Here's my third effort. Requires two tees. Cut the perpendicular fitting off at it's base. Cut the 'L' off the second tee at a 35dg angle. I used my bench grinder to plane the mating surfaces so they fit properly. I used Gorilla instant glue to hold them in place. Next I will put a ring of two part epoxy to seal them and hold them permanently in place.

 

That one looks nice Kevin.

Btw Kevin, McMaster Carr has several styles and types of "wye" connectors. Does the third leg have to come in from the center of the side or can it be a normal "Y"?

Here's McMaster's page with various Y's, including a nice 316 stainless steel one. (Expensive though.)

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-ba...tings/=14key1t

 

I tried to approximate the angle of the OEM part above.

 

Looks good, but isn't there two 3/8's and 1/2" nipple?

 

I have that version prepared as well. I'll know better when I do the replacement.

 

Here it is:

 

So, what is wrong with the stock part that lasted 20 years?

 

$25

 

Is the original still available? I was under the impression they were long gone and that is why people were making their own.

 

Yes.

We keep a bag of them in inventory.

 

I resemble that. Two hours later, and a trip to Menard's, I've saved $10.

 

My cost less the prototyping is $7.00. Personally, I like the challenge. On the flip side I don't mind paying more for Greg to rebuild my steering rack rather than take my chances on an unknown rebuilt.

 

My thought too. For $25 I'd rather have Roger or Mark throw one in the envelope with other stuff I am buying. I like your part Kevin, but I wonder if it will hold up any longer than a stock part that has been molded as one piece. I have not had luck with fusing plastic.

 

I love to save clients money.

But really tough to think that at $2.50 a minute, I can cobble up something that is better, going to last longer, than the factory part for $25.00.

Like Ed above, even with the best plastic glues I can find, I'm doubting I could get Kevin's part installed inside the hoses and the clamps tight, before it failed.

 

If you want to go parts-bin grazing, try a place that sells RV or marine water system fittings.

As much as I enjoy the McGiver factor when needed, this is a part where the creative effort can be saved for another episode. In My Opinion anyway.

The original part fails because odd strains are put on the legs. If you still have the original installed and intact, invest the Big Bucks in a few cable ties to support the hoses, and eliminate the odd stresses before your twenty-five- to forty-year-old original fitting fails. If you have one that's failed, get a new original one, and invest the Big Bucks in a few cable ties to support the hoses, and eliminate the odd stresses before your new fitting fails. In another twenty five to forty years.

If you want to fab something and glue it together, start off with aluminum tubing instead of plastic. Then you can glue it together with JB Weld, and wrap the whole thing in CF tape. Will be lightweight -and- will look extra fast.