Valves, caps and fittings
Most totes have a 6 inch fill cap on top and a 2 inch butterfly valve at the bottom outlet. Adapters change the outlet to a camlock, a garden hose or a pipe thread. The gasket under each is the part that fails first.
Last reviewed November 11, 2026
The fittings
| Fitting | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fill cap | 6 inch | Often vented; fit a screen for rain |
| Outlet valve | 2 inch butterfly or ball | At the bottom, with a cap |
| Adapter | Camlock, hose, NPT | Screws onto the outlet |
| Gasket | Rubber or foam | Seals the cap and valve |
Checking a used valve
Open and close the valve a few times. It should move freely without grit, seat firmly and show no drip after you close it. A valve that weeps when closed has a worn seat or a bad gasket and should be replaced. Check the cap thread for cracks.
Adapters for common jobs
- Garden hose: for watering and wash-down.
- Camlock: for pumps and transfer lines.
- Pipe thread: for fixed plumbing.
- Quick-connect: for drip and fertigation headers.
Choose an adapter made of a material that suits the liquid. Brass or plastic for water, stainless or polypropylene for chemicals.
Replacing a gasket
Drain the tote, remove the cap or valve, pry out the old gasket, clean the groove and fit a new one. A gasket that has flattened or hardened will not seal. Keep a few spares.
In South Florida
Salt air near Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and the port corrodes metal fittings faster than inland air, and the sun hardens plastic gaskets within a season. Rinse metal fittings with fresh water, grease threads lightly, and replace gaskets each year if the tote stands outdoors. A nursery in the Redland that keeps a drawer of spare gaskets and caps rarely loses a tote of water to a weeping valve.
Gaskets, threads and the order of work
When you service a tote, drain it first, then relieve any pressure by opening the vent. Remove the cap and the valve cap, inspect the gasket grooves, wash them, and fit new gaskets dry or with a little food-safe lubricant. Thread the cap by hand until it seats, then quarter-turn with a strap wrench; over-tightening cracks the neck of the bottle. Test with water, with the valve open and then shut, and watch the base for ten minutes. If a thread is stripped, the bottle is a recycling candidate, not a repair. Keep a drawer of spare gaskets, caps and adapters, labeled by size, and mark the tote with the date you serviced it.
Buying spare parts
Order caps, gaskets and adapters by the tote's make and the thread size printed on the part, and photograph the old part next to a ruler before you shop. Keep the receipt and write the size on the cage. Parts bins at reconditioners and industrial supply houses in Medley and Pompano Beach stock the common sizes; unusual threads may take days.
Questions people ask
How do I find the thread size?
Look for it stamped on the part, or measure the neck.
Do I need the make?
It helps; photograph the plate.
Should I over-tighten a cap?
No; hand tight plus a quarter turn.
Can a stripped neck be repaired?
Not reliably; replace the bottle.
How often should I replace gaskets?
Yearly if the tote stands outdoors, sooner if it weeps.
Which grease is safe near water?
Use a food-safe grease on fittings that touch drinking water.
What size is the outlet?
Commonly 2 inches.
Do I need an adapter?
For hose or pump, yes.
How do I stop a weep?
Replace the gasket or valve.
Is the cap vented?
Often.
Where do I fit a screen?
Under the cap or over the vent.
Ask for fittings
Say the job and the pipe or hose.