failed Uponor F1960 expansion rings

[Slomoola]

Got a bag of 10 from Home Cheapo. Fresh out of the package, one ring slid up from the bottom ring stop onto the pipe. Had to cut the ring off and start over. Noticed the stop material was very minimal to nearly gone prior to installing. Had to get my glasses out and see which end was the stop end on the ring. Like the molds where the rings were injected were wore out or something. Or the plastic shot was insufficient on these parts. They look to be injection molded.

I ran my finger to find the stop end. Hard to tell from that too.

Anyone else notice the lack of stop material on these Uponor expansion rings?

 

[Reach4]

Was your pipe wet? The only times I had that happen to me, the pipe was wet. I was using a manual tool, so that might have also had something to do with it.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Slomoola]

Might of been a little wet. Still, the stop material is very minimal on my rings. I have a manual expander as well. The Iwiss

IWS-1960DT ProPEX Expansion Tool Kit. Sucker is nice. Little faster than the cordless drill expanders. ​

Mine has the adjustable length handles that can double in length. Each handle is adjustable. Much much easier to close the handles with more leverage. Real game changer for the manual tools. Also it pivots 30 degrees on every pump.

https://www.iwiss.com/collections/pex-pipe-tools/products/iws-1960dt-propex-expansion-tool-kit-sized-1-2-3-4-1-inch-auto-rotation-pex-a-tubing-expander

 

[Fitter30]

Tubing has to be cut square. Using a manual tool wonder if ring is getting over expanded?

 

[Slomoola]

Tubing has to be cut square. Using a manual tool wonder if ring is getting over expanded?

My brand new kit has a fresh cutter. I didn't get to full expansion before the ring slid up on the pipe. Nothing was over expanded. My tool doesn't over expand that I can tell.

 

[Slomoola]

Uponor tech said to keep the pipe dry and grease free before installing the expansion rings. He said back in the day before the stop feature was added, you took sandpaper to the pipe end and internal to the ring. Gave a rough finish to hold the ring in place. Or hold it with your hand. I said what about people with manual tools. A piece of duct tape to hold the ring was good.

I now will aways sharpie mark the ring sitting clearly on the pipe end stop. Make sure the ring doesn't side on the pipe while expanding.

 

[John Gayewski]

Wet pipe makes the rings slip.