Thread sealants on NPT and others?

   / Thread sealants on NPT and others? #1  

joea99

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Lots of old threads and various opinions, but would like to revisit. I've not done much but all the NPT I've done (Kubota B21 2000# nominal) have been "dry" and not leaked. But I gather that is not the norm.

Teflon tape seems to be on no ones "good idea" list.

Various other solutions, loc tite, 3 Bond, and others, seem to be favored. At least on NPT.

Some say to use nothing on JIC or oring boss. But I have found, taking stuff apart, that corrosion can be and issue on those, so maybe using a modest amount of low strength thread locker or non hardening sealer, just to keep water out, is not a bad idea, but just on the threads.

Let the games begin.
 
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   / Thread sealants on NPT and others? #2  
I use Blue Monster on everything
 

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   / Thread sealants on NPT and others?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I use Blue Monster on everything

I have that but worry about being sloppy and getting it into fluid. I also have loctite 592 that I have used on engines, but never hydraulic systems.
 
   / Thread sealants on NPT and others?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I use LocTite 545 for NPT hydraulic fittings. JIC and o-ring I assemble dry but corrosion is not a huge issue here.

I'm leaning toward trying that as some vendors recommend it as well. Pricey.
 
   / Thread sealants on NPT and others? #7  
I will defer to Parker on this, I know that they have done testing to determine the best way to seal fittings.

This is what they state for O-ring Boss. R4
Inspect components to ensure that male and female port threads and sealing surfaces are free of burrs, nicks, and scratches, or any foreign material.
2. If O-ring or seal is not pre-installed to fitting male port end, install proper size O-ring or seal, taking care not to damage it.
3. Lubricate O-ring with light coating of system fluid or a compatible lubricant to help the O-ring slide past the port entrance corner and avoid damaging it.
4. Screw fitting into port and tighten to proper torque from the appropriate table located on pages R5 - R6


Below is for JIC R26
Torque Method
With proper tube fl are alignment with the nose of the fitting, tighten the nut to appropriate torque value in Table R23. This method is fast and accurate when preset torque wrenches are used. Consistent component selection is recommended so that the effects of dissimilar plating is not an adverse factor in joint integrity. This makes it desirable for high production assembly lines. However, a joint assembled using the torque method
can only be checked for proper tightening by torquing it again.
Note: This method should not be used if the type of plating on the fitting and mating parts (sleeve + nut or hose swivel) is not known. The torque method should not be used for lubricated or oily parts as improper clamping forces may result. Over-tightening and fitting damage may occur as a result

All straight thread fittings have this note.
Assembly Torque: Torque values are for unlubricated carbon steel components and properly lubricated stainless steel components. All stainless steel Triple-Lok tube nuts have an anti-seize lubricant to prevent galling during assembly.
No additional lubricant is needed unless the tube nuts are washed or heated above 150ºF. Stainless steel fittings use the upper limit of torque range

Pipe Thread R7
The proper method of assembling tapered threaded connectors is to assemble them finger tight and then wrench tighten further to the specified number of turns from finger tight (T.F.F.T.) given in Table R5. The following assembly procedure is recommended to minimize the risk of leakage and/or damage to components.
1. Inspect components to ensure that male and female port threads and sealing surfaces are free of burrs, nicks, scratches, or any foreign material.
2. Apply sealant/lubricant to male pipe threads if not pre- applied. For stainless steel fittings, the use of Parker Threadmate sealant/lubricant is strongly recommended.
(Pre-applied dry sealants are preferred over other sealants). With any sealant, the first one to two threads should be left uncovered to avoid system contamination.
If PTFE tape is used it should be wrapped 1-1/2 to 2 turns in clockwise direction when viewed from the pipe thread end.
Caution: More than two turns of tape may cause distortion or cracking of the port.
3. Screw the connector into the port to the finger tight position.
4. Wrench tighten the connector to the appropriate T.F.F.T. values shown in Table R5, making sure that the tube end of a shaped connector is aligned to receive the incoming tube or hose assembly. Never back off (loosen) pipe threaded connectors to achieve alignment.
5. If leakage persists after following the above steps, check for damaged threads and total number of threads engaged.



I was surprised about the comment for tape so I looked for another reference.
Rhino Ag in reference to installing hoses on a loader.
Apply sealant only to all tapered threads unless coupled with swivel adapters. When using Teflon tape, wrap tape clockwise (as viewed from end) and wrap only twice. Keep sealant away from first two threads of tapered end to prevent contamination of hydraulic fluid. Do not use sealant on O-ring or flare adapter threads.

Based off what the manufactures state we should be assembling straight thread fittings dry and using pipe dope or tape on tapered threads. I was surprised that tape is an approved method of sealing. The folks at parker know more about sealing threads than almost anyone on the forum and have spent thousands testing the best methods. Feel free to link to reliable sources that state otherwise. The tape for tapered threads was new to me and I have been advising clients that tape was evil for years....
 
   / Thread sealants on NPT and others? #8  
I had some hydraulic lines a few years back and tried everything available, dope, tape, shellac, you name it, fought with it for over a month. Everything I tried it would leak until finally I found Loctite 567, has not leaked a drop or shown any signs of seepage. I still use tape on almost all NPT fittings unless it has something to do with keeping oil in.
 
   / Thread sealants on NPT and others?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
I will defer to Parker on this, I know that they have done testing to determine the best way to seal fittings.
. . .
I was surprised that tape is an approved method of sealing. The folks at parker know more about sealing threads than almost anyone on the forum and have spent thousands testing the best methods. Feel free to link to reliable sources that state otherwise. The tape for tapered threads was new to me and I have been advising clients that tape was evil for years....
Wow. That is pretty much in line with what I've always thought, except for the tape comments. Pretty much everywhere I've seen was down on tape.

I have a couple rolls of tape rated for oil and gas that say "up to 300 psig". AND recommend 4 turns.

Probably most of the tape problems have been from people over wrapping, too many turns, and/or letting tape wrap too close to the start of the threads, or even over, so that pieces could break off and create havoc in spools and such.
 
   / Thread sealants on NPT and others? #10  
Contamination from Teflon Tape problems are frequently when a fitting is removed and the pieces of old tape are then free to fall into the port or are pushed in when new fitting is installed. Careful cleaning is required before reassembly. Same cleaning is required with loctite and other sealants.
 

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