RectorSeal 87038 Pro-Fit 1/2" Quick Connect Socket, Push-to-Connect Refrigerant Fitting
The RectorSeal 87038 lands a 1/2" suction line on a piece of equipment with no field flare involved. One end is a female SAE 45° flare nut that threads onto the unit's male spud and torques to 40–47 ft-lbs; the other is a push-to-connect port that takes 1-1/4" of bare copper and needs no wrench. At 1/2" the tubing is stiff enough that getting a flare block squared onto it in a cramped equipment closet is genuinely awkward, and an eccentric flare at this diameter leaks more refrigerant, faster, than the same mistake on a liquid line.
Is a 1/2" Socket the Right Fitting for This Connection?
Check two things before ordering, not one. The socket has to match the equipment's flare port size and the lineset's outside diameter, and on most units the liquid and suction ports are different sizes — a system with a 1/4" liquid connection may well have a 1/2" suction connection. The equipment's installation manual is the authority on both.
Assemble in the right order. Thread and torque the flare nut to 40–47 ft-lbs at the equipment first, while the fitting is still free to turn and there is room to swing a torque wrench. Then cut the lineset square, deburr inside and out, mark 1-1/4", and push until the grip ring clamps. The push end has no nut and is never torqued — a tug test and the sight window are how you confirm it. Re-insulate over the finished connection; a 1/2" suction joint at the unit will sweat.
Ideal for: Landing a 1/2" suction line on larger single-zone and multi-zone ductless equipment, installs where no flaring tool is on the truck, cramped equipment closets with no room to square a flare block, replacing a flare that failed at the unit, and jobs where consistent flare quality across many connections matters.
Larger suction connection? Step up to the RectorSeal 87039 Pro-Fit 5/8" Quick Connect Socket, the largest in the range. To splice 1/2" tube to tube instead, use the 87020 1/2" union coupling.
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 | 87038 — 1/2" Pro-Fit Quick Connect Socket (one fitting) |
|---|---|
| Connection Type | Push-to-Connect x Female SAE 45° Flare (1/2") |
| 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 | 40–47 ft-lbs |
| Approved Tubing | Copper and Coated Aluminum Linesets |
| Certification | ICC-ES PMG-1616 (UL 207, UL 1963) |
One complete socket per unit, push-end seal stack and flare nut factory-assembled, cased 10 per box. The 87048 Pro-Fit Support Kit carries the depth gauge for the 1-1/4" mark and the disconnect clips. Torque wrenches and flare tools are grouped under Tools of The Trade.
Socket Fitting & Sealing Features
87038 Body & Flare Seat
- Female SAE 45° flare nut for 1/2" equipment spuds
- Factory-machined flare seat replaces a field-cut flare
- Push-to-connect port with a 1-1/4" tube seat
- Patented double O-ring and grip ring on the push side
- Full-bore brass body with no line size reduction
- 870 psig design pressure across both connections
- 250°F continuous operating temperature rating
- UV and corrosion resistant for outdoor unit connections
- Sight window confirms tube insertion on the lineset end
- Certified under ICC-ES PMG-1616 to UL 207 and UL 1963
Suction Side Equipment Hookups
- Removes field flaring from the suction connection
- Flare nut torqued to the standard 1/2" SAE range
- Lineset end requires insertion and a tug test only
- Avoids squaring a flare block onto stiff 1/2" tube
- Practical in equipment closets with limited access
- Replaces a suction flare that failed at the unit
- 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
What equipment connection does the 87038 fit?
A 1/2" male SAE 45° flare spud, the connection style used on ductless indoor heads and outdoor service valves. Confirm the port size in the equipment's installation manual, since liquid and suction ports on the same unit are often different diameters.
How deep does the lineset seat in the 87038?
1-1/4" into the push-to-connect end. Mark that depth with the Pro-Fit gauge, push until the grip ring clamps, and confirm through the sight window before pressurizing.
What is the flare nut torque on the 1/2" socket?
40–47 ft-lbs, the standard SAE value for a 1/2" flare. That figure applies to the threaded end only — the push-to-connect end has no nut and is not torqued.
Which end do I assemble first?
The flare nut, onto the equipment, while the fitting is still free to turn and there is room to swing a torque wrench. Making the push connection first anchors the fitting to the lineset and makes torquing the nut considerably harder.
Can the 87038 be used on the outdoor unit's service valve port?
If that port is a 1/2" male SAE flare, yes — that is one of the two places these sockets are designed to land. Verify the port size and thread before ordering rather than assuming it matches the lineset diameter.
Does the socket reduce the line size at the connection?
No. The 87038 is 1/2" on both the flare side and the push side, with a full bore through the body. It changes the connection method, not the diameter.
Click On Links Below For Documentation:
Technical Specifications
Brochure
Product Rating Certification
