Replacing Titan Hose Reel Manifold

814jeffw

814jeffw

Active member
I am going to buy a Titan hose reel,..I am getting the upgraded SS manifold. This is going to be used for roof cleaning, so, even though it's SS,..it will most likely need replaced at some point. Anyone with experience in replacing the manifold? Just want to know the difficulty level,.. Just by looking I can't imagine it's that difficult. The reel I have now is a reel I made and was made to replace the manifold easily. Any input would be appreciated.

*On the same topic, the elbow that connects your hose to the reel can be turned to run the same direction as the spool. This creates a way better transition than the more common position of the elbow,..that goes against the grain as I like to call it. I also use a conduit clamp on the hose near the main connection, which takes any strain from the connection. I also cut a small piece of PVC pipe and then pit it so it makes a cover for the connection so the the hose isn't getting pinched down onto the connection as it's wrapped. The PVC pipe makes it nice and rounded.

**The weld isn't part of the fluid connection, it is there to stabilize the connection and is simply cut off when replacing the manifold.



Jeff1120140851.jpg
 
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Can't help with the new reel, but could you post some more pics of your homemade reel, please? I was considering building one myself, and would sure appreciate the input. Thanks


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Jeff, we run Titans on our roof systems (3 years) and had no problems with the ss manifolds. It's an easy bolt off bolt on project that should take 30-45 minutes. Great reel for roof cleaning and for us holds up great. We also use the ss Super Swivel with (again) no problems. Goes without saying....rinse after every use.
 
Thanks Guy, that is pretty impressive I must say. I always rinse so that is already habit. And I can deal with bolts,..just didn't know if there was anything funky I had to do to get the manifold changed.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
bighals said:
can't help with the new reel, but could you post some more pics of your homemade reel, please? I was considering building one myself, and would sure appreciate the input. Thanks


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Here are some photos of the reel,..I've used it for the last several years,..and as I said,..I made it to be easily serviced,..only replacing it because of it's appearance. I'm not even sure how those "discs" got bent like that Ha,Ha,..,..must be from the welder,..but it's kinda hefty steel,...I made the reel from scrap I had around here,..it's way too heavy,Ha,Ha,..

Yes, those fittings are only 3/8",..but short little pieces don't cause enough friction loss to affect distance or flow. I can shoot an easy 40' through 200' of 1/2" hose,..and flow is just fine.

The coupler on the inlet acts as a swivel,..,..When a 90 degree fitting is used and the hose is clamped down and held in place the female and male coupler act as a high pressure swivel.

*My hose runs through the front of the machine, which keeps the hose in place and allows the "swivel" to work, so no clamp needed.

**By the way,..this is the last hose reel I will make,Ha,Ha,...even if I would,..it would be out of much lighter material.

Jeff
 
Chris Tucker once said how the welds are not SS, but rather zinc. I found this out on my own. It took maybe 4-5 months for that weld to crap out. Never again will I try to run SH through a reel. Seems as though the swivel washers get destroyed fairly quick too, allowing sh to destroy your vehicle one drip at a time. Now I buy cheap reels for the sole purpose of wrapping it up. We stock a good supply of 1/2" quick connects and plugs that we keep lubed with marine grease. I hate to see people waste money on SS reels for roof cleaning.
 
814jeffw said:
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Here are some photos of the reel,..I've used it for the last several years,..and as I said,..I made it to be easily serviced,..only replacing it because of it's appearance. I'm not even sure how those "discs" got bent like that Ha,Ha,..,..must be from the welder,..but it's kinda hefty steel,...I made the reel from scrap I had around here,..it's way too heavy,Ha,Ha,..

Yes, those fittings are only 3/8",..but short little pieces don't cause enough friction loss to affect distance or flow. I can shoot an easy 40' through 200' of 1/2" hose,..and flow is just fine.

The coupler on the inlet acts as a swivel,..,..When a 90 degree fitting is used and the hose is clamped down and held in place the female and male coupler act as a high pressure swivel.

*My hose runs through the front of the machine, which keeps the hose in place and allows the "swivel" to work, so no clamp needed.

**By the way,..this is the last hose reel I will make,Ha,Ha,...even if I would,..it would be out of much lighter material.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, that's pretty much exactly what I had in mind for building mine. I don't see the point in spending money on a new one when I can just use up some scrap metal.


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Hey Hal,..not really that hard to make,..and looking back I'm glad I made it,...it has served me well. Just for your information,..the manifold I used is obviously homemade,..and is made from galvanized. Seems to hold up very well when rinsed thoroughly after each use. I used to replace the manifold about mid Summer,..this year though I didn't,..kinda' wondering how it looks after a full season of roof cleaning.

If you're handy with cutting and welding you'll be fine, and something you can appreciate when you're done,...and yes,..way cheaper than factory made,..not as pretty,...but works just as well.

The handle is a carriage bolt welded to that piece of flat stock,..and has a 1/2" PVC "spinner on it,Ha,Ha,..works good though.

