Van's Air Force
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Brake lines
- Thread starter brister
- Start date
pierre smith
Well Known Member
We did
Hi Dean,
A multiple RV builder friend of mine told me that he had bad luck with the cheapo plastic lines leaking but other guys have used them successfully for years.
For peace of mind, we used braided rubber hoses which we custom made (it's fairly easy) from both sets of brakes to the piece of angle aluminum on the pilot's side. From there we used aluminum tubing down to the wheels with the loop at the axle that Van recommends. We did use the plastic stuff from the reservoir to the passenger side and haven't had a leak.
Good luck,
Hi Dean,
A multiple RV builder friend of mine told me that he had bad luck with the cheapo plastic lines leaking but other guys have used them successfully for years.
For peace of mind, we used braided rubber hoses which we custom made (it's fairly easy) from both sets of brakes to the piece of angle aluminum on the pilot's side. From there we used aluminum tubing down to the wheels with the loop at the axle that Van recommends. We did use the plastic stuff from the reservoir to the passenger side and haven't had a leak.
Good luck,
MrNomad
Well Known Member
make the plastic lines gone
The plastic lines leaked at the low pressure side between the reservoir and the rite cylinders on my 9A. All others are hi pressure lines from Pegasus. One of the experts who's guiding us suggested / implored / demanded that the last two plastic lines were replaced too. Fuel lube seemed to stop the leak between the brass fitting and the brake cylinder rather than line sealant, but we decided to replace them anyway due to Gil Alexander's insistence. These guys are experts. Why reinvent the wheel?
brister said:
The plastic lines leaked at the low pressure side between the reservoir and the rite cylinders on my 9A. All others are hi pressure lines from Pegasus. One of the experts who's guiding us suggested / implored / demanded that the last two plastic lines were replaced too. Fuel lube seemed to stop the leak between the brass fitting and the brake cylinder rather than line sealant, but we decided to replace them anyway due to Gil Alexander's insistence. These guys are experts. Why reinvent the wheel?
We just finished a condition inspection on a Kitfox IV that has plastic brake lines. What a frustrating experience trying to get the leaks stopped! Ive been working on airplanes for 35 years. If the the airplane would have been mine, the plastic would have been out of there after the second time I replaced all the compression fittings and it still leaked. Aluminum tubing with AN Fittings, and Aeroquip Hose at the flex points is the way to go. I have better things to do than bleed the *#%&$ brakes before each flight.
robertahegy
Moderator/Tech Counselor
With my plastic brake lines, I had brass inserts that were forced into the end of the tubes. These were intended to provide support to the tube and prevent it from collapsing when the nut was tightened on the ferrule. Are builders not using these and might this be the cause of leakage? I have had no leakage in my 7A in three years with dual brakes.
Roberta
Roberta
Norman CYYJ
Well Known Member
The system that Van's designed for the brake system works just fine if installed properly. He used these parts to keep the costs and weight down. I have used this system in all of the planes that I have built with no leaks.
We use the exact plastic lines on our sprint car for the brakes in the cokpit and also for the wing slider. The plastic on the wing slider catches heck from rocks ,mud and we never have any leak problems even after a crash and tearing the ram off the wing I am using it in my 7 with confidence.Not to flame anyone but it works if it is installed right IMHO.
Rubber & Telfon Hose
Medium pressure High temp hose, 124 stainless/teflon Stratoflex or
High pressure, 111 rubber hose both for hydraulics, pneumatics, coolant, fuel/oil. Both can have fire sleeve added (F)
Just call the wrench size, length (tip to tip) and fittings - straight to straight, straight to 90 or straight to 45 and they can be built, tagged, pressure tested and shipped. Aero Hose Shop 800-362-3044 ext 230.
1-2 day service and you don't have to buy the tools!!
Linda
Medium pressure High temp hose, 124 stainless/teflon Stratoflex or
High pressure, 111 rubber hose both for hydraulics, pneumatics, coolant, fuel/oil. Both can have fire sleeve added (F)
Just call the wrench size, length (tip to tip) and fittings - straight to straight, straight to 90 or straight to 45 and they can be built, tagged, pressure tested and shipped. Aero Hose Shop 800-362-3044 ext 230.
1-2 day service and you don't have to buy the tools!!
Linda
mgomez
Well Known Member
Plastic is transparent
The plastic brake lines let you see bubbles when you're bleeding the brakes. I just helped Dave Abrahamson bleed his brakes (first flight real soon) and he spent a lot of the time with his head under the panel looking for bubbles.
Other than that (and the obvious weight advantage), I don't know the reason for the plastic brake lines.
The plastic brake lines let you see bubbles when you're bleeding the brakes. I just helped Dave Abrahamson bleed his brakes (first flight real soon) and he spent a lot of the time with his head under the panel looking for bubbles.
Other than that (and the obvious weight advantage), I don't know the reason for the plastic brake lines.
