Originally Posted by crazyd032
Sorry folks about the suspense, I’ve been attending to more immediate matters. It’s not the pump nor the tube nor the male coupling!
I’ve tried teflon tape, wax, vaseline, putty, PTFE Paste. The thing won’t tighten with any of these items nor will it hold pressure. I’d say with the wax, vaseline, putty, and PTFE paste it actually took away all resistance making the thing twirl instead of tightening. The Teflon Tape was the only thing that supplied resistance but not enough.
I’m going to try glue, I’m desperate. I’ll try elmer’s glue, a regular glue before I resort to superglue.
I’ve pumped over and over just with the pump/tube/male coupling and it 95% holds its vacuum. Once I use the tube, nada.
I can’t return the item because the company has a strict return policy and the customer service rep response to my ordeal was that the crack is part of the tube’s design and it is the female coupling that is stripped. They advise that I purchase another female coupling from their site and that I don’t mix other products with theirs.
This is basicaly that formula where they figure, how much does it cost to lose a customer versus how much it costs to replace the product.
I’ve popped in a dollar in the soda machine and it ate it, doesn’t mean it’s a bad product (chances are the next guy who uses it gets his soda) just means I was dealt a shitty hand.
-CD
What hurts on this is that if it is the female coupling, it should cost them very little to replace it, and potentially keep you as a happy customer.
If you want to try replacing it yourself, and - gasp!- try mixing products (but you’ve already done that with the Harbor Freight pump :) ), consider purchasing a new female connector from www.McMaster.com , part number 5012K29. I think this is the female connector that matches the male connector size commonly used.
Don’t rush out and order this; another set of eyes to doublecheck this would probably be prudent.
And I will start referencing this thread when members ask for cylinder recommendations. In fact, I just did:
Lampwick - Gains from pumping
For the amount of money that this equipment costs, you should be able to expect a little better and more trouble-free experience than you have experienced.
