Hooking up an ice maker water line

[Sachbvn]

Alright - I'm hooking up an existing water line to an ice maker on a refrigerator/freezer. It should be as simple as running the steel woven tubing and screwing it down to the little port on the bottom of the back of the refrigerator. The problem is the little stainless steel threaded port on the refrigerator keeps screwing up the threads on the nut from the steel weave hose. We've gone through two hose kits thinking it was a bad kit - then we went and got some copper tubing and the old fashioned brass looking nuts, inserts, and bushing things. Attemping to screw the brass nut down to the stainless steel port, we jacked the threads all up again. I highly doubt we are applying too much pressure.

This is for my brother - when we hooked up ours it was sooo much easier, we didn't have any problems.

Any ideas - am I totally missing something here? Sorry, I know it's somewhat confusing to follow.

Thanks,
Zac

[rrich]

Stainless on the frige doesn't sound right to me but...

If I had to guess, the frige has metric threads and you're using an Imperial threadded kit. Try the kit from the fridge manufacturer.

[Sachbvn]

Here is the kicker Rich - we used two kits from where we bought the Fridge. ALSO - we tried threading JUST the nut onto the fridge and it went on just fine. When we tried to attach the whole sha-bang (Copper tubing, bushing, insert, and nut) it stripped the threads on the nut. It's like.... the amount of pressure needed to crimp the bushing is causing havoc to the brass nut.

I'm pretty sure the connection on the fridge is stainles steel - it sure looks like it.

Anyways, bit PITA for something that is super simple.


Zac

[arcticfox46]

Zac,

Pics would help this old man to see what you are talking about.

[TDHofstetter]

I'm thinkin' the fitting on the coldbox is probably brass, but chrome-plated.

So... when you thread on the brass ferrule nut, it threads on just fine & screws down quite a way before it bottoms, right? Then when you thread the hose kit on, complete with ferrule, it starts... and how far does it go on before stuff gets funky? Is it right as it starts? It should be threading on about four complete threads before it starts to pinch the ferrule, then it should go only a very small distance past that 'cause the ferrule won't take a shebang of compression.

Does it seem at all loose as it goes on? Like floppy?

When it wrecks threads, does it cross-thread or does it strip the threads out & pop back off?

It's the right size, right? Not 1/16" too big or something?

Lessee. If you pick up a "male" fitting from the hardware store, one that fits a loose ferrule nut, how does the hose kit fit on THAT? Correctly?

I suspect the fitting on the refrigideezer may not be manufactured correctly, and needs to be replaced. Sucks, but stuff does slip past the manufacturing process sometimes. REAL pain trying to convince the manufacturer that their stuff's screwed up, so it's probably far less trouble just to order the part.

BUT... try the trip with another "male" fitting first anyway. Just to be sure. Could be the hose kits are screwed up instead.

-- Tim --


Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
Programme

[Sachbvn]

>I'm thinkin' the fitting on the coldbox is probably brass,
>but chrome-plated.
>
>So... when you thread on the brass ferrule nut, it threads
>on just fine & screws down quite a way before it bottoms,
>right? Then when you thread the hose kit on, complete with
>ferrule, it starts... and how far does it go on before stuff
>gets funky? Is it right as it starts? It should be threading
>on about four complete threads before it starts to pinch the
>ferrule, then it should go only a very small distance past
>that 'cause the ferrule won't take a shebang of compression.
>
>Does it seem at all loose as it goes on? Like floppy?
>
>When it wrecks threads, does it cross-thread or does it
>strip the threads out & pop back off?
>
>It's the right size, right? Not 1/16" too big or something?
>
>Lessee. If you pick up a "male" fitting from the hardware
>store, one that fits a loose ferrule nut, how does the hose
>kit fit on THAT? Correctly?
>
>I suspect the fitting on the refrigideezer may not be
>manufactured correctly, and needs to be replaced. Sucks, but
>stuff does slip past the manufacturing process sometimes.
>REAL pain trying to convince the manufacturer that their
>stuff's screwed up, so it's probably far less trouble just
>to order the part.
>
>BUT... try the trip with another "male" fitting first
>anyway. Just to be sure. Could be the hose kits are screwed
>up instead.
>



When just applying the brass nut to the coldbox it goes on just fine - no resistance, feels like a good fit - not loose or anything.

When you run the copper tubing and little bushing thing into the coldbox and then tighten the nut down - it seems to go on ok - and then pops clean off. Now, it was enough pressure to crimp the bushing onto the copper tubing. Now - I honestly don't think we were overtightening it at all - about six months ago I helped my Grandpa install the one on our fridge and it went on a hell of a lot easier than this. I am sure he tightened it down good and plenty too.

Hmmm.... if we need to run to the store again today - I will be trying the "male end" to make sure everything fits correctly.


Here's another question - with compression fittings - plumbers tape, or no tape?

Zac

[Sachbvn]

Sorry Leo, no camera with me. Pictures would explain things MUCH better!

Zac

[Sawduster]

Shouldn't need plumbers tape on a compression fitting. Do the nuts seem to bottom out before there is a bit of resistance on the compression fitting? When you spin the nut on by itself does it feel like a good fit, smooth and snug going on? Pics would surely help.

[TDHofstetter]

Yeah, no - no tape, no dope, nothin' but brass.

From the description it sure SOUNDS like the male fitting was undersized when they started to thread it, so the threads aren't 100% or even 75%, but are nearer like 35% or less. Barely crested. Everything'd feel right, but just not enough thread there to hold any good pressure.

The torque you need for that fitting will be about half as much as your one hand can do with about a 3"-long wrench... or about as much as you can do with your arms extended fully in front of you, turning the wrench as if it were a faucet knob facing you. In that position you're not able to bring very much torque to bear.

If the nut pops off at anything like that torque, it will NOT hold when it's subjected to 100psi of water pressure! The consequence of it popping off under water pressure, say on a weekend while you're gone gallivanting, are really NASTY. It's gotta' be a positive seal or ya don't dare use it, PERIOD.

-- Tim --


Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
Programme

[sibi1972]

Zac,

If you are absolutely sure that the instructions book specifies a certain size nut to attach and that is what you are using and it's still popping off then the male thread on box is cut wrong.

However those things can be tricky. You do have to ensure that when attaching the line that it is perfectly straight to the male fitting.

You can try a short, say 3" piece of the pipe your looking to attach and attempt to assemble it as you normally would. If it goes on and tightens well without popping off then you need to be straighter when doing the real job.

Still just pops off? Plan B.

EDIT: if you do manage to get this connected, usually they supply a small clamp to hold your water line to the box. If they do and you still have it, USE IT. ;)

"Red"

[Sawduster]

Something else you might try is to add a coupling, female to male of the same sizes, maybe a right angle thing or something. This would give you a pipe to pipe joint in which you could use some teflon tape, then attach your compression fitting to that.

When you tried the braided hose connector, did you use teflon tape? If not, you might try another kit using teflon tape. Could take up enough slack in the fit. And like Tim said, it doesn't want but a little pressure used with the wrench.

[arcticfox46]

no tape!

Can you see the threads on the male brass end?

Do they look stripped?

The nut "might" in fact be brass with chrome plate on it.

Brass will strip REAL easy - but should be plenty strong enough to compress the ferrule.

You should tighten "just" enough to not leak - no more.

[rrich]

Zac,
Are you using a ferrule on the copper tubing?