D2 axle breather coupling

[rick130]

A Q regarding the push connectors on the axle tubes.

Are they a generic airline coupling like an SMC or do I need to go genuine?
I had a **** load of water in the rear diff and suspect the coupling isn't watertight.
I'll probably run a new breather line, too.
Had some in the front, so will swap it out too.

[Tombie]

I believe they are a std style.

[Rick1970]

A Q regarding the push connectors on the axle tubes.

Are they a generic airline coupling like an SMC or do I need to go genuine?
I had a **** load of water in the rear diff and suspect the coupling isn't watertight.
I'll probably run a new breather line, too.
Had some in the front, so will swap it out too.

Not sure if the same but, had a blocked breather on the front of my D1, replaced the 1/4” nylon and banjo fitting with a 1/8” BSPT push in elbow to 6mm nylon hose. That’s what I had lying around at the time.

[gromit]

They are a fairly standard airline fitting.
The standard ones on my Defender were zinc plated steel and rusted internally & blocked.
As I work in the pneumatics industry I fitted nickel plated brass 1/8" BSP to 6mm swivel elbows, problem solved.


Colin

[rick130]

Deefers (and I suspect the D1 & RRC) are banjo fittings but the D2 uses a plastic push fitting into the axle tube.

I'll go for a crawl and see if I can remove it

[gromit]

Deefers (and I suspect the D1 & RRC) are banjo fittings but the D2 uses a plastic push fitting into the axle tube.

I'll go for a crawl and see if I can remove it

When I advertised fittings & tubing on the forum years back someone came round with a Defender that had some odd fittings in the axle. From memory 4mm OD tube rather than 6mm. It was raining at the time so I didn't investigate any further.

The original on my '95 Defender was a banjo fitting which I tend not to use in pneumatic applications because they restrict the flow too much, hence fitting a swivel elbow.

You can buy the push fit collet mechanisms to press fit into your own product, these require some form tooling to machine the port to house them. I wonder if LR went in that direction and pressed the collet mechanism directly into the axle.....


Colin

[Tombie]

At worst (did this on my D1)...

Remove original, drill / tap housing, fit elbow with press fitting.

On the D1 I ran 2 T pieces also, and drilled and tapped each swivel housing and fitted breathers in them as well.

[rick130]

At worst (did this on my D1)...

Remove original, drill / tap housing, fit elbow with press fitting.


Yep, I could end up doing that yet.

[rick130]

You can buy the push fit collet mechanisms to press fit into your own product, these require some form tooling to machine the port to house them. I wonder if LR went in that direction and pressed the collet mechanism directly into the axle.....


Colin

I'd say so as the collet is directly into the axle tube

[rick130]

I don't think the tube was pushed home properly past the O ring, and the fitting was full of crap.
Cleaned as best I could, recut the tube with cable cutters and pushed home again.
I'll test it somehow on the weekend.
It's 6mm tube btw.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200311/838b4c119cd32669a0eea80a11c576e0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200311/53bac3d75d96b54863d30e0f6dbd0d94.jpg

[gromit]

I don't think the tube was pushed home properly past the O ring, and the fitting was full of crap.
Cleaned as best I could, recut the tube with cable cutters and pushed home again.
I'll test it somehow on the weekend.
It's 6mm tube btw.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200311/53bac3d75d96b54863d30e0f6dbd0d94.jpg

Normally the 'teeth' that grip the tube are stainless steel or brass, in your picture it looks like the plastic release collar is also the 'teeth'.
I've never seen this with a pneumatic fitting but to be fair an axle breather isn't actually pressurised. As long as the tube stays in place & keeps water out......


Colin

[rick130]

As long as the tube stays in place & keeps water out......


Colin

Which it hasn't been doing...


Thanks for the input, I know enough to be dangerous with pneumatics [emoji56]

[trout1105]

Which it hasn't been doing...


Thanks for the input, I know enough to be dangerous with pneumatics [emoji56]

A little bit of "Sikaflex" could be your friend here[thumbsupbig]

[gromit]

Which it hasn't been doing...


Thanks for the input, I know enough to be dangerous with pneumatics [emoji56]

Maybe prise out the collet and see if there is an internal hex to unscrew the assembly. As it's a cost saving idea it's probably pressed in rather than threaded
Next option is to somehow get the assembly out and tap the housing.

A 1/8"BSP swivel elbow in nickel plated brass is about $6 list price.

Colin

[rick130]

Maybe prise out the collet and see if there is an internal hex to unscrew the assembly. As it's a cost saving idea it's probably pressed in rather than threaded
Next option is to somehow get the assembly out and tap the housing.

A 1/8"BSP swivel elbow in nickel plated brass is about $6 list price.

Colin

I missed this, thanks Colin and handy to know the collet may come out for a hex key.

I lubricated the tube and O ring with some non-setting refrigeration thread/gasket sealer and it pushed deeper into the fitting, so we'll see how it goes.

[Discofender]

The original brass fitting can be levered out with flat blade easily so are not well sealed regardless of the internal o ring.
If you're regularily wading then upgrade to the threaded elbows. Available from anywhere that does air couplings or Gwyn Lewis.158659158660

[Tombie]

The original brass fitting can be levered out with flat blade easily so are not well sealed regardless of the internal o ring.
If you're regularily wading then upgrade to the threaded elbows. Available from anywhere that does air couplings or Gwyn Lewis.158659158660

That’s what I did [emoji106]