Hi Dave
Thanks for the additional thoughts! It is interesting to note that
most provinces in Canada exclude copper (fuel, brake and clutch) lines
from their vehicle safety codes. It is true that some folks will only
use their "antique or vintage" cars for short periods and may
succumb to the "appropriate appearance" theory but one's safety
should rate high.
Kind regards
Ed
Dave & Marlene wrote:
> Hi Ed,
>
> Not sure, but I think you are saying that pure copper is still being
> sold for brake lines. Since some cars had this material originally, it
> may be that some are willing to accept it's shortcomings in the interest
> of originality. Copper just has too many failures due to work hardening/
> fatigue cracking to be safe for fuel or brake lines. Most of the brake
> line failures are right at the flare junction which is subject to
> considerable pressure expansion stress cycling. I discovered this 50
> years ago, as did the US auto industry.
>
> We may be missing the fact that many people have gotten away with using
> copper. It does usually require long usage before failure, but there is
> no way to know ahead of time when it is about to fail. This doesn't mean
> that it is a safe thing to do. The failure will be sudden. I do not know
> of any USA racing orginizations that allow copper & no present car
> manufacturers use it for the stated reason.
>
> The UK industries have not been particularly noted for updating things
> that don't work well. Especially the small industries.
>
> Dave Russell
>
> M.E. & E.A. Driver wrote:
>
>> Hi Dave
>>
>> This thread peaked my curiosity. Like you and John I'm in favour
>> of the soft steel brake line but I note with interest in two of many
>> catalogues I have from the UK that copper tubing 3/16 to 5/16's
>> plus the nickel/copper alloy are still being sold for Morgans by a
>> Morgan
>> outlet while in a generalist catalogue the same is offered. I wonder
>> if we are missing something?
>>
>> Kind regards
>> Ed
>> Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
>> www.vintage-sportscar-touring.ca
>> '65 BJ8 '89 Morgan 4/4
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