Pumphaus hardline issue

[ghost flanker]

I recently bought my first Pumphaus hardline kit for my Phantom. The problem is that both ends of the aluminum line easily pull right out of any fittings I insert them into, CCM or otherwise. It doesn't lock or secure into the fittings under tension or air pressure like macroline does. The surface of the ends of the aluminum line are smooth and don't seem to provide anything for the fittings to bite into. I'm new to this style of hardline, but this can't be normal.

This is the gun with the hardline kit installed with the aluminum line fully inserted in both fittings:
IMG_3265.jpg

When the gun is pressurized, this happens:
IMG_3263.jpg

It holds air, but just barely. It looks like poop and does not seem safe at all. One small knock could cause the line to blow out from the fitting on the vertical ASA. Again, the fittings themselves aren't biting in and securing the line in place. The wide angle of the hardline is all that's keeping the air pressure from pushing it out completely. If the aluminum line were a different shape, say a wide U shape, it would fly right off the fittings.

So can anyone who is familiar with this hardline tell me why this is happening?

[rawbutter]

I bet you just need tighter o-rings. Take apart the CCM fittings and pop out the o-rings that clamp onto the hardline. Then visit your local hardware store and fish through the o-rings they have in their nuts and bolts section. You should be able to find something with the same outer diameter (so it still fits inside the CCM fitting) but a smaller inner diameter (to fit the hardline tighter).

[ghost flanker]

Wait, the o-ring is what clamps the air line in place? I thought these were what clamp down and hook in to the air line:
IMG_3286.jpg

[ghost flanker]

I bet you just need tighter o-rings. Take apart the CCM fittings and pop out the o-rings that clamp onto the hardline. Then visit your local hardware store and fish through the o-rings they have in their nuts and bolts section. You should be able to find something with the same outer diameter (so it still fits inside the CCM fitting) but a smaller inner diameter (to fit the hardline tighter).

Ok, I just gave this a shot. Found a nice, fat o-ring of the same diameter and installed it, but it didn't help. Same deal. Any other ideas? I'm stumped here.

[rawbutter]

Apparently I know less about compression fittings than I thought I did. Sorry about that.

Have you tried emailing PumpHause directly? Or sending them a message on their Facebook page? Maybe you got a defective kit. I mean, you bought the CCM fittings and hardline together as a kit that's specifically designed for the Phantom, right? It shouldn't buckle like that, not unless you're using higher-than-normal pressure.

[Nobody]

Check the OD of the air line. Make sure that it's 1/4".

[Sandman]

Check the OD of the air line. Make sure that it's 1/4".

Yeah, What he said. If your calipers read .250 plus or minus .001 maybe .002, that would be the right size. If they polished the aluminum to ano it and took too much off, it might make it loose.

Technically, the fittings are designed for use with the plastic line. When you press it in it grabs when you pull on it. Kinda like shark teeth. One way in. Then when you push in the little ring when it's degassed it provides a release so you can slide it out.

With aluminum line, which technically the fitting was not designed for, you lose that "grab" and the line is held in place by the force of pressure alone.
There are commercial fittings designed to hold soft metal tubing, just nothing ever at the pressures we use in paintball.

I've made the same connections before using aluminum tubing and the basic Norgren PTC fittings commonly sold in paintball. I posted up about it on Facebook not that long ago, and installed a line on Bunny's RT.

I think it would be tough for it to blow out easily. At least the line I installed was basically impossible to remove if the fittings were locked in place.

My suggestion is to install the tubing, then lock your fittings into place. If you can't remove that tube from the position, I think you are fine.
If the tubing is cut too "short" and you can take it off with the fittings locked in place then, maybe you have a concern.

Just my 2 cents.

[Laku]

Just tighten up the ccm fitting at the bottom so that it doesn't allow the movement?

[ghost flanker]

I did. Both fittings are as tight as they'll go without pulverizing the little o-rings under the heads of the Allen bolts. They're really solid and stable, though. This particular kit simply can't hold together nearly strong enough to properly resist 850 psi.

Pumphaus claims that this is the first time this has ever happened with one of their kits, so they will be replacing the hardline. I'm skeptical, but keeping my fingers crossed.

[Laku]

I did. Both fittings are as tight as they'll go without pulverizing the little o-rings under the heads of the Allen bolts. They're really solid and stable, though. This particular kit simply can't hold together nearly strong enough to properly resist 850 psi.

Pumphaus claims that this is the first time this has ever happened with one of their kits, so they will be replacing the hardline. I'm skeptical, but keeping my fingers crossed.

It looked like the lower fitting had moved a little on your picture, hard to tell.

But the line has pretty aggressive angle on it, so it will likely move easier than one with more shallow angle as the forces that affect it are more aligned to push it out.

[MANN]

There are commercial fittings designed to hold soft metal tubing, just nothing ever at the pressures we use in paintball.

Swagelok, Parker, and most of the other fitting manufactures make fittings designed for 1/4" tubing for pressures much greater than any paintball air tank will produce. They are ss, and iirc they are rated somewhere around the 10000psi.

I had to go way back to find this post. I thought I had one here too, but I couldn't figure out the new search. Here is a link to what the fittings look like.

http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/misc-paintball-items/134740-brass-stainless-steel-aluminum-hardline-sale.html

[maniacmechanic]

Swagelok, Parker, and most of the other fitting manufactures make fittings designed for 1/4" tubing for pressures much greater than any paintball air tank will produce. They are ss, and iirc they are rated somewhere around the 10000psi.

I had to go way back to find this post. I thought I had one here too, but I couldn't figure out the new search. Here is a link to what the fittings look like.

http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/m...line-sale.html

the fittings this gent is dealing with are push-lock ,,, the tubing and fittings from the MCB thread are ferrel style

[MANN]

yes. I am saying that you should be using ferrel style fittings with hardline.

[BigEvil]

That hardline looks like it should seal in a standard macroline fitting. There are .010 orings in the macro fittings. The CCM I think are the same but not 100% sure. Make sure you have orings in there, the line should seal with pressure. Also make sure the tube is 1/4". I should be. If it was annoed aluminum it might be FUBAR.

[Spider-TW]

Are you sure the ends are pushed past the o-rings and not just sitting in the collars? That would explain the extra length.