Mama ain't happy! She has air chuck issues.

[HoosierBuddy]

So.....

I have a first world problem. My significant other cannot get the inflator attachment chucked into my garage's air system. It's easy for me...but she can't do it. I've watched her try and the issue is she just isn't quite strong enough to jam the male part of the inflator far enough into the chuck to get it to lock and the collar to slip closed.

Now, the hose chuck in question is a replacement I bought at lowes a year or so ago. It might be a little harder than some I've seen...but nothing a 180 pound guy would ever struggle with...but a 99 pound woman? Maybe.

Is there any better chuck or system out there that you guys are aware of that takes less force to assemble/disassemble? After all, mother's day is coming up!

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Phil

 

[Warrenator]

I use Milton type V couplers, they are a little better made than your generic stuff. Might be easier to use if you still want that style of coupler with a pull back sleeve. Prevost makes a safety coupler witha separate button rather than a pull back sleeve, they are supposedly easier to operate though I have never tried them myself.

My wife also cannot do the air hose thingies. (Though I think that is really a pretend failure so she is absolved of tire pressure checking.)

 

[HoosierBuddy]

My wife also cannot do the air hose thingies. (Though I think that is really a pretend failure so she is absolved of tire pressure checking.)

That was my theory too so I made her show me that she can't do it. She's not that good of actor. She really can't do it.

Phil

 

[JerryC]

Set up a station just for her with the air pressure regulated down and if necessary use the above mentioned Milton V connectors. They only require a push into the connector so she can just per whole weight behind it.

 

[Squankum]

Prevost ERC071201 Highflow Profile Regular Coupler
http://amzn.com/B00C7JWYR4

I'm going off my fuzzy memory here, as I am at work and can't go check. I know for sure that this coupler releases in a most civilized fashion. I'm 98% certain that it accepts male barbs smoothly and easily, too. Also, it accepts all my Milton barbs.


Hmm, see reviews, one reviewer says the Oetiker is even better on this issue


_

 

[rlitman]

Yes, push-in connectors are going to be a little easier, but I'd suggest a different route.
The problem is not with the coupler (no coupler spring is going to put up much of a fight). The problem is in the air pressure behind the coupler.

I had this issue with a similar style auto-shutoff quick detach connectors on my garden hoses. I could get it together with the water pressure on, but nobody else could.
I switched to having a brass ball valve at the end of each hose, with a brass open QD on the end of that. You shut the water, and without any pressure behind the QD my kids can install it.

So, what I would suggest with your air hose is to put a small 1/4" inline ball valve behind the QD. If you shut the air, as soon as you start pushing the male fitting into the QD, it will leak out the remaining bit of air and will install without any force.

 

[MoonRise]

Regulator just upstream of the QD fitting. Lower the air pressure (possibly down to zero), then retract the collar on the female end of the QD fitting and insert the male QD end. Adjust regulator back up to desired in-use pressure.

The reason I say to put the regulator there is so that you don't have to dump all the air pressure from the entire system just to make the QD fitting not have 'back pressure' on it when she tries to insert the male fitting.

Try and see if she can make the connection with no pressure in the lines. If OK there, then just put in the regulator (maybe $20 or so?). That also lets you set your desired pressure at that drop for what you want/need instead of full 'line' pressure all the time (I don't know how you have your air lines 'set').

 

[txbonds]

Sounds crazy and they are not gonna be USA made like Milton but tractor supply sells some aluminum color coded X-flow couplers that are very easy to connect. They work well and to remove them simply press the tool or fitting into the coupler before pulling the slip ring down.

 

[66Caprice]

Run another line off of your set up and leave the air chuck all connected up and ready to use.

 

[maxpower_hd]

We have some of these at work and they work great. Small learning curve but easy to use.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc...nect_Air_Couplings/Pneumatic_Safety_Couplings

 

[Wabash]

+1 on installing a ball valve. I ran into the same problem at home with my wife and kids trying to hook up an inflator to a quick connect. I placed the ball valve immediately before the regulator. Now all they need to do is open or close the ball valve lever to cut in the air and the pressure is regulated correctly without them having to monkey with the regulator.

