Horizontal nipples leaking

[Sally PB]

I have a Flock Party waterer, the kind with the little red cups that have a yellow stem that functions as a horizontal nipple. It caught more dirt than chicken attention. The open waterers catch even more dirt and bedding. So I swapped the cup nipples with standard HNs that I ordered online. The waterer holds two; I bought four because they were $1 each (more for shipping than the product).

I took the little silicone gaskets off the cup nipples, put them on the HNs, and the HNs seemed water tight. But then I noticed a little puddle under one of the nipples. So, how can I "tighten" it up? Ideas, @aart or anyone? Just in case the bucket itself is toast, what is the tap drill size of those nipples?

TIA!

 

[aart]

This one?
Some pics might help here...of bare hole and both cup and nipple showing threads and gasket.

What I do is dry outside off, put it up on a smooth surface with a couple pieces of 2x2's, add water...and watch....to see exactly where it is leaking. I use the top of the dryer and flashlight.

 

[Sally PB]

Yes, that's the one. Pics will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Tre3hugger]

When installing my horizontal nipples onto a 5 gallon bucket I put a bit of silicone on the threads of the nipple before screwing it in. Worked like a charm. I once had the bucket fall over and bang the nipple. That one started leaking. I removed it, reapplied silicone, and reinstalled the nip. Did the trick.
Something like this. https://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-Kwi...mium-Kitchen-and-Bath-Sealant-18901/206046677

 

[aart]

Yes, that's the one. Pics will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!

Would be good to know the diameter of the hole and if it's 'clean' with no bumps/hanging pieces of plastic.

Just in case the bucket itself is toast, what is the tap drill size of those nipples?

I used a 11/32 hole for the HN's I had.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/
Might go a bit bigger if vessel has a thicker wall so angle of threads doesn't split the vessel.
I've never actually put a nipple into a 5 gallon bucket type vessel, all of mine have been thin walled vessels.

When installing my horizontal nipples onto a 5 gallon bucket I put a bit of silicone on the threads of the nipple before screwing it in. Worked like a charm. I once had the bucket fall over and bang the nipple. That one started leaking. I removed it, reapplied silicone, and reinstalled the nip. Did the trick.
Something like this. https://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-Kwi...mium-Kitchen-and-Bath-Sealant-18901/206046677

That would be better than thread tape, but still no guarantee.
What sized hole did you drill @Tre3hugger ?

 

[Tre3hugger]

That would be better than thread tape, but still no guarantee.
What sized hole did you drill @Tre3hugger ?

Probably should have made a note of that, but I can't remember.
I remembering eyeing it, then going down a couple sizes and trying each one until I got a nice tight fit...which is what I will have to do again next time, because I didn't make a note of it.

 

[blackdog043]

I used a 11/32 hole for the HN's I had.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/
Might go a bit bigger if vessel has a thicker wall so angle of threads doesn't split the vessel.
I've never actually put a nipple into a 5 gallon bucket type vessel, all of mine have been thin walled vessels.

I used an 11/32 drill bit for my HN's, in five gallon buckets and a 14 gallon drum with no problems. I don't put anything on the threads either, just drill and screw the nipples in.
Do not screw the nipples all the way in, leave 2 - 3 threads showing.

 

[Sally PB]

I took out both nipples and cleaned/examined everything. I took the leaker and tried putting it in the other hole. When it's screwed in as much as @blackdog043 suggests above, the nipple is upside down, and it won't turn another 180. I tried starting it 180 different, and nope, doesn't end up right side up then, either.

So I got one of the other two nipples I'd bought. It screws in right side up and so far it is NOT leaking. Why didn't I think of that, right off the bat??

Very glad I got 4 when I ordered them. I'm going to hang on to the one that leaked, and if I need it, I'll get some of the silicone, see if that works. I did think to mark it so I can tell which one it is...

 

[aart]

I took the leaker and tried putting it in the other hole.

Was the 'leaker' leaking from the thread or around the pin?

 

[Sally PB]

The thread.