jlanka

Thanks to all for answering my first question about the FAST shirt system. Now another one:

Bill Rudtner tells me I should clear out the water from the shirt after use, but when I blow into the hose it won't come out the other end, must be a valve on those nozzles.

Any ideas on what the proper technique is to clear the water?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

linzman

The easiest way is to buy the corresponding connectors and then blow it out. You should do the hose back to the cooler too. They can be found cheap online at McMaster/Carr or several other places.

jlanka

Excellent advice. I wish I knew the names of the connectors so I can search for them. Below is a picture, maybe someone knows the name?

linzman

Heres a link to one site. I can't find the email receipt with the sizes, not sure if its 1/4 or 3/8" barb fitting. Guess it doesn't matter if you're only using them to blow out the shirt and hose.

http://quickcouplings.net/osc/produc...roducts_id=193

Here's another

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-...8-id-barb.aspx

Shipping is high, might find them elsewhere too.

jrgordonsenior

Impossible for grunge to grow in the lines when they're open at each end. I also blow out the remaining water with nitrogen or compressed air....

dan212

Stable Energies has a kit that lets you blow out your shirt. You need to connect to both hoses on the shirt for fluid to flow. The kit has a can of compressed air with a connector and a second short piece of hose with connector. Be sure to point the second hose away. there is a lot of water in the shirt!

linzman

I disagree, unless you're running distilled water in there. And the ends on the shirt are valved, so they won't drain by themselves, not sure about the hoses.

TraqGear

What I do is make sure I have a decent concentration of maintanance additive through the tubes before storing, so I don't drain. I haven't had any issues doing it this way with mold or mildew. Any others store like this?

JoeMag

I'm not sure what the additive is, but I thought I read somewhere it's just alcohol. After a weekend I put around 4 oz of high concentration (90%) rubbing alcohol in half full cooler and run it through shirt and cooler lines after I wash shirt. Below is pic of lines from my shirt. It's well over 5 years old and lines have never been drained.

Veloce Raptor

Vodka or a high quality gin also works, with the added benefit of happy hour starting IMMEDIATELY after the race concludes ..

audipwr1

Life lesson - never use gin on anything plastic it'll eat it

Vodka no idea

Fluid ain't too bad $ just use that

Der ABT

If you want connectors go here they have ones with and without check valves works for my FAST shirt
Shipping sux
http://quickcouplings.net/osc/produc...0bf45c5000cc67

jlanka

How do I tell if I have 1/4 or 3/8 ?

Der ABT

I used 1/4

Og racing also sells them I believe

Rich B

I blow air through, then run a 10 cc syringe-full of rubbing alcohol through mine, then blow air through them again. Takes a little skill, but you can press on the coupler in just the right way to get the water, air and alcohol to flow. Mine are quite old, and are still perfectly clear.

Cheers
rich B.