Hi Jim. I redid my entire brake lines in both double flare and bubble
for my brake system. The old brake lines are hard for whatever reason.
I would suggest you go to the parts store and buy a short line, and try
your brake tool on it. If it does not work, return the tool if you can.
When I did double flares, they turned out OK with a Mac tool, but I
could not get a good bubble flare with anything other than a Snap-On, no
matter what I did, including what you tried.
Also when I tightened my other flaring tools, it left a serrated mark on
the tube where it gripped the tube.
You can use a little oil on the flaring tool, which will help it from
gauling the flared end.
I came to the conclusion that to do brake lines, you need a Snap-On
flaring tool. Expensive but it works first time with either bubble or
double flare.
Good Luck
Larry
James Barrett wrote:
>
> Folks,
> After discovering that my Tiger and Alpines have
> both bubble ends and flare ends (on the same brake line) I
> went down and purchased a Performance Tool, Double Flare
> Tool. I had already purchased an assortment of British
> brake hoses with bubbles on both ends. I figured I could
> modify one bubble to a flare and that would take care of
> the long pipe on the rear axle. The short pipe that goes
> to the flexable hose has flares on both ends ( as well as one
> female fitting). I thought I could reuse the fitting and make
> up a neat new line.
> Well I took an old brake line to pratice on. @$#!%@*&^
> Followed the instructions to a T. The 3/16 brake line would
> slip out of the tool every time I tried to do the first half
> of the double flare. Tried clamping the tool in a big vice
> plus clamping with a Channel Lock tool. Still slipped.
> wrapped some aluminum foil around the pipe where it was clamped
> with no luck. Finally added valve grinding compound into
> the tool's clamping "teeth". This sort of held the brake
> line, but after 10 tries I still can not get even close to
> a good first stage of the flare.
> Thinking about heating the end of the pipe up and
> annealing it a bit. Could the old line be work hardened?
> Do not want to try the new material until I can get a good flare
> on the old pipes.
> I cut the tubing square on the end, deburred the inside
> and chamfered the outside. Spaced the tube as indicated
> and followed the rest of the instructions. No Luck.
> I tried different amounts of chamfer and that didn't help.
> I made sure the old pipe was not rusty , oily or scratched.
> The pipes, both old and new were .186 OD. The clamp is
> .176 ID when empty and closed. I even tried cutting oil
> on the first stage tool with no luck
> Any one had success doing a double flare on a Tiger
> brake line?
> James Barrett Tiger II 351C and others
|