Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dai on December 08, 2010, 04:11:00 pm
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Had problems yesterday with the hose feed pipe blowing off the back of my reel,
went to B&Q AND Home base and they don't stock the connectors that screw onto the spindle. These are a 5/8 inch thread, why the hell they can't make them the same size as a tap connector, I don't know.
Just been onto Hozelock to buy a couple of replacements. £8.89. That's well dear for what they are, they're the same as what screw onto your outside tap only a different thread.
If any part of the hozelock reel should be made of metal it's this one, its the one that gets the most wear when the reel turns. They don't include these in their pro range.
You can buy replacement O rings on ebay at a third of the price Hozelock charge.
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Dia,
You have just experienced the wholesaler conundrum at its best. Hoselok make their money by using retail outlets stocking their products for sale to end-users - us. However the problem that they have is that these outlets want a guarantee that the wholesaler will also not get involved in the retail sector, period.
Now, no manufacturer with half a brain would accept those terms as the retailer is generally not renowned for being loyal, and neither are they particularly interested in getting involved with any issues regarding after sales service that their customer may demand from the product they have purchased.
So the manufacturer will still reserve the right to deal direct with any customer who wishes to, but will not undercut the retail outlets price as that would be financial suicide on their part to do so. But retailers will only stock the fast movers so you will never find the wholesalers/manufacturer’s full range at any store.
You will often see and hear adverts promoting a product by the wholesaler, and at the end give a list of all the good stores you will find that product in, ie, B & Q, Focus etc. That helps to keep the retailers quiet.
Wholesalers and retailers are strange bedfellows.
Spruce
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That's the grey one isn't it? Bit too much pressure and once they blow off they are pretty much wrecked. I got sick of replacing them and bought a metal hosereel in the end.
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Part of your problem is that you are using a hosereel designed for domestic occasional use, and not heavy duty commecial use. You need to buy a commercial hosereel.
Although the plastic male connection on the end of the hozelock reel spindle will wear out over time, they do an extremely good Pro metal male and female connector which work very well and are better than the brass connectors IMO. But they are pricey.
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they do but they don't fit on the inlet for some stupid Hoselock numpty designer reason.
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That's why you should use a varistream. TOO MUCH PRESSURE! ;)
Having said that, I used the same Hoselock reel for 6.5 years & NEVER had any part blow off, never replaced the male outlet either, just the O ring. I have the same kind of reel on mains pressure too for filling & that's never failed either.
Just bought a new pro metal hoselock reel, here's to another 6.5 years! ;D
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Hey I put k n o b and it came out numpty
numpty
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I do use a varistream digital, the problem I was having yesterday was either the pressure wasn't enough to send the water up the pole, or it was too much and blowing the connector. I tried every combination of numbers and letters to get it right but no joy. I'm not new to Varistream having had them in one form or another since starting WFP. I don't like a lot of pressure, the 35 psi on the backpack is perfect for my requirements. This reel has 30 meters of micro bore on my main trolley system.
I have found the Varistream to be temperamental in the past, it won't hold it's setting from one day to the next. If the problem persists tomorrow, I will use the mini pump box, that's only got a 35psi pump and a 12 volt speed controller.
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I do use a varistream digital, the problem I was having yesterday was either the pressure wasn't enough to send the water up the pole, or it was too much and blowing the connector. I tried every combination of numbers and letters to get it right but no joy. I'm not new to Varistream having had them in one form or another since starting WFP. I don't like a lot of pressure, the 35 psi on the backpack is perfect for my requirements. This reel has 30 meters of micro bore on my main trolley system.
I have found the Varistream to be temperamental in the past, it won't hold it's setting from one day to the next. If the problem persists tomorrow, I will use the mini pump box, that's only got a 35psi pump and a 12 volt speed controller.
That sounds very strange Dai.
I use 8mm hose myself (90m on reel). My varistream is rock solid for reliability, it never misses a beat, works exactly the same day in, day out.
Maybe a dodgy connector on the reel?
For your info my cut off is set at 6 (7 in winter) & flow set at 1.
Is it 6mm hose you're using on the reel? do you use smaller pole hose than standard?
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Just to add-
With those settings I can work at ground level or 60ft & the flow remains the same without touching the varistream.
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
6mm OD? what's the ID? :o 30m?
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
6mm OD? what's the ID? :o 30m?
I/D of the Algarde pole hose is 4mm, the same stuff Jeff B uses.
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
6mm OD? what's the ID? :o 30m?
I/D of the Algarde pole hose is 4mm, the same stuff Jeff B uses.
My guess is the hose ID Dai. Could be why your varistream doesn't work properly. There are many factors in set ups which could determine how reliable the flow/pressure/controller is, that's why JeffB's might work ok but not yours.
I reckon if you changed your 30m hose to 6 or even better 8mm all would be well, inc' the varistream. :)
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I recommend one of these (second from bottom)
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Plastic_End_Stops_etc.html
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOZELOCK-2050-HOSE-END-CONNECTOR-NEW-/320621685357?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4aa68aaa6d#ht_678wt_907
Here is one for 99p :D
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I recommend one of these (second from bottom)
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Plastic_End_Stops_etc.html
That would be brilliant but I need one with a 5/8 inch thread.
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOZELOCK-2050-HOSE-END-CONNECTOR-NEW-/320621685357?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4aa68aaa6d#ht_678wt_907
Here is one for 99p :D
I got all my connectors off that guy, saved a FORTUNE!!!! :D 4 TO 5 quid in the shops. They reduced postage too as I bought 10 at one go. ;)
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
6mm OD? what's the ID? :o 30m?
