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DIY Braided fuel lines?
Did anyone buy the Aero Equip kit from Vans and make your own braided fuel/oil or brake lines? Seems like that would save a ton of money doing it yourself...
Thinking this is easier than the aluminium lines and the fittings are perfect. |
Do yourself a big favor and call Tom at TS flightlines. I'm on my second plane using all of his lines after butchering a bunch of tubing. After the investment in the tools to make the bends and flare equiptment it's not that much more in cost. His customer service is impecable!
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I second the suggestion to call Tom. You won?t regret it.
Bevan Quote:
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Professionally-fabricated lines are great. Tom and Steve will do a wonderful job of them.
Keep in mind that standard Aeroquip lines (Aeroquip 303) have a fairly short service life - some say 5 years, some say 10 years. Go with conductive Teflon with stainless overbraid and you move away from those life limits. Also, be aware that one can get that fancy conductive Teflon / braided stainless line from racing shops and can fabricate one's own hoses. It's pretty much tool-less, save for a cutoff wheel in a Dremel tool. I made my own brake lines using "Earls" branded fittings and hose - pretty inexpensive and yet produce a professional-looking hose. The assembly technique is nearly goof-proof as well. This fancy hose is also available with a clear protective sheath over the outside as well, making it quite good for applications where the abrasive nature of the stainless over-braid might be a concern. I wouldn't fabricate another Aeroquip 303 line if I had an alternative. |
To answer your question, the kit Van's sells is fine, but you can also buy excellent stuff from places like AN Plumbing and do it yourself - definitely in the spirit of building your own aircraft.
While I'm sure the folks advertised here do a fine job, I've made my own brake, fuel and oil lines for a couple airplanes now. It's pretty easy with the modern fittings and very doable in the garage with wrenches. |
I made all of my FF lines. I used the aeroquip racing hose, aeroquip fittings for teflon and Earls fittings for rubber. I used rubber for the fuel lines (-6 only) and teflon for the fuel sensor / return line and everything else. I could not source any carbon lined teflon, so used rubber on the fuel lines that pass volume. I used all steef fittings, except the sensor block, but all lines to it are secured by adle clamps near the alum fitting.
In addition to cost savings, you are able to make better fitting lines, especially in tight areas, by making your own. You can put one end on and lay it out exactly how you want it and then mark for the cut. Measuring for custom hoses is hard, because you can't always gauge how the hose will lay/bend, especially with teflon, as it is very rigid in rotation. I used aluminum for everything behind the firewall, as well as brake lines. I just didn't see the benefit to braided hose for the brakes. Larry |
I made all the lines for my -6 using Earl's fittings and teflon lined stainless lines.
On the -10, I didn't feel like fooling with it and had Tom make the lines. It all comes down to time vs money. Either way works. |
Don't forget that you'll also want to build a rig to do high (really high) pressure testing, safely, of your lines after fabrication.
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i did my own with no special tools and they all went together as advertised.. don't leak now. time will tell.
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I've rebuilt my 'homemade' hoses twice due to service time by using the same fittings. Only expense was new hose stock.
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