This is a rather arcane question and is long and involved, but if you have stayed with me this far, here goes:
I was dewinterizing my boat yesterday and noticed that a connection to the fresh water Jabsco Par-Max pump was leaking. Now let me say right here that it was not due to freeze damage as that pump had full strength antifreeze pumped through it last fall.
The connection was one of the quick connects that are used on this type of pump. It is a male fitting with an o-ring on it that pushes into a female opening that has a locking tab that holds the male fitting in place. I have used them on several other boats and they seal well and are convenient to make up the pump connections.
So I pulled the pump and took a look. On the suction side (which was not leaking) the female part had a circular base that the male fitting butted up against. But the discharge side (the one leaking) had a square base inside the female part.
Why square? Admittedly I don't see how the square base would cause the leak as the o-ring is what seals it off to the ID of the female opening. Is it possible that there is some rubber or plastic insert that is supposed to go into the square opening? But there was no such insert on either suction or discharge and it didn't look like there was enough depth for one to fit in there and still lock with the locking tab.
So, I am puzzled. I slobbered the whole male/female fitting with Lifecaulk and buttoned it up. I will see tomorrow if it has held. If it still leaks I guess I will buy a similar pump with supplied male fittings and replace the whole mess.
But again- why round on the suction and square on the discharge? And why did it seal tight for 14 years until yesterday?
David
I was dewinterizing my boat yesterday and noticed that a connection to the fresh water Jabsco Par-Max pump was leaking. Now let me say right here that it was not due to freeze damage as that pump had full strength antifreeze pumped through it last fall.
The connection was one of the quick connects that are used on this type of pump. It is a male fitting with an o-ring on it that pushes into a female opening that has a locking tab that holds the male fitting in place. I have used them on several other boats and they seal well and are convenient to make up the pump connections.
So I pulled the pump and took a look. On the suction side (which was not leaking) the female part had a circular base that the male fitting butted up against. But the discharge side (the one leaking) had a square base inside the female part.
Why square? Admittedly I don't see how the square base would cause the leak as the o-ring is what seals it off to the ID of the female opening. Is it possible that there is some rubber or plastic insert that is supposed to go into the square opening? But there was no such insert on either suction or discharge and it didn't look like there was enough depth for one to fit in there and still lock with the locking tab.
So, I am puzzled. I slobbered the whole male/female fitting with Lifecaulk and buttoned it up. I will see tomorrow if it has held. If it still leaks I guess I will buy a similar pump with supplied male fittings and replace the whole mess.
But again- why round on the suction and square on the discharge? And why did it seal tight for 14 years until yesterday?
David