Also,..there are bushings where the manifold goes through the disc and into the core,..it isn't weld to the bushing,..it rides freely inside the bushing,.. the manifold rides inside pillow block and supports it and makes it stable,...and is only welded at the outlet where the elbow comes out of the spool.

The manifold stops at the elbow,..it doesn't go all the way to the handle,..no need,....the handle is attached to another piece of 3/8" pipe,..that goes through the pillow block and welded onto the disc.

The base,... where the pillow blocks bolt to,... is a piece of angle iron welded in to make a seat.

Gonna be confusing Hal,..just ask questions though and I'll do my best to make it understandable.

*No need to question the swivel idea Hal,..I've been using it for the last 10 years or so.

**This reel could easily be used for high pressure use as well, if that's what you have in mind.

***Don't be afraid to let your mind wander,..you may have a better design.

Jeff
 
The only problem that i see with my titan reel is the connector that comes out to hook the qc on is one piece from the manifold an when it cracks or goes bad you have to get a new manofold.My buddy just got some hose tract reels an that piece screws off the manafold for easy repair.
 
Ed Thompson said:
Chris Tucker once said how the welds are not SS, but rather zinc. I found this out on my own. It took maybe 4-5 months for that weld to crap out. Never again will I try to run SH through a reel. Seems as though the swivel washers get destroyed fairly quick too, allowing sh to destroy your vehicle one drip at a time. Now I buy cheap reels for the sole purpose of wrapping it up. We stock a good supply of 1/2" quick connects and plugs that we keep lubed with marine grease. I hate to see people waste money on SS reels for roof cleaning.
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But you have role off all 200 or 300 feet of hose overtime that way don't you???
 
My SS titan reel lasted 5 years before the manifold went bad. After taking the reel apart I found ou the manifold was not SS. It was a pain in the butt to take apart the rusty mess.I was able to save the crank handle but pretty much had to replace everything else.
I now wrap my hose on with a quick connect fitting to connect to the pump. I do have to unroll 150' of hose to connect the pump. I have 300' of hose on the reel. Make sure you buy stainless steel!
 
814jeffw said:
Hey Hal,..not really that hard to make,..and looking back I'm glad I made it,...it has served me well. Just for your information,..the manifold I used is obviously homemade,..and is made from galvanized. Seems to hold up very well when rinsed thoroughly after each use. I used to replace the manifold about mid Summer,..this year though I didn't,..kinda' wondering how it looks after a full season of roof cleaning.

If you're handy with cutting and welding you'll be fine, and something you can appreciate when you're done,...and yes,..way cheaper than factory made,..not as pretty,...but works just as well.

The handle is a carriage bolt welded to that piece of flat stock,..and has a 1/2" PVC "spinner on it,Ha,Ha,..works good though.

Also,..there are bushings where the manifold goes through the disc and into the core,..it isn't weld to the bushing,..it rides freely inside the bushing,.. the manifold rides inside pillow block and supports it and makes it stable,...and is only welded at the outlet where the elbow comes out of the spool.

The manifold stops at the elbow,..it doesn't go all the way to the handle,..no need,....the handle is attached to another piece of 3/8" pipe,..that goes through the pillow block and welded onto the disc.

The base,... where the pillow blocks bolt to,... is a piece of angle iron welded in to make a seat.

Gonna be confusing Hal,..just ask questions though and I'll do my best to make it understandable.

*No need to question the swivel idea Hal,..I've been using it for the last 10 years or so.

**This reel could easily be used for high pressure use as well, if that's what you have in mind.

***Don't be afraid to let your mind wander,..you may have a better design.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks buddy, I may pick your brain a time or two when I start.


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Hal,..one thing I would do different,...I would weld four tabs on the inside of the spool,..and on each tab I would weld a nut,...then on the disk I would drill corresponding holes and that would allow a simple bolt on/off disk. And with the nut welded onto the tab,..the bolt would turn in and out without having to hold the nut with another wrench. That also allows the tabs to go on the inside of the spool,..making a neat appearance and nothing protruding where the hose winds on.

* Got that idea from this thread and the guys saying the Titans come apart with bolts,....This is how I should have attached my disks to begin with.

Jeff
 
If you're able to weld aluminum that would be a huge benefit in making a homemade reel. I may actually tear this reel back down and see where I can use aluminum without having to weld it. I could replace the bent up steel disks though using the bolt on method. I'm not set up to weld aluminum unfortunately.


Jeff
 
Ron Musgraves said:
Jeff your hot by the way


Ron Musgraves
www.uamcc.org
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Hey Ron,..I was gonna do something low,...I was gonna replace her picture back with mine,....Ha,Ha,Ha,...

The readers would have been wondering about you,....But I couldn't do that,..that wouldn't have been nice of me,Ha,Ha

I'll let her know what you said though!

Jeff
 
Hey Hal, here are some tear down pictures. I am REALLY surprised at the condition of the galvanized manifold,...even the inside isn't nearly as corroded as I've seen it in the past. This is proof of what rinsing does for longevity. Probably 10-15 gallons of water pumped through the hose reel and back into the mix tank after each use.

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Jeff
 
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