I/D of the Algarde pole hose is 4mm, the same stuff Jeff B uses.
My guess is the hose ID Dai. Could be why your varistream doesn't work properly. There are many factors in set ups which could determine how reliable the flow/pressure/controller is, that's why JeffB's might work ok but not yours.
I reckon if you changed your 30m hose to 6 or even better 8mm all would be well, inc' the varistream. :)
I do have 30 meters of 6mm microbore on the reel, the Algarde is only the pole hose. I've been using the same set up for years. Had A nightmare again today, it has to be that feed hose connector as the other connector pops off just winding in the reel.
I have tried 3 differnt connectors, and they all pop off the spindle connector.
The mad thing is that I have put a new one on the spindle end, the guy from home base took one of an identical reel as they had none in stock.
I am now thinking that someone has had the same problem, and have swopped connectors when no one was looking.
When you put the connector on, you couldn't pull it off with a tractor, but minimum pressure from the Varistream will pop it off no bother.
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It's the grey spindle connector that's duff the hoselock connectors will be fine. You only need an air lock in the system to over pressurise the lot and blow the connector off. Once it's blown the spindle connector will usually be knackered the shoulder gets rounded.
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It's the grey spindle connector that's duff the hoselock connectors will be fine. You only need an air lock in the system to over pressurise the lot and blow the connector off. Once it's blown the spindle connector will usually be knackered the shoulder gets rounded.
Thanks for that mate, what you say makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that Hozelock use a different thread for this connector to the one that screws onto a tap.
And that the grey connectors are harder to get hold of than rocking horse poo.
In order to guarantee working next week, I had better buy a new reel.
I've a good mind to buy an identical one, and take the old one back after a couple of months, while the new one is still under warranty.
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Strange stuff Dai ???
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I have been known to 'borrow' the odd connector. Buy a new reel then take it back again ;)
Trouble is if you can't solve the over pressurising thing it only takes five minutes to blow the new one off. I even used to blow the reels apart with an air lock. Pump just kept going untill the spool would separate ;D
God knows why they change the thread just for that piece. Would be good if you could get some kind of adapter to take a brass tap fitment.
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Any chance of a picture? I can't get my head round any of this. ???
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http://www.hozelock.com/uploads/pdf/spares%20manuals/2010%20WATERING%20SPARES.pdf
Part number 2 in all the diagrams is the inlet connector for the reel. It looks just the same as a tap connector and is in fact identical except the numpties put a different thread on it where it attaches to the reel and normally make it grey.
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I use Algarde silicon 6 mm o/d, but there again I have done for years.
I will take all the hose off the reel tomorrow and check it. the last time I had problems there was a kink in the 6 inch length of standard hose before it connects to the microbore.
Has anyone found a way of eliminating that short length of standard hose? I can't think of any other way I can connect microbore to a hozelock spindle.
No, I couldnt find an adapter either.
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i have changed most of my hozelocks to the old type hose clips the one you screw up and the presure in my system is even better now ,
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Yippee I found some brass ones on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TAWAYK/ref=pd_luc_mri?ie=UTF8&m=AZHVKTJPC5GAJ
They should last a bit longer.
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If your in a hurry, I think the builders yard in ruthin sells them or wynnstay farmers in St asaph
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If your in a hurry, I think the builders yard in ruthin sells them or wynnstay farmers in St asaph
In 5/8" size Jeff?
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Good question, they sell ck range, could have a look for you at 8.30am, ring me ?
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Thanks Jeff.
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They only have 2 amazon ones maybe order it as a back up.
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They only have 2 amazon ones maybe order it as a back up.
There were only four and I bought two of them.
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Well is'nt just sods law, I went to the tool stall on a local market and asked the guy if he happened to have a 5/8" tap connector, he had something better than that, he had one with two adapters 3/4 and 5/8". I bought a couple for a quid each.
This little orange adapter allowed me fit a 3/4" Hozelock pro stainless steel connector. I have just spent £20 on adapters, and found exactly the right thing for a pound
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Has it cured the problem then Dai?
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The only sad thing about this is that these were originally homebase kits, so it's safe to assume that if they are for sale on the market stalls, they have been disscontinued by Homebase.
A very happy conclusion for me though.
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Has it cured the problem then Dai?
Yes it has mate, you were right. I turned the pressure right up and it never looked like popping off. That stainless one should last me out.
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But, the O ring will wear out, that won't happen if you fit a swivel from gardiners. ;)
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But, the O ring will wear out, that won't happen if you fit a swivel from gardiners. ;)
O rings are less than £2.00 for 50 on Ebay, but I will bear that in mind.
I would still need an adapter though because that elbow isn't 5/8"
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I had one of those elbows and they do still wear and leak, just in a different place.
I've just gone back to the ordinary male but in hozelock pro with a brass female because it's got the ball bearings. Seems to run a lot smoother. I also smeared with vaseline.
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I had one of those elbows and they do still wear and leak, just in a different place.
I've just gone back to the ordinary male but in hozelock pro with a brass female because it's got the ball bearings. Seems to run a lot smoother. I also smeared with vaseline.
How did you get the Hozelock male to fit on your reel? The pro ones that I saw all had 3/4" thread.
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It's on one of these reels: http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/hose-reels/free-standing-microbore-hose-reel-100m.html
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It's on one of these reels: http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/hose-reels/free-standing-microbore-hose-reel-100m.html
Yes well they have more sense than Hozelock and use standard fittings.