RectorSeal 87037 Pro-Fit 3/8" Quick Connect Socket, Push-to-Connect Refrigerant Fitting
The 87037 brings a 3/8" lineset onto a piece of equipment without a flare ever being cut in the field. One end is a female SAE 45° flare nut that threads onto the unit's male spud and torques to 24–30 ft-lbs; the other is a push-to-connect port that swallows 1-1/4" of bare copper and needs no wrench at all. Since 3/8" is the most common diameter at a residential ductless connection, this is the socket most installers will reach for — and the one that removes the most flare-related callbacks from a season's work.
Is a 3/8" Socket the Right Fitting for This Connection?
Match the socket to the equipment port, not just to the lineset. A 3/8" socket threads onto a 3/8" SAE male flare spud and accepts 3/8" O.D. tubing on the push side; both halves of that have to be right. Measure the tube and check the equipment's connection size in its installation manual before ordering, because the liquid and suction ports on the same unit are often different diameters.
The two ends are assembled in completely different ways, and doing them in the wrong order makes the job harder. Thread and torque the flare nut onto the equipment first, while there is room to swing a torque wrench and nothing is anchoring the fitting. Then cut the lineset square, deburr inside and out, mark 1-1/4", and push it into the other end until the grip ring clamps. Tug-test the push side; do not go back and retighten the nut.
Ideal for: Connecting a 3/8" lineset to mini split indoor heads and outdoor service valves, installs where no flaring tool is on the truck, tight equipment closets with no room for a flare block, replacing a leaking field flare at the unit, and multi-head jobs where flare consistency across many connections is the risk.
Different line size? The range runs from the 87036 1/4" socket up to the 87038 1/2" socket. To splice tube to tube instead of landing on equipment, use the 87019 3/8" union.
Fitting selection is based on measured tube outside diameter, the equipment connection type, and system operating conditions. Installation must be performed by an EPA 608-certified technician in accordance with RectorSeal's published instructions and applicable mechanical codes. Request free sizing assistance, contact Budget Heating, or call 813-885-7999.
What's Included
| Fitting | 87037 — 3/8" Pro-Fit Quick Connect Socket (one fitting) |
|---|---|
| Connection Type | Push-to-Connect x Female SAE 45° Flare (3/8") |
| Body Material | Brass |
| Seal Design | Patented Double O-Ring and Grip Ring (push end), 45° Flare Seat (nut end) |
| Design Pressure | 870 psig (60 bar) |
| Continuous Operating Temperature | 250°F (121°C) |
| Insertion Depth | 1-1/4" on the push-to-connect end |
| Flare Nut Torque | 24–30 ft-lbs |
| Approved Tubing | Copper and Coated Aluminum Linesets |
| Certification | ICC-ES PMG-1616 (UL 207, UL 1963) |
One assembled socket per unit — brass body, push-end seal stack, and flare nut installed at the factory — cased 10 per box. The 87048 Pro-Fit Support Kit provides the depth gauge for the 1-1/4" mark and the disconnect clips. Torque wrenches and related tools are listed under Tools of The Trade.
Socket Fitting & Sealing Features
87037 Body & Flare Seat
- Female SAE 45° flare nut for 3/8" equipment spuds
- Machined flare seat formed at the factory, not in the field
- Push-to-connect port with a 1-1/4" tube seat
- Patented double O-ring and grip ring on the push side
- Brass body, UV and corrosion resistant
- 870 psig design pressure across both connections
- 250°F continuous operating temperature rating
- Hex flats sized for a standard torque wrench
- Sight window verifies insertion on the lineset end
- Covered by ICC-ES PMG-1616 to UL 207 and UL 1963
Residential Ductless Hookups
- 3/8" is the most common ductless equipment connection size
- Removes field flaring from the unit connection
- Delivers identical flare geometry on every connection
- Flare nut torqued to 24–30 ft-lbs, push end not torqued
- Practical where a flare block will not fit the space
- Replaces a leaking field flare without recutting the line
- Joins to copper or coated aluminum linesets
- Releasable with the disconnect clip after pump-down
- Approved for R-22, R-32, R-134a, R-290, R-410A, R-507, R-600a
- Packed 10 per manufacturer case
Specifications & Manuals
Product documentation includes the full Pro-Fit part number table, insertion depth and flare nut torque specifications, approved tubing and refrigerant lists, and the ICC-ES PMG product rating certificate covering the certified pressure and temperature ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which side of the 87037 accepts the lineset?
The push-to-connect end, which takes bare 3/8" O.D. tubing. The threaded hex end is a female SAE 45° flare nut that goes onto the equipment's male flare spud — no tubing is inserted there.
How much tube does the push-to-connect end of the 87037 need?
1-1/4" of insertion, so plan on roughly an inch and a half of clean, straight, deburred tubing at that end. Mark it with the Pro-Fit depth gauge before pushing.
What torque should the 3/8" flare nut be tightened to?
24–30 ft-lbs, the standard SAE figure for a 3/8" flare. Torque the nut onto the equipment before making the push connection, while there is still room to swing a wrench.
Do I still need a torque wrench if I use Pro-Fit sockets?
Yes, for the flare nut end. That connection is a conventional SAE flare joint and is torqued like one. Only the push-to-connect end is tool-free — the unions, elbows and reducers are the fittings with no torque anywhere.
Should I use a flare sealant or thread sealant on the 87037?
Follow the equipment manufacturer's and RectorSeal's published instructions for that connection. Thread sealant is not what seals an SAE flare joint — the metal-to-metal cone seat is — and no sealant or lubricant belongs on the push-to-connect end or its O-rings unless RectorSeal specifies one.
Why do sockets stop at 5/8" when unions go to 7/8"?
Because equipment connections at 3/4" and larger are brazed rather than flared, so there is no flare port for a socket to thread onto. Unions, elbows and reducers join tube to tube, which is why those continue up to 7/8".
Click On Links Below For Documentation:
Technical Specifications
Brochure
Product Rating Certification
