Walt, I share your pain. And I am going to recommend some pansy plastic connects. They are available at Pikes or on Amazon. They are made by Gardena. They work well and don't seem to wear our or crack like some of the cheap metal or other plastic connects. Over the years I've replaced all of our connects with these. The only other connects I have are on/off valves for the hose end that these work quite well with.

go on Amazon and search for this:

Gardena Quick Connect Starter Set #36004

The link is too big to put here.

I use the blue-and-yellow Nelson brand brass ones found at Wal-mart. They last forever and go together without any cursing involved. They also sell washers there which, I assume, are appropriately sized for the Nelson QD's because I have never had a problem using those.

Maybe try that brand of washers?

I bought my first garden hose size quick connect last summer and it broke last month. I t was a plastic one made by Gilmore. Usually Gilmore has a no quibble guarantee on their stuff as does Lowes who takes anything back but it's probably more trouble than it's worth to take it back so I have one that lasts another year. Most of the time I left it connected anyway.

Hi Walt,

You're right, the washer you need is a special Quick Connect Seal. One side looks like a regular washer and the other side has a thin flexible rim that seals against the male part of the disconnect. I've seen 5/8" seals here:

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/u581282

And I've seen them at ACE Hardware. I haven't seen 3/4" seals. You might call them and ask.

Jim

I certainly enjoyed Walt's wondering humor and postings. Thanks Jim for the info on washers. I agree with Walt--metal lasts as I tried plastics including Gardena with sun damage over time. I also learned from trial and error the need for the exact washer. I, too, have difficulty with the "mating" of the quick connect parts. I am in a high calcium water content area. The little round metal balls that are supposed to move and snap back when the collar is slid back don't--frozen from calcium, I suppose. I have tried channel lock pliers to force them back and that seems to work. I am now trying a soak in vinegar. I have found that if any debris gets caught in the collar and its round spring, then it won't work. So I let a little flow of water through and it clears it most of the time. My problem today is the collar goes back the female slips onto the male, but the collar won't go back on. So now what? What is the problem here? Why won't the collar slide back on? HELP!

I still have stuck round metal balls, but I learned something today. If the collar won't go forward after the male is stuck into it, you rotate the cuff a little and it will snap in place.

Now I am trying to find a long-lasting water hose shut-off with large handles for arthritic hands. With plastic, the little on/off handles break off and are hard to rotate. Why don't they make one for a hose that they make for pressurized uses, i.e., large long handles! G-r-r-r-r. The brass ones are too hard to turn on and off as well.

Where was this forum 20 something years ago. Thanks to Jim for solving a problem that's been plaguing Walt and I for years.

I thought that was just the cost of doing business. Toss the female into the trash because the washer went kerblooey. I've gone threw probably more than 100 brass female QCs in my businesses 25 years. Now here's the answer I've always wanted.

Too bad I wasted all those females. As in life the females are far more valuable than the dime a dozen males and because I didn't have this information I've probably tossed enough brass to make a bunch of church bells.

Eric

Carwood,

You might try some silicone spray lubricant for your crusty little balls.

Just pull the collar up and give it a squirt of lube.

Does this sound dirty or am I just letting my imagination go down the path of perversion?

Eric

Carwood,

You might try an inline ball valve for your shutoff problem.

Hope this helps.

Eric