Banjo Fitting Sizes and Compatibility Guide
Banjo Corporation, part of IDEX and based in Crawfordsville, Indiana, makes the glass-reinforced polypropylene fittings you'll find on sprayer booms, nurse tanks, and chemical induction systems across North America. They show up on John Deere, Case IH, Hagie, Apache, Demco, and Fast sprayers. The part numbering system looks cryptic but follows a strict code. Once you can read it, you can identify any fitting on sight.
What Banjo Fittings Are Made Of
All Banjo pipe fittings are glass-reinforced polypropylene, Schedule 80 wall thickness, with NPT (National Pipe Thread) threads. The material handles the full range of crop-protection chemicals — glyphosate, atrazine, 2,4-D, Liberty, fungicide cocktails — without degrading, swelling, or cracking. It's lighter than steel, won't corrode, and costs less than stainless. The trade-off is UV sensitivity — polypropylene degrades in sunlight over years of exposure. Store spares indoors.
How to Decode Banjo Part Numbers
Banjo uses a systematic code: fitting type prefix + size code + length/configuration suffix.
Type Prefixes
| Code | Fitting Type | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| NIP | Nipple | Male NPT both ends, joins two female fittings |
| SH | Short Nipple | Close nipple, minimal length between threads |
| CPLG | Coupling | Female NPT both ends, joins two male pipes |
| TEE | Tee | Three-way fitting, female NPT all ports |
| CAP | Cap | Female NPT, seals a male pipe end |
| PLUG | Plug | Male NPT, seals a female pipe end |
| CR | Cross | Four-way fitting, female NPT all ports |
| RN | Reducing Nipple | Male NPT both ends, different sizes |
| RB | Reducing Bushing | Male NPT one end, female NPT other, different sizes |
| HB | Hose Barb | Barbed fitting for flexible hose |
| EL | Elbow | 90-degree or 45-degree bend |
Size Codes
The numeric portion encodes pipe size in hundredths of an inch:
| Code | Pipe Size | OD (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 025 | 1/4" | 0.540 |
| 038 | 3/8" | 0.675 |
| 050 | 1/2" | 0.840 |
| 075 | 3/4" | 1.050 |
| 100 | 1" | 1.315 |
| 125 | 1-1/4" | 1.660 |
| 150 | 1-1/2" | 1.900 |
| 200 | 2" | 2.375 |
| 300 | 3" | 3.500 |
| 400 | 4" | 4.500 |
Reading a Part Number
Take NIP200-4: NIP = nipple, 200 = 2" size, -4 = 4 inches long. Or CPLG150: CPLG = coupling, 150 = 1-1/2" size. Or TEE200: tee, 2" size. The code tells you everything.
Pressure Ratings by Fitting Type
Most Banjo fittings are rated 300 PSI. The exceptions:
| Fitting Type | Max PSI | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nipples (NIP) | 300 (short), 150 (4", 6" lengths) | Longer nipples have lower ratings |
| Couplings (CPLG) | 300 (up to 2"), 225 (3") | 3" couplings derate |
| Tees (TEE) | 300 (up to 2"), 225 (3") | 3" tees derate |
| Crosses (CR) | 300 | All sizes |
| Caps (CAP) | 300 | All sizes |
| Plugs (PLUG) | 300 | All sizes |
| Reducing nipples (RN) | 300 | All sizes |
| Reducing bushings (RB) | 300 | All sizes |
| Cam lever couplers | 225-300 | Size-dependent |
The 4" and 6" standard nipples are the main gotcha — they're 150 PSI, not 300. Short nipples (SH) maintain 300 PSI because the shorter body has less wall area under stress.
What We Stock
1-Inch Pipe Fittings
A 14-piece assortment of 1-inch Banjo fittings covering cam lock dust caps (100125CAP), couplers (100C, 100D), dust plugs (100125PL), hose barbs (HB100), male adapters (100A), crosses (CR100), and 90-degree elbows (EL100-90).
