possible to cut off the first few inches where it's cracking and reattach the fitting? I imaging I'd have to take it to some hydraulic shop or something, to have a new fitting pressed onto the hose

 

[Torque1st]

Cut off a few inches and use a barbed fitting and a hose clamp. Get a whip for your air tools. Install an in-line lubricator on the whip to lube your tools.

Any auto parts store can supply the hose fittings if you bring them the cut off section of hose. They may also have the lubricator and whip but they may be high $$ units. A lubricator is $5-10. Pick up a pint or quart can of air tool oil while you are there.

 

[sberry]

I have used hose clamps, dont much care for them on the tool end. They make simple band crimper or even better push on fittings at a fluid air store, rubber supply has them.

 

[Keep]

Just make sure the new hose has the same fittings on the ends. The first thing I did when I got my reel was replace the PVC hose for a rubber one, PVC ***** in cooler climates.

 

[e-tek]

Yup - you need to use whips - short sections that take the abuse instead of your hose.

 

[Northstar9126]

After you unwind the old hose completely and remove it wrap the new hose around the drum once that way you will have enough tension in the return springs to pull the new hose all of the way in to the stop.

 

[fordcragar]

Most welding supply stores sell crimpers that will allow you to repair air hoses with a nice crimped sleeve; which would look like a factory crimp. You just cut the hose, slide the new sleeve over the end of the hose, insert the barb and then crimp. The crimper is squeezed using a vice, nice and easy. I wished that I had discovered this many years ago. IIRC the crimper cost about $20, you can reuse the old barb and a replacement sleeve is about $ 0.75.

 

[torqueman2002]

... The crimper is squeezed using a vice, nice and easy. I wished that I had discovered this many years ago. IIRC the crimper cost about $20, ...

Sounds like just what I've been looking for also.

I have a custom length of hose I use for the s. blast cabinet that has hose clamps on it. They hold fine, but I prefer the factory finished look, and the sleeves/ferrules don't scratch or get caught.

Do you have a source for the vise crimpers?

I found re-usable hose ends, no crimpimg, just 2 wrenches:

http://www.toolsource.com/reusable-brass-male-hose-p-65528.html

 

[logical]

Some bargains aren't such a bargain in the long run are they?

 

[Michal]

My Kobalt (lowe's) rubber hose has a brass barbed fitting. I just pull the fitting off, cut the hose with a hose cutter from jeg's (you could get away with a razor blade) , and stuff it back in.

Also be careful not to flex the hose too much while pushing the fitting in, I cracked mine by doing this and had to cut again.

 

[pgreen]

Best hose and fittings I have used are Parker Push-Lok. Their barbed fittings used with their hose does NOT need a crimp or clamp. Simply push in the barbed fitting. You have to cut the hose to remove the reusable ends. I have used a few lengths of this hose and fittings for 15+ years with no leakage or any sign of the barbed fittings moving. Love the hose too, soft rubber hose available in colors.

I replaced the hose in my overhead reel with -6 (3/8") PushLok hose, and it works great. This hose is a bit thicker than the original, so I can't have quite as much on the reel. No prob here.

 

[fordcragar]

Sounds like just what I've been looking for also.

I have a custom length of hose I use for the s. blast cabinet that has hose clamps on it. They hold fine, but I prefer the factory finished look, and the sleeves/ferrules don't scratch or get caught.

Do you have a source for the vise crimpers?

This is the crimper and stuff (or similar) that I used.

http://www.westernenterprises.com/en...it_ferrule.php

C-3 Crimper 3 Hole Jaw 1" Wide, Use on 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" Hose

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Brass barbs and ferrules

http://fittingsandadapters.com/brashosbarfi.html

http://fittingsandadapters.com/hoseferrules1.html

This will give you a factory look to your hose ends. The most expensive part is the crimper. But after buying the crimper, I now can custom make lot of different hose lengths.

Before Boeing Surplus closed, I would buy bulk air hose for $0.50 per pound.

 

[torqueman2002]

Great, just what I've been looking/hopping for.

I ordered the vise HAND-HELD FERRULE CRIMP C3 tool.

I now need to get the 3/8" Goodyear hose from HF today and measure the OD to determine the correct ferrules.

Thank you!

 

[Scotto]

I got one of those Lowes reels too. The hose is just Chinese ****. I cut off the end after it started leaking and put a barb fitting on the end. After about 5 more leaks and fixes I just got a Goodyear hose and haven't had any problems since then (was also tired of the hose scaring the **** out of me when a new hole would burst in the line).

It's cake to replace. Just unwind the reel all the way and have it lock. Then take apart the parts that hold the hose (pretty self explanatory when you look at it), unscrew that 5- hose, screw back on the new hose, and put the holding parts bad together. There's no unwinding or winding to deal with.

 

[aczr2k]

Why not just do as pgreen says and buy good quality Parker hose and fittings instead of a crimper to crimp more cheap fittings onto cheap hose? Parker 801 "Push-Lok hose is all we use at work, all of our automation equipment is plumbed with it. You might pay more up front, but its the only hose you'll ever need.

 

[russlaferrera]

Sounds like just what I've been looking for also.

I have a custom length of hose I use for the s. blast cabinet that has hose clamps on it. They hold fine, but I prefer the factory finished look, and the sleeves/ferrules don't scratch or get caught.

Do you have a source for the vise crimpers?

I found re-usable hose ends, no crimpimg, just 2 wrenches:

http://www.toolsource.com/reusable-brass-male-hose-p-65528.html

Granger has then. They are also available from Milton.

 

[murph64]

Sounds like just what I've been looking for also.

I have a custom length of hose I use for the s. blast cabinet that has hose clamps on it. They hold fine, but I prefer the factory finished look, and the sleeves/ferrules don't scratch or get caught.

Do you have a source for the vise crimpers?

I found re-usable hose ends, no crimpimg, just 2 wrenches:

http://www.toolsource.com/reusable-brass-male-hose-p-65528.html

I picked up a couple of these from my local Carquest yesterday...Too bad they don't fit the poly 3/8" Amflo air hose I have.

Andy

 

[pgreen]

Why not just do as pgreen says and buy good quality Parker hose and fittings instead of a crimper to crimp more cheap fittings onto cheap hose? Parker 801 "Push-Lok hose is all we use at work, all of our automation equipment is plumbed with it. You might pay more up front, but its the only hose you'll ever need.

Apparently lots of people like to do things the hard way that requires extra tools for inferior hose!

This stuff needs NO clamps. This also means NO metal to catch or scratch stuff on the hose ends except the quick coupler connector.

But then again, I have been known to do things just so I could buy new tools or toys too. (like the iPad I'm typing this on now!)

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I bought one of the Sears Craftsmen 50' retractable hose reel and my hose is leaking after about a year of service. I bought a rubber hose to replace it but haven't attempted to do it yet. The whole hose leaks in different places throughout the 50'. You would think paying 150 bucks for the unit, it would be decent quality, but the hose part *****. Other than that I love it.

 

[trovato]

You might want to check out the thread started 3/31/10 called Air Hose Repair.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60233&

-Steve

 

[MichaelP]

Does anybody know how to properly connect the above mentioned reusable Milton fittings so that they don't become missiles when 175psi is applied?