 

[maxpower_hd]

The couplers in the link I posted is sort of similar to what a ball valve will do. You slide the locking ring back and it relieves the pressure between it and the tool so you can then remove or install it without air pressure. Then you slide it up to apply air.

 

[Heel2toe]

Another poster above was on the right track with one of these types of couplers and it should solve your issues both getting it hooked up as well as releasing it.

I have one of these on my hose reel and I'm so glad I picked it up a few years back as it was a great investment. It makes it super easy to hook up any tool and also allows you to easily disconnect the tool with a push of a button and the hose and/or tool wont go flying off. They call it their "safety coupler". Here is what it looks like so choose which one will fit your needs given size of hose male/ female etc.

http://www.prevostusa.com/SAFETY-QU...ale-thread-coupler,us,c-c2014-epc1000003.html

 

[ratdoggy]

How about teeing into the line and making a hose set up just for the inflator?
Just put a valve on it so all she needs to do his throw a lever?

 

[Ruger_556]

Parker safety coupler, zero effort to connect or disconnect.

 

[hayhauler71]

Ball valve then coupler

 

[My Old Tools]

No, no, no. You are looking at this all wrong. She obviously wants you to do it. Make a deal.....

 

[danfromsyr]

the Swing coupling style is safe and takes near zero effort to connect/disconnect
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/0400426

more on topic
https://www.google.com/search?q=Oet...ved=0ahUKEwj9zpqynq_MAhVJcT4KHY6tB4MQ_AUIBygC

 

[619DioFan]

run another line off of your set up and leave the air chuck all connected up and ready to use.

this !

 

[CoogarXR]

I just leave the tire chuck in my air hose. If I use the air line for something else, I just put the chuck back when I am done. I've been doing it like that so long I don't even think about it.

 

[Pointbock]

...USA made like Milton ...

The last Milton v-types that I got were not US made.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

The couplers in the link I posted is sort of similar to what a ball valve will do. You slide the locking ring back and it relieves the pressure between it and the tool so you can then remove or install it without air pressure. Then you slide it up to apply air.

Winner Winner - maybe she'll cook dinner!

Lots of great ideas here....but I like Maxpower's the best.

I ordered the $15 coupler plus the $2 barb for it plus $6 shipping. But hey, it's cheaper than buying a new lawnmower tire because she mowed the whole yard (THANKS HONEY!) with absolutely no air in one of the back tires. Not saying that ever happened....just sayin.

Phil

 

[Rickster55]

How about teeing into the line and making a hose set up just for the inflator?
Just put a valve on it so all she needs to do his throw a lever?

^^^^^^This^^^^^^ Dedicated line!

 

[Heel2toe]

Hope that coupler works out well for you. FWIW the couple I mentioned also bleeds off the air and allows for easy connecting as well as disconnecting without the need for sliding things up or down. Just simply push in with minimal effort and press the button to disconnect. Can't get any easier than that but hey whatever floats your boat

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Hope that coupler works out well for you. FWIW the couple I mentioned also bleeds off the air and allows for easy connecting as well as disconnecting without the need for sliding things up or down. Just simply push in with minimal effort and press the button to disconnect. Can't get any easier than that but hey whatever floats your boat

Yeah...looked like they were selling 10 packs on that site for about $400+. So, roughly twice per unit the price of this one, which is what I ordered.

Phil

 

[Heel2toe]

Sorry, I just linked the manufacture's site so you could poke around and see what style fits your needs. The one I have is shown below, yes still pricey at $25 a pop but not terrible if you only need one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prevost-Saf...5297&clkid=5013422761672372849&_qi=RTM2247625

But hey I'm sure the type you purchased should serve you and your wife well so I wish you luck with everything! BTW I enjoyed reading your post; your writing style made me actually LOL, yes I said the overused phrase but it actually applies here

 

[BD1]

Sounds like you need to take her to dinner more .

 

[steel 35]

So.....