1.25-Inch and 1.5-Inch Pipe Fittings
An 11-piece lot of 1.25" and 1.5" fittings — cam lock couplers (150D, 150A, 150E), pipe tees (TEE150), hose barbs (HB150), nipples (NIP150-SH, NIP150-4), and couplings (CPLG150, CPLG125).
2-Inch Pipe Fittings
A 12-piece lot of 2-inch Banjo fittings including:
- TEE200 — 2" tee, 300 PSI
- CPLG200 — 2" coupling, 300 PSI
- 200C — 2" female cam lever coupler, 225 PSI
- 200F — 2" male cam lever adapter, 300 PSI
- NIP200-4 and NIP200-6 — 2" nipples, 150 PSI
- NIP200-SH — 2" short nipple, 300 PSI
- PLUG200, CAP200, RN200-150, TF200 (bulkhead tank fitting)
2-Inch Manifold Flange System
The manifold flange system is what you find on larger sprayers and nurse tanks. Instead of threaded connections, bolt-together flanges with gaskets. The M200 prefix identifies 2" flanged components:
| Part | Type | Max PSI |
|---|---|---|
| M200TEE | 2" flanged tee | 300 |
| M200PLG | 2" flange plug | 300 |
| M200PLG025 | 2" flange plug with 1/4" FPT port | 225 |
| FC200 | Worm screw clamp | — |
| M202G | 2" skirted flange gasket (EPDM) | — |
We stock an Ashcroft 1009SW pressure gauge paired with M200TEE and M200PLG fittings — 2.5" dial, 0-100 PSI, 1/4" NPT bottom mount, stainless case.
The FC200 clamp torques to 90-100 in/lbs. The M202G gasket is EPDM — replace it every time you disassemble a flange connection. The gasket compresses and doesn't seal properly on re-use.
Electric Ball Valves
Banjo electric ball valves pair a polypropylene valve body with an electric actuator for remote or automated flow control. Common on sprayer boom sections and chemical induction.
The MEV100CF is the complete 1-inch unit with EV3100 actuator — 12V DC, 3-wire on/off, 3/4-second operation, internally fused with automatic reset. 316 stainless ball and stem. FKM (Viton-type) or EPDM seals. Position indicator shows open/closed.
The MEV100SLXR is the 1-inch manifold 3-way side-load valve body only — no motor. Side load means it mounts perpendicular to the manifold. 3-way diverts flow between two paths.
The MEV220SLXR1 is the 2-inch version of the same valve body.
Manual Ball Valves
The VSMT204FP is a 2-inch stubby full-port ball valve — male NPT x female NPT. "Stubby" means shorter body for tight spaces. "Full port" means no flow restriction — the bore matches the pipe ID. 200 PSI max. 316 stainless ball, PTFE seats, FKM seals, stainless bolts.
How to Identify What You Need
Measure pipe OD. Outside diameter determines nominal size. 1" pipe OD ≈ 1.315", 1.25" ≈ 1.660", 1.5" ≈ 1.900", 2" ≈ 2.375". Use the size code table above.
Identify the connection type. NPT threaded (tapered pipe threads) is most common. Cam lock (quick-connect lever) for hoses. Hose barb for flexible tubing. Manifold flange for bolt-together systems.
Male or female? Male (MPT) has external threads. Female (FPT) has internal threads. On cam locks, the female has the levers, the male has the groove.
Check the pressure rating. Standard short nipples, couplings, tees, and crosses are 300 PSI. 4" and 6" nipples are 150 PSI. Manual ball valves are 200 PSI. Know your system pressure.
Match the seal material. FKM (Viton-type) handles most ag chemicals. EPDM is better for certain formulations and water applications. If you're spraying something unusual, check Banjo's chemical resistance chart.
Installation Notes
- Use Teflon tape or pipe sealant on all NPT threads. Polypropylene threads can gall without it.
- Don't over-tighten. Polypropylene cracks. Hand-tight plus 1-2 turns with a wrench.
- Replace M202G gaskets whenever you disassemble a manifold flange connection.
- Torque FC200 clamps to 90-100 in/lbs.
- Support pipe on both sides of the fitting. Polypropylene isn't structural.
- UV exposure degrades polypropylene over years. Store spares indoors.
