Barrowch Wolverine fittings?

Vidar · 3 Nov 2020 at 23:20

So I've just gotten the above fittings to have go at hardline as I really like the look of them. I'm curious though. These push fittings use metal teeth to grip the tube and in everything I can see promo material wise they don't require the use of an o ring, however one is included with each fitting.

Surely the o ring will get shredded by the metal teeth? Can someone with these fittings advise me?

pastymuncher · 4 Nov 2020 at 10:43

They only have a single O-ring inside the base of the fitting which will go around the very end of the tubing. The single O-ring you have is a spare as Barrow includes spares in the pack. While I am sure that they have thoroughly tested them I don't think I would ever trust them. I will stick with my 4x O-ring Barrow fittings that are never going to leak.

Vidar · 4 Nov 2020 at 10:58

Thank you pal that's really helpful.

Yeah I wasn't sure about them at first but have heard nothing but good things about them and watching a car being towed with the fittings alleviates any concerns. Loop will be well leak tested.

hlennie · 4 Nov 2020 at 17:06

The design is almost the same as pneumatic fittings and they can take over 10 bar of pressure. So no worries

Hotwired · 4 Nov 2020 at 17:40

More o-rings doesn't mean more better. If you want a seal you use one o-ring. They're not going to leak unless torn or badly installed which should be obvious at test. Shouldn't be any opportunity to get worn or damaged once the pipe is installed.

But you need grip on the pipe too so they're using extra o-rings for friction or a toothed ring to bite into the pipe.

The latter has a lot more resistance to being disconnected accidentally but this is for low pressure home wc and you shouldn't be savagely tossing your filled loop about so it's a bit whatever.

Vidar · 12 Nov 2020 at 16:49

So I ordered these and am subsequently returning them! It's near impossible to get a good seal and not one I'd trust. Another big problem is doing long straight runs. Getting the pipe inserted in both ends is a nightmare and once in and secured by the teeth it's not going anywhere and doesn't allow for any adjustment. The lack of rotary also causes problems, tightening one end inevitably unscrews the other.

The only way the pipe comes out is to cut it out, not ideal.

hlennie · 21 Nov 2020 at 20:36

@Vidar can concur they are indeed a pain to fit in straight runs did manage it though you have to be totally square other wise these will weep like hell. their other fittings with the compression are much better but I could not find 16mm in that flavour, so I'm using the wolves with the fitting with the double o ring on the other end can now strip all tubing out with out the struggle.

they where a nice idea but just too much work for rigid pipe your average user will use, also a double o ring design with a longer fitting for adjustment would have been much better to stop the weeping the gripping collar is way to much for this application.