Fresh Water Regulator Washer needed?

[Rich Jenkins]

Hi - Question is on a factory Shurflow water regulator.

The male threads on the regulator, on the inside, engage a black circular female threaded coupler, that holds the pipe in place. When I unthreaded the black coupler from inside the trailer, as far as I can tell, there was no washer in place on the inside, down in the threads, like you would see, say, in a typical garden hose coupling.

Reference the picture below, is there supposed to be a rubber washer or gasket at the point of arrow?

Or does the black plastic circular coupler just screw down tight onto the white male threads, sealing the joint that way, with no rubber gasket or washer needed?

Thanks!!

[aftermath]

I don't think you need a washer. Look into the male part of the connection. I have replaced two of these and I don't remember every seeing or worrying about a washer.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by aftermath

I don't think you need a washer. Look into the male part of the connection. I have replaced two of these and I don't remember every seeing or worrying about a washer.

Thanks, I should have added (sorry) that when I removed the regulator, I did not see anything, in terms of a washer, used or otherwise, down inside the black circular female coupler...

I forgot to take a picture of that, but as I recall it almost looked like a stainless steel ring inside.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rich Jenkins

Thanks, I should have added (sorry) that when I removed the regulator, I did not see anything, in terms of a washer, used or otherwise, down inside the black circular female coupler...

I forgot to take a picture of that, but as I recall it almost looked like a stainless steel ring inside.

So I installed the brand new regulator and tested it out tonight.

I have exactly the same leak as before; a drip appearing right around the join of the black circular pipe fitting and the white male threads on the regulator.

Any ideas?

I guess it’s possible I have another bad regulator, and I’ll contact the supplier for a replacement in that case.

Or is it possible there’s a gasket I’m missing that I need to install?

[majorairhead]

I have a new shurflo water inlet in the box. It comes with a 90 degree fitting to use on the outlet side, (back side), there is no gasket or o-ring, and the instructions say to hand tighten....over tightening compresses the thread connection and voids warranty.

The item is this one...https://www.go2marine.com/ShurFlo-24...ut-Fitting-3-4

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

I have a new shurflo water inlet in the box. It comes with a 90 degree fitting to use on the outlet side, (back side), there is no gasket or o-ring, and the instructions say to hand tighten....over tightening compresses the thread connection and voids warranty.

The item is this one...https://www.go2marine.com/ShurFlo-24...ut-Fitting-3-4

Thanks. It’s hand tight. I used no tools. Any other suggestions?

I’ll call the vendor (Woodland Airstream) and see if I can get some more information,

This is pretty frustrating.

[majorairhead]

If you have the original wingnut fitting it might be compromised. Also, the dang shurflo's aren't the best to start out with. I have two of 'em on board because I'm pretty sure I'll be needing one of 'em some day

Can you see for sure it's leaking at that fitting? If so, against all rational thinking, I'd tighten it a wee bit more

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

If you have the original wingnut fitting it might be compromised. Also, the dang shurflo's aren't the best to start out with. I have two of 'em on board because I'm pretty sure I'll be needing one of 'em some day

Can you see for sure it's leaking at that fitting? If so, against all rational thinking, I'd tighten it a wee bit more

Thanks. I’ll take another look. It is as tight as I can twist it by hand, but who knows.

Only ideas I have at the moment are to use some teflon pipe thread tape, but I didn’t see any on the old one, and for all I know it lasted six years (rig is a 2019 and we bought it used this spring.)

[NO NOIZE]

I believe the black female round coupler is supposed to have a cone washer like this inside.

https://go.skimresources.com/?id=218...enu%20%5B-1%5D

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by NO NOIZE

I believe the black female round coupler is supposed to have a cone washer like this inside.

https://go.skimresources.com/?id=218...enu%20%5B-1%5D

Winner winner chicken dinner.

This is exactly what the parts manager at Woodland Airstream told me this morning. I just got back from the Airstream dealer in Defuniak Springs FL with a couple cone washers.

I inserted a washer into the fitting and remounted the regulator. I screwed on the black coupling, and immediately felt the difference as the washer compressed. Whereas before the coupling threaded down to the shoulder, with the cone washer in place it only threaded about 1/3 of the way.

I’ve had water pressure on for about an hour with no visible seeping.

Fingers crossed.

[richard5933]

Those cone washers are also prone to deformation and damage if the connection isn't made straight on. I carry a few extras with me in case one gets damaged on the road. There have been times I've had to do some field repairs to the plumbing system which required opening a connection using a cone washer and having the spares has made the difference.


A pack of these cone washers should be in everyone's travel tool kit.

[majorairhead]

Excellent updates on the need for that cone washer!

[Rich Jenkins]

Just wanted update with some pictures. I had no leak overnight, the joint is still solid with no evidence of drips. Never say never but so far so good.

This is what the fitting looked like without the cone washer.

[Rich Jenkins]

After installing the cone washer:

[Rich Jenkins]

This is the cone washer mentioned by Woodland for this fitting:

https://woodlandairstreamparts.com/p...1d564d7c&_ss=r

[Rich Jenkins]

The cone washer I bought locally at the AS dealer here in Dufuniak Springs FL is below. It was marked #16108. I bought two.

The only difference I noticed was it was a white ish silicone vs black rubber, but as far as fit is concerned it appears to work 100%. The counter lady took it back to the AS techs with my regulator who confirmed this was the washer they use, so despite it having a different part no. I was pretty confident it was going to work.

I guess in plumbing a cone seal is a cone seal, so there may be lots and lots of equivalent parts and part no.s, but I don’t know for sure obviously.

[Keys Dave]

It's been a while but when I replaced my Sureflo as well as other parts my gasket was white but shaped differently.