Do all air hose reels leak?

[tig]

I have a Groit's Garage air hose reel (this one) that leaks internally.

I believe it is leaking either where the reel hose attaches to the axle or at the bearing (or whatever you call it) between the outer connector and the axle. I can't really tell.

I like this reel as it retracts nice and slow (no risk of a long tail whipping my precious Porsche), but am not super attached to it.

Do all reels leak like this? Should I gripe to Groit's (I've had it for several years, but only recently enabled an always charged compressor so it never really bothered me before)?

 

[Deltarat]

I bought 2 from Northern Tool 2 years ago and neither leaks yet.

 

[gtkane]

I have had a couple of the cheap U-windup Campbell-Hausfeld reels for several years with no leakage whatsoever.
Maybe there are some O-rings that need replacing or greasing.

 

[BackTracker]

All the hose reals I have ever used leaked somewhere. I figure the more connections, the more places for a leak to occur. I use plenty of teflon tape to try and mitigate them though. and that seems to help

 

[Ign]

I've got two HF manual-wind hose reels and neither leaks any discernible amount over 48 hours.

 

[nehog]

Bet the O ring in the coupling to drum is no good. You might be able to disassemble and replace it. None of my air-hose reels leak, but the Sears one did originally (replaced the O ring!)

 

[BPJOOP93]

I have an MIT? hose reel no leake in the 6 or so years i have had it.
$50.00 cheapie from fleet farm, 50 foot. love it. when they go on sale again i will be buying another one.

 

[Aberdale]

They shouldn't leak when new. But they will all leak eventually, especially if operated at higher pressures, or if you have lots of moisture in the lines.

No big deal to replace the o-rings usually, but I'm not familiar with the retractable reels.

 

[bushpilot]

my reelcraft doesnt !

 

[camnick]

Reelcraft! I've had it for at least 10 years and it just started leaking a little last year.

 

[bushpilot]

only problem ive ever encountered are w/ the o-rings in the tool connection points...
and theyre not reelcraft anyway.

 

[Falcon67]

My Craftsman leaks only in certain positions.

 

[milner351]

my HF reel has been good so far - about 4-5 years - I have it mounted to the bottom of the truss - so it's overhead, been a great addition to the shop - the ratcheting mechanism has held up well too.

I just noticed last night the hose is starting to blister the outer most layer near the coupling so I'll have to cut it and hose clamp it before too long.

 

[pacmktg]

All hose reels will leak eventually as orings are a wear item. The issue is with the cheap imports from China and the Griot one which comes from Down under is if you can get parts. Reel craft and Coxreels are both made in the USA and at least with Coxreels they use a common size oring available at any hydraulic shop or buy the swivel repair kit online.

 

[rsanter]

I have one from HF and 2 from lowes and none of the 3 leak that I know of

bob

 

[ptschram]

Reelcraft's factory is about 2 miles from me.

I have a nearly ten year-old H-F auto reel and it doesn't leak. That said, it's almost always the rotary union that leaks. Maybe just an o-ring, maybe not.

 

[graffix000]

If it is leaking, call up griots. They will send you out a new unit with no questions asked. Just ask for a return label to send back the old one and you won't be out any money.

Stuff costs a little more through griots, but nothing (or atleast very little) compares to the no question asked replacement parts.

 

[Commando66]

I have a Coxreel and it does not leak. I don't just pull it and watch it slither across the floor like a snake though.

 

[DRP6833]

I had a cheap retractable reel a number of years ago (I don't remember what brand or where I got it) and it leaked after about a week. I chucked it and bought a manual hose reel. I've replaced the O-rings in it once in maybe 15 years and it works fine.

 

[tig]

Just called Groit's. @graffix000 was right, they will swap it out for a new one, no questions asked. Since I'm in WA State I can just drive down to the Tacoma store and they have one waiting there with my name on it.

Wow. That flipping rocks.

 

[InPrimer]

I've had nothing but leaks in the endhose to air tool connections, in other words all my tools leak when I "plug" them in, any suggestions as far as air connections, brands ? I have some HF and sears, they all leak thanks IP

 

[The Wizard]

I have a leak in my system but I'm not sure where it's coming from. Thanks to this thread, I have a good place to start looking.

I have all new lines, fittings, etc and 2 hose reels from Home Depot (Amflo brand)

Anyone with good or bad experience with Amflo?

 

[ket-tek]

Just called Groit's. @graffix000 was right, they will swap it out for a new one, no questions asked. Since I'm in WA State I can just drive down to the Tacoma store and they have one waiting there with my name on it.

Wow. That flipping rocks.

After a couple years they are still just gonna swap it out no charge? That is awesome service!

 

[tig]

After a couple years they are still just gonna swap it out no charge? That is awesome service!

Yep, they even were able to pull up that I bought it in 2006.

 

[ket-tek]

I've had nothing but leaks in the endhose to air tool connections, in other words all my tools leak when I "plug" them in, any suggestions as far as air connections, brands ? I have some HF and sears, they all leak thanks IP

Since like 99 or so I've had all lowes fittings, the ones they sell as singles in the plastic bins, both males and females. I haven't mixed any other brands with them. And not a single fitting leaks with or without a tool. The compressor and hoses always have pressure on them, and the whole system holds air all the time. Now some of the older original fittings are getting real hard to plug in/out a tool from the mating edges getting worn, but still no leaks.

I've been looking at all kinds of nice fittings and quick couplers with plans of switching over everything to something nicer, but I keep putting it off because these just don't leak. Though I've seen others here say their lowe's fittings leak? So I'm not saying everyone should buy them, but they have served me well for over 10 years of almost daily use..

 

[senlow]

I've had my three Reelcraft's for about 10 years with no leaks.

 

[REAL HOT SCHITT]

i have a groit's garage air hose reel (this one) that leaks internally.

i believe it is leaking either where the reel hose attaches to the axle or at the bearing (or whatever you call it) between the outer connector and the axle. I can't really tell.

I like this reel as it retracts nice and slow (no risk of a long tail whipping my precious porsche), but am not super attached to it.

Do all reels leak like this? Should i gripe to groit's (i've had it for several years, but only recently enabled an always charged compressor so it never really bothered me before)?

in the couplings etc, there is o-rings...check if they are correct dimensioned to the parts its fitted to.

Normal couplers leak arfter a few years dew to o-ring wear and tear.

 

[bill9860]

Reelcraft - no leak

 

[BadTriumph]

I've had a real slow leak in my Coxreel. I haven't felt like taking it down out of the ceiling to fix it, so I just shut the valve at the compressor when I'm not using the air. If I forget, it only cycles about every other day or so... Not too bad i guess.