So, the delrin/nylon/plastic (?) mortise half of the push fitting has cracked twice now. Any thoughts?
To begin with, I never removed the original one before it had cracked. I've been using this pipe almost daily for three months now. Anyway, whenever I put the stem on, I never forced it hard, and I would always twist it clockwise if the mouthpiece wasn't straight (so that the mortise wouldn't unscrew). I've never pulled the stem while the pipe was hot, and I've definitely never overheated the pipe while smoking. I've also been careful about pulling the stem, always twisting it slightly clockwise as I pulled it out. I've never wiggled it in and out, only twisting if need be.
I've been holding it by the stem rather than the bowl while smoking. When it needs ashing, I would turn it upside-down and very gently tap the heel with two of my fingers.
In other words, I have been quite careful with it.
I noticed it the first time because when I turned it over and tapped the heel, I could feel what I can best describe as a very subtle rattling. So after it cooled down, I inspected it and noticed the cracking. Looked online and ordered these Standard Universal Meerschaum Pipe Fittings 3 Tenon - Mortise Set - https://www.meerschaummarket.com/standard-universal-meerschaum-pipe-fittings-3-tenon-mortise-set/ replacements.
When the new ones came in, I carefully unscrewed the original mortise and checked to make sure the replacements were the same (thread pitch, length, diameter, etc) and they were, and I inspected the threading in the shank and it looked fine, so I put a new one in carefully. When I replaced it, it didn't feel like the threads were loose or tight (like just the right fit, didn't have to muscle or force it to twist in, didn't feel like cross threading, etc).
Like the first, it lasted a few weeks before cracking.
Now, the tenon side is still fine, no cracks, it's not loose in the stem or anything. Even while smoking with it, the stem doesn't feel loose or anything like it's going to twist or fall out. If I put some pressure, the stem will rock a little (I don't put much pressure), and it feels like the part of the mortise side that sticks out of shank is rocking with the stem, flexing at the half-circumference crack (mentioned below), but not necessarily like the whole mortise insert is flexing inside the shank. With the stem off, I can grab the part that sticks out and I gently try to wiggle it and it doesn't seem loose except where the crack is near the outside.
I also included a pic of the stem fully inserted with a light behind it, showing it's ever so slightly un-square, with the tiniest gap at the bottom. And when I push the stem in, it doesn't feel like it needs a bunch of force to go in, but it does fit in snugly.
They've both cracked in the same way, pretty much along the entire length and then part way around the circumference of the part that sticks out from the shank. I tried to get the best pictures I possibly could. I would take the mortise out and get a pic of the shank, but I don't want to remove it until I am replacing it.
Thoughts? Is this a normal thing and/or nothing to worry about? Is this something that should be addressed/fixed? I can't figure out how it's cracking like that or what a cause might be.
The first 3 pics are the original mortise insert, the next two are the current one still in the pipe, and the last one shows the slight gap mentioned earlier:
To begin with, I never removed the original one before it had cracked. I've been using this pipe almost daily for three months now. Anyway, whenever I put the stem on, I never forced it hard, and I would always twist it clockwise if the mouthpiece wasn't straight (so that the mortise wouldn't unscrew). I've never pulled the stem while the pipe was hot, and I've definitely never overheated the pipe while smoking. I've also been careful about pulling the stem, always twisting it slightly clockwise as I pulled it out. I've never wiggled it in and out, only twisting if need be.
I've been holding it by the stem rather than the bowl while smoking. When it needs ashing, I would turn it upside-down and very gently tap the heel with two of my fingers.
In other words, I have been quite careful with it.
I noticed it the first time because when I turned it over and tapped the heel, I could feel what I can best describe as a very subtle rattling. So after it cooled down, I inspected it and noticed the cracking. Looked online and ordered these Standard Universal Meerschaum Pipe Fittings 3 Tenon - Mortise Set - https://www.meerschaummarket.com/standard-universal-meerschaum-pipe-fittings-3-tenon-mortise-set/ replacements.
When the new ones came in, I carefully unscrewed the original mortise and checked to make sure the replacements were the same (thread pitch, length, diameter, etc) and they were, and I inspected the threading in the shank and it looked fine, so I put a new one in carefully. When I replaced it, it didn't feel like the threads were loose or tight (like just the right fit, didn't have to muscle or force it to twist in, didn't feel like cross threading, etc).
Like the first, it lasted a few weeks before cracking.
Now, the tenon side is still fine, no cracks, it's not loose in the stem or anything. Even while smoking with it, the stem doesn't feel loose or anything like it's going to twist or fall out. If I put some pressure, the stem will rock a little (I don't put much pressure), and it feels like the part of the mortise side that sticks out of shank is rocking with the stem, flexing at the half-circumference crack (mentioned below), but not necessarily like the whole mortise insert is flexing inside the shank. With the stem off, I can grab the part that sticks out and I gently try to wiggle it and it doesn't seem loose except where the crack is near the outside.
I also included a pic of the stem fully inserted with a light behind it, showing it's ever so slightly un-square, with the tiniest gap at the bottom. And when I push the stem in, it doesn't feel like it needs a bunch of force to go in, but it does fit in snugly.
They've both cracked in the same way, pretty much along the entire length and then part way around the circumference of the part that sticks out from the shank. I tried to get the best pictures I possibly could. I would take the mortise out and get a pic of the shank, but I don't want to remove it until I am replacing it.
Thoughts? Is this a normal thing and/or nothing to worry about? Is this something that should be addressed/fixed? I can't figure out how it's cracking like that or what a cause might be.
The first 3 pics are the original mortise insert, the next two are the current one still in the pipe, and the last one shows the slight gap mentioned earlier:
