threadlock for 3" trash pump discharge ?

bcarwell · Nov 16, 2010

I have a trash pump with a 3" male discharge port. I have a mating 3" female connector on the end of my discharge hose. The problem is 1) there is some slop between the threads of the two pieces when the connector is screwed on the port of maybe 1/10th an inch, and 2) I cannot screw the connector far enough onto the male port to effect a seal of the female connector against the housing the discharge port extends from.

So... I must rely upon the seal between the male-female threads for a water tight fit and must find some sort of glop to wipe on the male threads before screwing on the female connector to take up the slop, I will be running at about 60-70 psi clear water on the output and the male connector is probably cast iron, maybe aluminum, and the female connector looks to be aluminum if that matters.

Does anyone have a suggestion of what to use to get a good seal ? It is fine if its a fairly permanent seal as I don't intend to remove the discharge hose. Bottles of Threadlock are pretty small. Epoxy ? Form-a-Gasket ? Silicon water sealant ? Lots of teflon tape ? Some kind of waterproof glue ? Do you have any specific suggested product brand name ? And would you apply it to the male threads and let it set up and dry and then screw on the female connector, or screw on the connector while the glop is wet ?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bob

arsenix2001 · Nov 16, 2010

Perhaps a female to male adapter/ coupler that would allow thread sealing, if not, a silicone sealer is what i would shoot for. Should seal well and break down/clean up fairly easy.

Willl · Nov 17, 2010

Is it possible these threads are not meant to be used together ?, they're not the same size ?

Bison · Nov 17, 2010

By what i understand is that you run out of tread before the coupler halves meet.
why not grind the nut back a bit so it will.
IMO any form of sealant will last only a short while under pressure.

bcarwell · Nov 17, 2010

Thanks for the replies.
I won't bore you with the details but I was lucky to even get this far. They are BRITISH threads (11 tpi) on the trash pump (no wonder I got such a good deal on it) and incredibly I found an adapter on Ebay to at least get it from BPS to quicklok. So as I said the male-female threads definitely DO match (BPS) but there is just a little slop.
Thanks for the suggestion about grinding the nuts down on the flange; I eventually thought of that and may do it.
BUT: the major breakthrough was I just realized the female BPS-to-quicklok adapter has inside a gasket seat, so even though it threads onto the male with a little slop, if I stack about a 1/2 inch of such gaskets inside the adapter that might do it. Otherwise, I'm gonna try the silicon sealant as suggested.

Bob

PILOON · Nov 18, 2010

One of my favorits for that sort of problem si FLEXTRA caulking in tubes.
It is a polyurathane product to caulk around windows etc.
Never hardens to a brittle state makes for a darn good seal and is thick enough to fill those thread voids, yet I am shure you would still be able to crack the threads loose when needed.

Drones Club · Dec 28, 2010

bcarwell said:
I have a trash pump with a 3" male discharge port. I have a mating 3" female connector on the end of my discharge hose. The problem is 1) there is some slop between the threads of the two pieces when the connector is screwed on the port of maybe 1/10th an inch, and 2) I cannot screw the connector far enough onto the male port to effect a seal of the female connector against the housing the discharge port extends from.

So... I must rely upon the seal between the male-female threads for a water tight fit and must find some sort of glop to wipe on the male threads before screwing on the female connector to take up the slop, I will be running at about 60-70 psi clear water on the output and the male connector is probably cast iron, maybe aluminum, and the female connector looks to be aluminum if that matters.

Does anyone have a suggestion of what to use to get a good seal ? It is fine if its a fairly permanent seal as I don't intend to remove the discharge hose. Bottles of Threadlock are pretty small. Epoxy ? Form-a-Gasket ? Silicon water sealant ? Lots of teflon tape ? Some kind of waterproof glue ? Do you have any specific suggested product brand name ? And would you apply it to the male threads and let it set up and dry and then screw on the female connector, or screw on the connector while the glop is wet ?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bob

I've always used Vaseline- It's a great temporary sealant out in the dirt- Just slap on a bunch of it. It's cheap and easy to clean- better than grease.

Mike