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billriemesch · Sep 19, 2009, 03:05 PM

I bought gator bite solderless connectors there is a white plastic flanged piece
In package. What is it for, nothing about it in instructions.

twinkiedooter · Sep 19, 2009, 03:12 PM

Might be a piece of packaging from somewhere in the plant. Or if you can't fit a wire in there just throw it away.

hkstroud · Sep 19, 2009, 06:34 PM

Give a better description or post a pic. May be the disconnect tool.

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 19, 2009, 07:14 PM

They are for reinforcing plasitc pipe(pex). If you are using the gator bites on copper or cpvc, then you can throw away the inserts. Let us know what kind of pipe you are using the bites on and we will help you out.

Milo Dolezal · Sep 19, 2009, 07:15 PM

Could it be the removal tool ? If it is a ring, open on one end like crescent, than it is used to Remove the fitting from the pipe. Sometimes they ship it in the package...

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 19, 2009, 07:25 PM

Take a close look at a SHARKBITE fitting. It has the white sleeve already installed. It is used to reinforce pex tubing(same as an insert for plastic tubing with compression fittings). GATORBITE fitting come with the plastic flanged sleeve in a separate bag. I have never seen sharkbite or gatorbite fittings that come with the removall tool, usually you have to buy that separately. And I have never seen a white removel tool, or a flanged removel tool. I am certain that they are talking about a insert sleeve.

Bill, please post a pic so we can clear this up. Lee.

massplumber2008 · Sep 20, 2009, 08:13 AM

Hi all:

Lee described this real well. Here are a couple pics. Of what he is talking about... ;)

Different kinds of gatorbite fittings... some are like the first pic. (inserts inside already), some are copper with inserts in the bag to be used only if needed (bottom image).

MARK

Milo Dolezal · Sep 20, 2009, 01:43 PM

Thanks Mark !

Power of Information... we all are learning as we go !:D

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 20, 2009, 02:56 PM

Yes, thanks for the pics Mark. I tried to find some photos of these, and could only find pics with the inserts already installed. Thanks again. Lee.

spring2hi · Jan 30, 2011, 03:57 PM

Can I remove it

mygirlsdad77 · Jan 30, 2011, 04:16 PM

Are you asking if you can remove the sharkbite fitting, or the plastic insert? Either way, the answer is yes. If you are using the bite fitting on rigid pipe you can pull out the insert by grabbing it with a pair of needle nose pliers while pushing in release ring. To remove the complete sharkbite fitting it is best to get the removal tool at almost any hardware store. Milo posted a pic of the removal tool in post #5, and the release ring that needs to be pushed in is the black ring in the pic Mark posted in post #7. So basically, just push the black ring in with the removal tool to remove the sleeve or the fitting. However, if you are removing the sleeve only, many times you can just pull them right out.

massplumber2008 · Jan 30, 2011, 05:07 PM

Hi Spring... MGD77 explained all in great detail!

I just wanted to pop in and tell you that you can remove the plastic insert if you are using copper or cpvc, or even PVC, but if you are using PEX or any softer plastic type tubing/piping then the plastic sleeve is needed and cannot be removed as MGD77 said in post #6... ;)

Questions? Let us know, OK?

Mark

vryd2 · Nov 27, 2011, 06:18 PM

The white plastic insert is only to be used with PEX (plastic/pvc type pipe).. It reinforces the end of the PEX pipe... If you are using copper tubing then you can throw away the little white plastic sleeve..

speedball1 · Nov 27, 2011, 06:31 PM

Hi vryd2 and welcome to the Plumbing pageat at AskMeHelpDesk.com. You piggybacked on an a 2 year old dead thread. In the future, before you post, look in the upper left hand corner for the date.
Thanks for your input.
. Regards, Tom

Texas64 · Apr 10, 2012, 12:57 PM

Is it hard to put the copper into it I have push and turned it will not go in

mygirlsdad77 · Apr 10, 2012, 02:59 PM

Please read Post #14 by Tom.

Now, if your copper is out of round, swollen or dirty at all it won't fit the push fit fittings. I have found some brands of push fits that are a little more forgiving, and one brand that is really really tite so the pipe has to be perfect. What brand are you using. I don't remember off the top of my head which one was really tite, but I do remember the collars were blue. I want to say it was TECTITE or something along those lines. I have used half a dozen different brands, and those were the only ones I had any sort of fitting problem with.

James9285 · May 6, 2012, 09:26 AM

Yup! If you're using copper or cpvc it's not required and you can remove it (although it isn't mandatory). If you're using PEX, then insert the white tube inside the end of the PEX first, then insert the PEX into the fitting. When using the white tubing don't forget to measure the insertion depth after you insert the tube into the PEX. You have to allow for the flange thickness.