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-   -   Are these flares okay? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=135005)

HeliCooper 02-25-2016 08:36 AM

Are these flares okay?
 
I'm working on the fuel lines for the fuselage and although my flares do not have cracks or splits they have what I would describe as flaking or light scoring. I used a couple drops of oil on the flaring tool and deburred the tube before flaring. Some photos are linked below. Everything else on the flare I believe looks great but not having the inside look polished smoothed has me a little concerned.

http://imgur.com/a/FR945

Thanks,

Jim

az_gila 02-25-2016 09:07 AM

Perhaps the cone of the flaring tool is not fully polished...

rvbuilder2002 02-25-2016 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az_gila (Post 1056913)
Perhaps the cone of the flaring tool is not fully polished...

I agree.
Sometimes a light polishing of the forming surfaces on a scotchbrite wheel will help the tool performance.

BillL 02-25-2016 11:23 AM

or - did you flare after a tubing cut and not ream the end? They seemed to go better for me with compete removal of the tubing cutter deformation. As usual, YMMV.

Congratulations is in order for experimenting, looking, evaluating and asking. You are almost there.

HeliCooper 02-25-2016 12:52 PM

Okay so I took apart the flaring tool and polished the end. I am getting good flares at times but others are still having flaking/scoring. I have tried to use a scotchbrite pad on the cone in between flares, cleaning and wiping down and reoiling every time. I still ended up getting this flare on the end of tube.

http://i.imgur.com/XpPGLO6.jpg?1

You can see a spot where there is that scoring.

I am not reaming the tube end but I am using a countersink bit by hand to deburr the inside edge.

Are these inadequate? If this is going to leak I am going to have to order tubing again.

Tom Martin 02-25-2016 01:04 PM

I wonder if you are maybe just going just a bit too far with the process? Try, on some scraps to see what it looks like if you do not do that last turn or so.

crabandy 02-25-2016 03:04 PM

Look at post 16 and 40 of this thread:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...=123689&page=2

I found using a specified number of turns gave me consistent results, I did different #'s of turns of the flaring tool and measured the flare that it gave me reference the charts. Lots of experimenting but I feel I finally achieved decent flares.

Also Don't overtighten the B-Nut!

HeliCooper 02-25-2016 03:29 PM

I checked my flares and they are consistently .470" which is about dead in the middle of that chart. I am using a Parker rolo flare tool and I stop turning the tool as soon as the pressure changes. Just for kicks I completely under flared a piece and was getting the same flaking and scoring. The flaking seems to be happening at the juncture of the flare and unflared tubing on the inside. I'm pretty baffled.

9GT 02-25-2016 04:04 PM

Try a dab of grease instead of oil. Also make sure there is no debris in the tube or on the cone, or an inside ridge left after de-burring.

BillL 02-25-2016 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeliCooper (Post 1057040)
I checked my flares and they are consistently .470" which is about dead in the middle of that chart. I am using a Parker rolo flare tool and I stop turning the tool as soon as the pressure changes. Just for kicks I completely under flared a piece and was getting the same flaking and scoring. The flaking seems to be happening at the juncture of the flare and unflared tubing on the inside. I'm pretty baffled.

Be absolutely sure that there are no burrs on the ID that are getting "involved" in the process. I have the roloflare and did not have to polish the cone, but did have to be very sure there were no internal burrs. A countersink was not sufficient for me.

Just for grins. Take a short tube and square off the end with a belt sander and then deburr with scotchbrite. Over do it to eliminate this possibility.

Yes, order more tubing, a lot more.


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