Anybody out there have a recommendation based on experience with best mfr and source for NON-LEAKING quick disconnect air fittings? I have a small compressor in a one-person shop, and when I leave an air nozzle plugged into the hose, the compressor cycles every 20 minutes or so. I can hear the leaking at the quick-disconnect. I'm not a big air user, but it's annoying to a) have the compressor running when no air is being used, and b) to need to disconnect the hand-use nozzle to prevent that. I'd be willing to bet that leaky quick disconnects are a big contributor to compressor cycling in a lot of shops, but I'm interested in what I can do to prevent that.
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best quality quick-disconnects?
- Thread starter specfab
- Start date
- Replies 37
- Views 7,659
Tony Quiring
Titanium
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2008
- Location
- Madera county california usa
The universal females they sell at California industrial rubber seem to work well due to extra rubber parts but not cheap.
The males are mostly the same but some are slightly different and leak some who like others seal well.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
The males are mostly the same but some are slightly different and leak some who like others seal well.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
Bill D
Diamond
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Location
- Modesto, CA USA
It is pretty easy to replace the o-ring in the female disconnect. hard part is taking it apart to get the dimensions then figuring out where to get that size. The you have to reassemble it until the part arrives. and do it over again.
jamscal
Stainless
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2004
- Location
- Louisville, KY
CEJN is a brand from Sweden that makes quality push on connectors.
They were spec'd by one of my customers for a special project so I haven't used them for air but they seem very high quality and I like how they work. (They buy them because they don't leak from what I understand)
McMaster-Carr
$23 each though at mcmaster
They were spec'd by one of my customers for a special project so I haven't used them for air but they seem very high quality and I like how they work. (They buy them because they don't leak from what I understand)
McMaster-Carr
$23 each though at mcmaster
atomarc
Diamond
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2009
- Location
- Eureka, CA
I have used the Tru-Flate style for eons. That isn't a brand but rather the style, but whatever the brand, they always last for many, many moons before they ever leak. My guess would be your leak is originating at the hose to coupler connection or the air gun or whatever is attached to your quick connect.
The style you pick will be predicated on how many of what style you already have on your hoses and tools. Don't know what 'brand' McMaster-Carr sells but they are the ones I've been using for about 35 years...and very few leaks.
Stuart
The style you pick will be predicated on how many of what style you already have on your hoses and tools. Don't know what 'brand' McMaster-Carr sells but they are the ones I've been using for about 35 years...and very few leaks.
Stuart
Danny VanVoorn
Titanium
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2002
- Location
- St.Louis, Missouri, USA
I haven't had a problem with them leaking, milton and a few generic came with the hose types.
When I was still working and doing set up I always seemed to have both hands full and wished someone sold something that could be switched with one hand.
Dan
When I was still working and doing set up I always seemed to have both hands full and wished someone sold something that could be switched with one hand.
Dan
Gordon Heaton
Titanium
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2007
- Location
- St. George, Utah
I use Dixon. Made in USA and very reliable. Haven't had one leak in over six years, indoor or out.
newtonsapple
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 16, 2017
I also have had good luck with the Dixon ones, "push to connect" style. You don't have to pull the sleeve back to insert the male part. These fit the most common male size. Check out McMaster P/N 6534K16 and similar items.
[486]
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2014
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
CEJN, the blue stripe ones, 1/4" I/M
they last about 5 years of heavy use before I have to rebuild them, then they go another 5 after changing out the o-rings and loctiting them back together.
Their site sucks hard, but a local distributor has them on the shelf.
they last about 5 years of heavy use before I have to rebuild them, then they go another 5 after changing out the o-rings and loctiting them back together.
Their site sucks hard, but a local distributor has them on the shelf.
JLarsson
Cast Iron
- Joined
- May 15, 2014
- Location
- Western Montana
Mud
Diamond
- Joined
- May 20, 2002
- Location
- South Central PA
For good, cheap and easy to get, try Kobalt connectors from Lowes. The females have 6 balls, the only coupler I've seen with 6 so far, and the few i've installed don't leak yet. For pushbutton couplers I prefer Prevost, they are long lasting and pleasant to use.
I use the connector style labeled 'automotive', they flow more than the industrial connectors.
I use the connector style labeled 'automotive', they flow more than the industrial connectors.
Limy Sami
Diamond
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2007
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
And another vote for genuine CEJN, .not cheap, BOTOH USUALLY you get what you pay for in this life.
gustafson
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2002
- Location
- People's Republic
honestly if you replace them semi regularly, they don't leak.
reminds me that it is time to do that.
buy a dozen and put them in a drawer so that when it bugs you, you can fix it right then.
reminds me that it is time to do that.
buy a dozen and put them in a drawer so that when it bugs you, you can fix it right then.
eKretz
Diamond; Mod Squad
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2005
- Location
- Northwest Indiana, USA
I use Miltons as well. They leak a miniscule amount when used dry (can't hear the leak but the compressor does cycle more with things plugged in). I have lately been applying a thin smear of silicone grease to the ends of the male adapters and that has actually helped quite a lot. The couplings seal on the end of the male adapters face, so any nicks/dents/scratches there can cause a tiny leak pretty easily. The silicone grease seems to help curtail the leaking at least somewhat.
Bobw
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2005
- Location
- Hatch, NM Chile capital of the WORLD
Yeah it is.. I never realized how much until My big compressor shit the bed and I had to
go to a cheapy back up.. One little hiss at a quick connect and that little bastard
would run and run and run and run and run....
So, now every time I go to Harbor Freight, I pick up a couple packs of nipples and quick connects.
I haven't had any of the new ones I've installed in the past 2 years go bad... YET.
The second anything leaks.. It goes right in the trash and gets replaced... And its not always
the quick connects, the nipples can get dinged up also..
Now I can come back to work on Monday morning, turn on the compressor, and it won't start, because
the system is still holding pressure... Fixing all the little leaks and running the compressor at
a lower pressure 90 to 120 instead of 120 to 145 has saved me about $150 a month.
Mud
Diamond
- Joined
- May 20, 2002
- Location
- South Central PA
I picked up a handful of HF male connectors, thinking "how bad can they screw this up?". Well, they were turned oversize and wouldn't fit in other brand female connectors.
redlee
Titanium
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2009
- Location
- Beaver County Alb. Canada
Lubricate them,you might find its all it needs to stop the leaks.
