ELEY Hose Reels
Troubleshooting & Repair

ELEY Reels Troubleshooting Topics Search

CONTENT

  • General (all models) Troubleshooting
  • Wall-Mount Specific Troubleshooting
  • Wheeled-Cart Specific Troubleshooting
  • Free-Standing Specific Troubleshooting
Scroll through the topics below. Or, to quickly narrow search, enter key words like "leaking," "swivel," "inlet hose," etc. into the search field.

General (all models) Troubleshooting

My hose reel is leaking. (Plumbing issues involving the swivel or inlet hose)

There are only 3 possible sources of a leak on an ELEY or Rapid-Reel hose reel:

  1. The brass swivel
  2. The inlet hose
  3. The connection between the swivel & inlet hose

Please follow this link to find out more information, order a replacement part, or submit a warranty claim. Fix My Hose Reel Leak

A part has broken. (Non-plumbing components)

Under Warranty?
There are two conditions that will exclude a replacement part from warranty coverage. 1) The age of the hose reel, and 2) The cause of the failure. Your hose reel is out of warranty if it's over 10 years old, or if the failure was due to freezing, natural disasters, accidents, UV damage, misuse, abuse, neglect or damage from pets/animals.  A complete list of exclusions can be viewed on our Warranty Policy.

NO, it's not under warranty:
If you know that your reel is over 10 years old or exempted from warranty coverage, you'll need to purchase a new part from our Replacement Parts section.
 
YES, it's under warranty:
If you're confident your reel is less than 10 years old, or the nature of the component failure does not fall under the warranty exemptions, you can submit a Warranty Claim Form. Please note that a photo or video of the failed part and damage must be submitted with the form. 
My hose kinks when attaching it to the reel.

This is rare, but can occur due to the natural arc in the polyurethane hose.  The fix is quick and easy.  Watch the following video demonstration on how to properly attach an ELEY polyurethane garden hose to an ELEY garden hose reel. 

I have an issue with the paint.

Many factors can contribute to the deterioration of our reel's premium quality power coat paint, and a number of them are external in nature and not due to the painting process itself.  For this reason, our paint is covered by a 1-year warranty instead of the 10-year warranty that covers the rest of the hose reel. 

Visit our Remedies for Paint Issues to explore all options related to paint issues.

Can the reel be set up for left or right-hand rewinding?

Yes. ELEY's innovative design makes it one of the only hose reels on the market that can be configured for either left or right-hand rewinding of the crank handle. Watch this short video to see how it's done.

My reel makes a loud squealing or squeaking noise when it turns.

This usually comes from one of two sources: 1) the crank handle, or 2) the reel's main axle. In both cases it is likely that some small foreign object has gotten between the material and the metal axle it spins on. The black crank handle spins on a solid aluminum pin. The white axle bushings spin on the hollow main aluminum axle of the hose reel. The remedy is the same for both; clean the surfaces of the aluminum axle and the inside of the handle with a dry clean cloth.

If the noise is coming from the reel's main axle:

  1. Loosen the swivel and pull it off the reel's axle.
  2. You can leave the rolled-up hose on the reel.
  3. Slide the hose reel flange & drum assembly off the axle.
  4. Wipe the surface of the aluminum axle and the white axle bushings with a clean dry cloth.
  5. Reassemble the hose reel.

If the noise is coming from the crank handle:

  1. Slightly loosen the screw that holds the crank handle to the reel's front flange. Do NOT completely remove. Leave a few threads in the handle center post.
  2. With a hammer, tap on this screw to dislodge the crank handle center post from the flange hole it's wedged into.
  3. Once the post becomes dislodged, remove the screw completely and slide the teardrop handle off the center post.
  4. Clean both surfaces with a dry clean cloth and reinstall back onto the reel.

Lubricant Needed?

We often get asked if a lubricant can be applied to these surfaces to prevent this from reoccurring. ELEY does not recommend any form of lubricant as these components should spin together without making any noise. However, for those that insist on using something, we would suggest a dry lubricant, such as a graphite lube. Do NOT use any petroleum-based or spray-on lubricant.

These steps didn't solve the issue? Email Us

The hose strap assembly has come apart. How do I reassemble it?

If the hose strap assembly came apart in the package during shipping, please watch this video for a quick and easy reassembly of the part.

An axle bushing has come out of the flange.

Please watch this short video on how to properly re-seat the bushing into the flange.

I purchased a longer inlet hose. Can I return the included 6-1/2 foot inlet hose for credit?

Sorry, but prepackaged components displaced by new or different components cannot be returned for credit or exchanges.

Wall-Mount Specific Troubleshooting

Can I convert my wall reel to a different model?

