They are good for the price. They as all have two weak points. One, the swivel will need replaced every 10 months. Two, the manifold pipe will leak at the welds around the nipple at about one year.
Of course these numbers are with daily rinse with clear water and Bleach Wash.
We bypass the reel, but never again! I will be hooking up directly from now on, I would rather replace a couple parts in exchange for smooth and quick operation.
Please enlighten us on how y'all do this so easily. I can not imagine having to coil 200-300 feet of Ag-Hose, much less deploy it without it turning into to a pile of spaghetti. Looking forward to reading how it's done and if you have pictures, even better.
Thanks guys, every reel I have ever bought has leaked after a while. We use these cheap elbows as the swivels on the window cleaning reels and they last quite a while considering that the hoses are reeled in and out maybe 20 times a day. They probably would last a couple of months with the SH
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Hozelock-Type-Brass-Hose-Reel-Fitting---Swivel-Elbow--REEL_BRASS_SWIVEL.html They last
On the outlet side of our Allflo, it goes into a polypropylene ball valve. On the other side, we have a 15 ft piece of hose with a quick disconnect with a female end. Then our hose has a male end on it. I unreel the hose completely each job and connect it to the quick disconnect. This way the hose reel is more for storage and will not get destroyed by The SH since it is being bypassed.
Eric Mine is not a year old and the swivel has started to leak. grrr I am assuming the manifold is next. What is the cost and labor required to repair these?
Beginning to sound a lot like a bypass is in order
The other reels tend not to last as long as Titan from the type of stainless to the design. To bypass, cut your 300 into 100 sections and garden fittings. Problem solved.