It might be a little harder than some I've seen...but nothing a 180 pound guy would ever struggle with...but a 99 pound woman? Maybe.

Phil

A problem is if you can't do it, but your little bride can.

 

[SteveCh]

I went though a patch a few yr. back when I happened to buy a bunch of connectors, etc., from places like HD and Lowe's and so forth. I have a box full of them. I found that they don't all fit together well at all, even though they are supposed to be the same size and type. Some simply won't connect and hold, some will if I use every bit of strength I have. Others do work. Eventually, I bought a bunch of Milton stuff and it all works great. The cheap junky stuff just won't always fit. Or, that has been my experience.

 

[66HertzClone]

My wife cannot connect my push to connect Milton couplers either. After trying one day while I was at work unsuccessfully to get them to connect she wouldn't even attempt to try so I could assist with how to get them to work. She said she would push it in and it would fly back out when she released it, I was given one of those eye rolls husbands know oh so well when I told her she had just not pushed it in all the way. So, I added and new connector next to the other and leave a hose with air chuck attached.

 

[Steevo]

This thread is amazing to me.

So, some of your spouses not only mow the lawn, they even air up the tires on the mower when needed, too?

 

[plow]

Doing laundry one day, I threw a red shirt in with the whites.



I no longer have to do the laundry.

 

[steel 35]

This thread is amazing to me.

So, some of your spouses not only mow the lawn, they even air up the tires on the mower when needed, too?

She moved the flags in marking the concrete pad; I wanted less lawn

 

[Kevin54]

Another vote for the Prevost air chuck. My wife had the same problem with the regular chucks.

Steevo.....you have to train the wife to do that stuff. Mine airs up her tires on her JD, on her car, and also mows the lawn, plus will clean the deck out on the tractor.

 

[justanengineer]

the Swing coupling style is safe and takes near zero effort to connect/disconnect
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/0400426

more on topic
https://www.google.com/search?q=Oet...ved=0ahUKEwj9zpqynq_MAhVJcT4KHY6tB4MQ_AUIBygC

+1. These are pretty common in manufacturing, push-in couplings are a slow PITA by comparison IMHO.

This thread is amazing to me.

So, some of your spouses not only mow the lawn, they even air up the tires on the mower when needed, too?

Mine handles most of our common vehicle maintenance (LOF, wipers, batteries, brakes, etc), alternators/basic repair, and is usually involved with tasks that need more than one person. She's taken a few welding classes and can run the mill and lathe but always wants supervision as she respects the equipment and doesn't run them often. Some wives are content to buy "their" vintage toys, mine helped haul her '68 Mustang out of a field and did most of the resto work thus far by herself. At 27 she's also a dam good cook, a bit of a cleaning nazi, and has more financial/other sense than most I know.

 

[Squankum]

I played with my Prevost coupler in the basement this weekend. With air pressure in the hose, I can't say that it's girl-friendly to insert a tire chuck. It's good, but it depends on the girl and the girly-level involved.

Releasing something, yep, that's a breeze. Just press a boot-un.


.

 

[blackdart66]

99 lbs ??? how about some donuts and a few cheeseburgers !

 

[dave89iroc]

Zero pressure disconnect

 

[maxpower_hd]

Yeah...looked like they were selling 10 packs on that site for about $400+. So, roughly twice per unit the price of this one, which is what I ordered.

Phil

These are the ones we use currently at work and they work very well. The ones with the button don't seem to last as long but we are using them daily. This one is also universal so it holds different types of fittings as well. Not that you need that at home. Even at work I only need the universal part if I bring something from home to work.

 

[Radix2]

Now that you all have the QC end sorted, anyone know of a good lock on connector for Schrader valves on the other end? My girls are in apartments and so I got them some small compressors to air up as needed. Without a tank to quick fill, the normal press on tire chucks don't work. Screw on ones let back out too much air and the junky chinese rubber ones the pumps come with are useless.

Yes, the could stop at a gas station, but it works well to have an on site set up to take care of it right away when you get the low tire light...