Converting a Wall-Mount to Free-Standing Reel. This is the easiest and least expensive conversion to make. The only difference between these two models is the wall-plate and the base-plate. So if you want to convert your Model 1041 wall-mount hose reel into a Model 1042 free-standing hose reel, then purchase the #2903 Base Plate.

Converting a Wall-Mount to a Portable Wheeled Hose Reel. Although you could purchase the 20+ components required to convert a Model 1041 wall-mount into a 2-wheel or 4-wheel portable hose reel, the total cost of all those components will be more than the price of a brand new Model 1043 Two-Wheel Cart Hose Reel or a Model 1043Q Four-Wheel Cart Hose Reel.

Assembly & Installation Assistance

Assembly instructions, video demonstrations and troubleshooting can be found at the following link:

Wall-Mount Hose Reel Assembly Assistance

Wheeled Cart Specific Troubleshooting

Can I convert my wheeled cart reel into a different model?

Converting a 2-Wheel Cart Reel to a 4-Wheel Cart Reel. This is an easy conversion. Simply buy the #1045 Quad-Wheel Kit.

Converting a 4-Wheel Cart Reel to a 2-Wheel Cart Reel. This is an easy conversion. Simply buy:

Converting a Wheeled Cart Reel to a Wall-Mount Reel. To make this conversion, you'll need to purchase the following items:

Converting a Wheeled Cart Reel to a Wall-Mount Reel. To make this conversion, you'll need to purchase the following items:

My cart reel tips over too easily.

If your reel is too easily tipping over, many times it is because the tension of the cam-lever brake is not set or being used properly. Please watch this video to make sure your cam-lever brake is set to an appropriate tension to allow for drag while pulling the hose out (to prevent unwanted hose rollout) but not too tight as to cause the reel to tip over.

The rubber grips keep sliding off the push-pull handles.

Spray some hairspray on both the aluminum handle and inside of the grip before sliding it back onto the aluminum handle. Wait 24 hours and it shouldn’t happen again. This is how they deal with this issue with Motocross and BMX bikes.

A foot pad has come off the front bumper.

If you still have the foot pad with the screw and nut intact, the process of reattaching it to the front bumper is easy and can be done in less than one minute. Watch this short how-to video for reattachment instructions.

If you've lost the foot pad or it's missing the screw, you can purchase a replacement foot pad at the following link:
Item #2588 cart front foot pad.

I bought the 4-wheel model. Can I return the unused bumper from the 2-wheel model for credit?

Sorry, but components displaced by new components from an upgrade kit cannot be returned for credit or exchanges.

Assembly Assistance

Assembly instructions, video demonstrations and troubleshooting can be found at the following links:

2-Wheel Cart Assembly Assistance

4-Wheel Cart Assembly Assistance

Free-Standing Specific Troubleshooting

Can I convert my free-standing reel into a different model?

Converting a Free-Standing reel into a Wall-Mount reel. This is the easiest and least expensive conversion to make. The only difference between these two models is the wall-plate and the base-plate. So if you want to convert your Model 1042 free-standing hose reel into a Model 1041 wall-mount hose reel, then purchase the #2558 Wall Plate.

Converting a Free-Standing to a Portable Wheeled Hose Reel. Although you could purchase the 20+ components required to convert a Model 1042 free-standing reel into a 2-wheel or 4-wheel portable hose reel, the total cost of all those components will be more than the price of a brand new Model 1043 Two-Wheel Cart Hose Reel or a Model 1043Q Four-Wheel Wagon Hose Reel.

A rubber foot pad has come off the base.

The rubber feet were riveted to the base and repair is problematic. If your reel is less than 10 years old, it is still under warranty, and we can send you a new base.
Submit a Warranty Claim Form

If your reel is over 10 years old, it is out of warranty, and you can purchase a new base at the following link:
Free-Standing Reel Base Assembly

Is there a way to anchor the base to prevent it from tipping over?

If your reel is too easily tipping over, many times it is because the tension of the cam-lever brake is not set or being used properly. Please watch this video to make sure your cam-lever brake is set to an appropriate tension to allow for drag while pulling the hose out (to prevent unwanted hose rollout) but not too tight as to cause the reel to tip over.

If the reel still tips too easily after adjusting the brake, you might want to consider some of the anchoring options outlined in the following article on our website.

Zero-Tip Anchoring Ideas for the Free-Standing Hose Reels – Eley Hose Reels

Assembly Assistance

Assembly instructions, video demonstrations and troubleshooting can be found at the following link:

Free-Standing Hose Reel Assembly Assistance

Still Need Assistance?