DIY Hoses?

[szicree]

I'm considering making my own oil/fuel lines and would like to hear from those who've done it as to what to expect. I've never done it before but it really looks pretty simple. Opinions?

[gasman]

Originally Posted by szicree

I'm considering making my own oil/fuel lines and would like to hear from those who've done it as to what to expect. I've never done it before but it really looks pretty simple. Opinions?

A cutoff wheel will make a nice square clean cut. Make a fuel line first. They are lower presssure. After you have made one, you won't have a problem about the fitting holding.

This way you can make it fit JUST THE WAY that you want...............

PS Be sure to clean it well after you are done.

[Baseball Dad]

I made my own fuel lines from SS braided hose. Get the Koul Tools hose assembly tool. It will make your life much easier.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/gro...GroupID=PLUMAN
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3330

[Rick S.]

Steve,

It is pretty simple, patience is a virtue though. First you need to wrap the braid REALLY tight with fiberglass reinforced tape. Use a dremel cutoff wheel to make the cut, don't force it let it work through the material. Use 30 weight oil or like I did invest in a bottle made by Aeroquip filled with 30 weight oil for $9.00. Pressing the hose end into the fitting seemed to get easier after some practice...I failed the first night, suceeded the second night...why? Who knows. I can tell you that the little stainless steel wires in the braid will poke tiny, painfull holes in your fingers. Van's sells a hose tool that is worth every penny.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/...Tool-Hose-Assy

Fire sleeve seems a bit costly at first but overall you can save some good money building your own lines as well as make them the perfect length you need. I pumped my hoses up with the air compressor after they were built to leak test and pressure test...at least to max 150 psi the compressor would put out. I ran the hose out from the garage a good 50 feet then applied the pressure so if it popped nobody would get hit with it. Make sure you mark the hose to make sure it did not back out of the end fitting while installing the inner portion of the hose end.

[lostpilot28]

Man, making SS braided hoses was a bear! I almost gave up. I bought the AN hose and fittings from Pegasus Racing online.

I found that you have to wrap the end SUPER tight...once about 1/2" back from the cut line and a 2nd layer OVER the cut line.

Then you make a super clean cut (use a new saw blade, or cutoff wheel, etc.). I then used a grinding wheel to remove any straggling braids.

Then removed the outer tape layer and twisted the hose into the fitting (use lubricant) for what seemed like 1/2 hour.

Good luck!

[szicree]

Cool. So it sounds like it's either easy as pie or nearly impossible?! I'm curious now, so I guess I'll go for it. Anybody make a homemade version of that 74 dollar tool?

[G-force]

If you do a search, I did a pretty detailed post on assembling hoses a few months ago. I make hundreds a year at my shop. As for tools, any of the racing wherehouses like Summit Racing or Jegs ought to sell aluminum vice inserts for a bench vice. They work great and should only set you back $15-20.

[lostpilot28]

Originally Posted by szicree

Cool. So it sounds like it's either easy as pie or nearly impossible?! I'm curious now, so I guess I'll go for it. Anybody make a homemade version of that 74 dollar tool?

Right. The curiosity of it all is what drove me to do it myself, too. No way was my stubbornness letting me spend $70 on a plastic tool that amounts to nothing more than a funnel.

All kidding aside, if you can spare the cash, the tool will probably make it much easier. Doing it without the tool is a bear, is what I should have said.

[Baseball Dad]

I was like you were about spending that much money for it. Trust me, the tool is worth the money for the pain and aggravation it saves. I bought it after reading testimonials here and it works as advertised. The hose goes into the fitting the first time, every time. No fuss, no muss. Find some other builders in your area to split the costs with. Also the aluminum vise jaws are a big help too. I can make a hose from start to finish (both ends) in 7-10 minutes.

[PaigeHoffart]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/4775...No=hose%20tool

I don't have one, but it looks the same as Van's.

Paige
RV-8A