How to Secure Barb Fittings on an Airline

[JonnyAlpha]

Hi;

I have bought two Airlines (one short and one long) from a local Hydraulic and Hose Company, the Airlines have 1/4 BSP Barb connectors at each end. The barbs will be secured using Jubilee Clips.

One hose is rubber (here) and is used to connect the compressor to a Y connector and the barb fittings were relatively easy to push home, the other however is UPV (here) and for the life of me I cannot push it fully home.

I have tried hot water on the pipe before fitting it with no joy any ideas??

Heres the culprit:

Here's the rubber hose, fully secured home:

 

[armalites]

I generally find a bit of saliva is enough to provide some lubrication. Boiling water should work well, it does need to be done immediately and in one positive movement. You need to have the pipe in there long enough for it to be soft.

 

[brightspark]

a bit crude but heat the end over a gas ring just before melting point and shove it on quick

 

[jonjoe]

propane torch

 

[Cobbler]

Some types of plastic hose you can hit them several times with a hammer & it softens it enough to get it on. It depends on the hose though as it may damage some types.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Will it go with the hot water treatment and washing up liquid on the barbs? ( I'm trusting you have the jubilee clips backed well off)

 

[mike k]

As above, hot water in a flask. No need for washing up liquid in my experience. That's how I plumbed up my airlines as i had a load of spare connectors that I bought by mistake. Remember to slide the jubilee clip on before putting in the hot water. Don't use a flame as some have suggested, even a hot air gun is overkill.

mike

 

[MattF]

Heating is probably what it needs, but for future reference to aid making something a bit less sticky when fitting, talcum powder, same as washing up liquid can be used too, is another useful item for helping bits slide rather than stick. The parts need to be bone dry before applying, obviously.

 

[brokenbiker]

i generally put fitting in a vice, propane on the hose till it is just about to melt then shove it in and tighten the clip down. Wear gloves. Molten hose and skin don't mix

 

[mike k]

Ptfe tape on the threads

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Ptfe tape on the threads

Mmm do you mean I am supposed to use PTFE tape on all the threads before inserting to aid an Air Tight seal?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Thanks for all the suggestions, problem is having used the Hot Water treatment to get them on this far now they won't come off and using the hot water again will probably expand the brass fittings as well. Guess I may have to clamp the fitting in a vice an use a Hair dryer on the pipe? Or cut them off and start again.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Will it go with the hot water treatment and washing up liquid on the barbs? ( I'm trusting you have the jubilee clips backed well off)

Clips where not on when I fitted the hose :-)

 

[brokenbiker]

just cut it off. Only gonna be a few mm shorter. Get it good and hot and move fast before it cools at all

 

[DrNik]

I would get the fitting on as best you can, then whilst holding the pipe hit the barbed fitting into the pipe with a nylon hammer, always works for me

 

[jordan1]

Just make sure you hold it long enough in boiling water and maybe heat the fitting also, smear of washing up liquid and push it on hard, quickly in one go, leaving the clip well away of course. All assuming you have the correct ID for the fitting.

 

[Rig Pig]

As above, hold the hose in a nice solid vice with just a bit sticking out and hit the fitting with a hammer into the hose with a bit of soft wood or something to protect the thread.

 

[bash'it]

wd 40 works every time squirt some into hose

 

[lchris21]

as a side note, keep the hose clips for your car and bike...............

good practice on air lines, gas hoses and such, is to use these:

 

[Cyberprog]

What are those clips actually called?