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Replacing and modifying HF or NT hose reel for more flow

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pipsters

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I took apart my Northern Tool (aka Harbor Freight) hose reel I got on black friday and modified it for more flow.

I also replaced the crappy cheap hose with a Goodyear 50' hose.

I marked the parts that intersected at a 90* angle, as if you look at how the reel is set up if it's not in that position it will seriously handicap the the air flow. What I learned is I really didn't need to drill it out, as just marking the parts that intersect would be plenty.

I attached the hose so that at full pull the parts will intersect.

Also it seems the hose reel is designed for a slightly lighter hose as even when wound up a bit it still is a little slower to pull the Goodyear hose up as it weighs more. It still does the job but just not as snappy. No big deal I can deal with that because the hose is a lot better now.

Also I bought some new o-rings, from Home Depot, they are #10 size IIRC, I got a box for $2.**. The ones that came in the original reel were slightly torn and leaking a bit.

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daveroy

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Curious myself!
Need to replace my hose soon, might be interested in what you have done. Can you give a more detailed description with some pics?
 
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pipsters

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Somethings messed up, the pics display but won't upload again in the same post.
 

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daveroy

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Excellent!.... Now I get it.

As far as the 'lighter hose' goes... this is what I did. I took the black stopper off the hose and turned the drum one more round tighter then fed the hose back into the feed guide and put the stopper back on. This made the last few feet of hose a bit harder to pull down (but not bad at all, and not done often) but made the first few feet retract much better. Basically tightening the spring.
 
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JASTECH

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Good idea to save some bucks. I got lucky at auction and bought a enclosed dbl reel with 2 inlets with hose for 30.00.

Thanks, JASTECH
 
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pipsters

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daveroy said:
Excellent!.... Now I get it.

As far as the 'lighter hose' goes... this is what I did. I took the black stopper off the hose and turned the drum one more round tighter then fed the hose back into the feed guide and put the stopper back on. This made the last few feet of hose a bit harder to pull down (but not bad at all, and not done often) but made the first few feet retract much better. Basically tightening the spring.
Click to expand...

I did that too but it didn't seem to help that much, maybe I'll wrap it around again a few times. I didn't want to overdo it.
 
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pipsters

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W650Mike said:
Am I correct in understanding that you pull the hose out and stop where the marks line up?
Click to expand...

Yep, you can adjust it a few degrees but I try and stop it where they line up so the air flows thru the holes instead of around the hole then into it if I'm going to be using something like an impact. That being said, I have a separate 25' hose that comes straight out my compressor for that as well.

Also in that pic I had originally had too much hose out on the outside of the reel where it attaches, I had to shorten/tighten it up a bit where it comes out of the reel and into the external connection. No big deal. Trial and error.
 
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pipsters

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Changing to hi-flo won't do **** unless you open up the hose reel itself, which is why I did what I did.
 
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Motofixxer

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Every restriction removed will help. You enlarging the bore, did make a difference, changing the couplers will also. One of the biggest restrictions is likely that standard male coupler bore. You ever seen how small they are. Same problem with your hose reel. That's why I bought a reel with 3/8 NPT.
 
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