The ELEY Free-Standing Garden Hose Reel (Item 1042) is a robust and dependable solution for managing garden hoses, designed with a focus on quality and durability. ELEY, a family-owned business with over 30 years of experience, emphasizes meticulous craftsmanship to deliver products that are built to last.
Function Description:
The ELEY Free-Standing Garden Hose Reel is designed to store and manage garden hoses efficiently, preventing tangles and kinks while making it easier to deploy and retract the hose. Its free-standing design allows for flexible placement in various garden settings without the need for permanent mounting. The reel features a crank handle for manual winding of the hose and an adjustable brake system to control the unspooling of the hose, ensuring a smooth and controlled experience. The integrated inlet hose connects the reel to a water source, while the main hose attaches to the swivel for dispensing water.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Item Number: 1042
- Hose Capacity (5/8 inch hose): 125 ft.
- Hose Capacity (3/4 inch hose): 100 ft.
- Maximum Working Pressure: 150 PSI
- Drinking Water Safe: Yes
- Warranty: 10-Year No-Leak, No-Rust, No Break Guarantee.
- Components Included (In the Box):
- Base (2903)
- Axle Arm (3071)
- Inlet Hose 6.5' (1160)
- Rear Flange (4148)
- Front Flange (4149)
- Crank Handle (2654)
- Brake (2587)
- Hose Strap (4114)
- Swivel (4291)
- Screw (4006) - 3x
- Hex Key (4003)
- Needed Tool for Assembly: Phillips Head Screwdriver
Usage Features:
The ELEY Free-Standing Garden Hose Reel is designed for ease of use and control.
- Hose Deployment: To pull the hose from the reel, the brake should be turned ON. This prevents the reel from "free-spinning" and unrolling more hose than desired, allowing for controlled hose extension.
- Hose Retraction: When reeling the hose back in, the brake should be turned OFF. This allows for smooth winding of the hose onto the reel using the crank handle.
- Brake Adjustment: The reel features an adjustable brake system. If the hose is difficult to pull off or continues to unspool after stopping, the nut on the brake can be loosened or tightened by a 1/4 turn using a 3/8" wrench to correct the tension.
- Hose Connection: The female end of the user's garden hose is fed through a flexible strap and an opening in the flange, then screwed onto the swivel. The hose strap is then tightened with a Phillips head screwdriver to secure the hose.
- Optional Extra-Capacity Kit (1044): The manual mentions an optional Extra-Capacity Kit (1044) for increased hose capacity. Users with this kit should refer to its specific manual before starting the assembly process.
Assembly Process:
The assembly of the ELEY Free-Standing Garden Hose Reel involves several straightforward steps:
- Flange Connection: The front and rear flanges are connected using three screws, which are inserted through the front flange and into nuts in the rear flange. These screws should be kept loose initially.
- Flange Tightening: Once all three screws are inserted, they are tightened. It is advised to avoid using power tools for this step to prevent damage to the threads.
- Handle Post Installation: The handle post is inserted into a raised hole at the outer edge of the flange, and a screw is inserted from the other side and tightened.
- Arm to Base Connection: Two large screws and washers are removed from the arm, and the arm is then fastened to the base. Both screws should be installed before tightening completely.
- Flange Assembly and Inlet Hose: The flange assembly is slid fully onto the axle tube. The male end of the inlet hose is then inserted through the back of the axle tube until it is accessible from the front.
- Hose Strap and Brake Installation: The flexible loop of the hose strap is inserted through a small rectangular hole in the flange and nested into the flange center. The brake is then placed onto the axle, aligning its tab with a notch in the flange.
- Swivel and Inlet Hose Connection: The swivel is screwed onto the inlet hose and hand-tightened firmly. The swivel is then pushed fully onto the axle, and its screw is tightened with a hex key.
- Main Hose Connection and Brake Setup: The crank handle is positioned at 12 o'clock, and the brake lever is flipped to the ON position. The female end of the user's hose is fed through the flexible strap and the opening in the flange, then screwed onto the swivel and hand-tightened. Finally, a Phillips head screwdriver is used to tighten the screw on the hose strap until it is snug on the hose.
Maintenance Features:
- Durable Construction: ELEY products are backed by a 10-Year No-Leak, No-Rust, No Break Guarantee, indicating a high standard of material quality and construction designed to minimize maintenance needs.
- Drinking Water Safe: The "Drinking water safe" specification ensures that the reel's components are suitable for use with potable water, reducing concerns about contamination.
- Brake Adjustment: The adjustable brake system allows users to fine-tune the tension, ensuring optimal performance and extending the life of the mechanism by preventing excessive wear from uncontrolled unspooling.
- Warranty Support: The comprehensive warranty and readily available customer support (via eleyhosereels.com/support) provide peace of mind and assistance for any potential issues, contributing to the long-term usability of the product.
- Online Resources: ELEY provides assembly videos, tips, and FAQs at eleyhosereels.com/assembly, which can be accessed by scanning a QR code. These resources are valuable for troubleshooting and ensuring correct setup and maintenance.
- Warranty Registration: Users are encouraged to register their product at eleyhosereels.com/register to ensure full warranty coverage.