This is the sprinkler manifold for my backyard watering system. I know it looks like a prostitutes dream but it functions perfectly, I can easily R&R the valves, it is compact and resides under a good looking cover. I built it in 1982 and it is still good.
About 30 years ago it sprung a leak I wasn’t able to fix or stop. One of the fittings cracked. Because of the geometry I can’t replace that fitting. I installed a hose clamp on that fitting and squose it down tight which slowed the leak to a drip. So it drips 24/7/365.
There is a hairline split in that fitting that leaks water under pressure (about 70 psia) but you can’t see the crack. Can’t even find it w/o the pressure on. There isn’t room enough to cut the pipe and install a new fitting. It seems that with the fitting leaking as in the pic, the inserted pipe; a. might not be properly bottomed in the fitting b. was not cemented properly or c. the inserted pipe has a longitudinal crack.
When I installed this system in one of the transverse pipes across the lawn leaked and it had longitudinal cracks about 10 feet long. So the stub I used here may have that problem. Kind of far out maybe but a possibility.
I have thought of the following solutions:
1. V-out the crack and fill it with Plast-aid. Hard to V-out a crack you can’t see.
2. Clean up the surface of the fitting then lay Plast-aid over.
3. Cut a short piece of PVC pipe lengthwise and glue it over the fitting such that it wraps all around
the fitting. Gotta work fast. Is there a slow PVC cement? Reinforce with the hose clamp.
Will any of these fixes work??? Any better ideas??????
The last thing I want to do is rebuild that manifold. I was 47 YO when I built it in 1982- you do the math. I’m still capable, always been a good mechanic and fixer upper, got all the tools etc but I’ll tell you age takes its toll and you lose your desire to tear into something and fix it.
About 30 years ago it sprung a leak I wasn’t able to fix or stop. One of the fittings cracked. Because of the geometry I can’t replace that fitting. I installed a hose clamp on that fitting and squose it down tight which slowed the leak to a drip. So it drips 24/7/365.
There is a hairline split in that fitting that leaks water under pressure (about 70 psia) but you can’t see the crack. Can’t even find it w/o the pressure on. There isn’t room enough to cut the pipe and install a new fitting. It seems that with the fitting leaking as in the pic, the inserted pipe; a. might not be properly bottomed in the fitting b. was not cemented properly or c. the inserted pipe has a longitudinal crack.
When I installed this system in one of the transverse pipes across the lawn leaked and it had longitudinal cracks about 10 feet long. So the stub I used here may have that problem. Kind of far out maybe but a possibility.
I have thought of the following solutions:
1. V-out the crack and fill it with Plast-aid. Hard to V-out a crack you can’t see.
2. Clean up the surface of the fitting then lay Plast-aid over.
3. Cut a short piece of PVC pipe lengthwise and glue it over the fitting such that it wraps all around
the fitting. Gotta work fast. Is there a slow PVC cement? Reinforce with the hose clamp.Will any of these fixes work??? Any better ideas??????
The last thing I want to do is rebuild that manifold. I was 47 YO when I built it in 1982- you do the math. I’m still capable, always been a good mechanic and fixer upper, got all the tools etc but I’ll tell you age takes its toll and you lose your desire to tear into something and fix it.
