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Help on custom fuel lines
I'm in tubing hell... Trying to put an electric fuel pump on my engine, need a hard line from the pump to the carb. Bought the double flaring tool, bender, bender springs, thought this would be a piece of cake... NOT! I'm been trying to use 3/8" steel brake line from an auto store. Gone through quite a bit of tubing at this point. Got the bending down to a science, but the flaring! Double flare just seems out of the question, spent 3hrs last night, cutting, reaming, filing, polishing, but the bubble just won't form. Questions for anyone that may know: is 3/8 steel brake line a reasonable starting point? Is there something else I could use that would flare easier? The carb connection is a 45deg double flare. On the pump, I could stick with that, or use a 37deg single flare. The stock lines on my engine had 37deg single flares with stainless tubing. Any one know if 37deg single flare is ok with steel line? Any help advise appreciated!
Thanks, Dave T. |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Im not sure how long your line needs to be, but most auto parts stores carry the line already flared with the nuts on them in different lengths. Then all you would need to do is bend it to fit your application. I know we can get them locally here in just about any diameter you can think of, and lengths up to about 6 feet. Might give that a shot.
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
why use a metal non stainless line? i used high quality rubber fuel line with the press on ends, works like a charm, no hassles, last for ever, and you can get it at any good hose suppy house.
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Originally Posted by ratman
why use a metal non stainless line? i used high quality rubber fuel line with the press on ends, works like a charm, no hassles, last for ever, and you can get it at any good hose suppy house.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
1 Attachment(s)
Might be easier to just go to Aeroquip braided stainless lines.
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Ever see this blue stuff Phil? |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
the flaring can be tricky...the trick to it is getting the spacing of the die correct before you make your initial flare....the second flare is very easy as long as you make sure that your press tool is centered perfectly....hope that helps you a little
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Stainless Steel Parker A-lok And Cpi Tube Fittings
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
comanche 6 those are hard 90* angles and wont help the flow at all
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Originally Posted by ratman
comanche 6 those are hard 90* angles and wont help the flow at all
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Try the aluminum fuel line from summit. Should be easier to flare(In a couple of colors to)
I went with aeroquip socketless hose and fittings. Makes it real easy to put together. |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Ok RatMan, here is a fitting I made by cutting apart 3 fittings and welding together what I needed, it has a radius 90 which is the way to roll for fuel. It has a hose barb on one end. For this application I would cut that off and weld on a tube fitting. That would make it work nice!
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Not sure about this, but I think Coast Guard requires a hard steel, not copper or aluminum, line from the fuel pump to the carb.
If that is so, then using soft line would tend to void your insurance if there was a fire due to the line breaking and spraying fuel all over the engine, then ignition source= Boom. Both copper and aluminum will fatigue and crack. Also, braided lines are not fire temperature resistant like the steel line is. Flaring with double flaring tool is easy. Maybe a hydraulic shop will do it for you after you have the line bent to the correct shape. My recollection is to debur the inside of the cut off tube, then clamp it in the die block for the flarer, but get a close grip on it so it doesn't bend over to one side when you run the forcing screw down. You may have to do the first step in two operations to get the inward cup started, then loosen the clamp dies and move it outward a little more, and do more of the inward cup. Then you can put in the cone to flare it out to 45 degrees. I think 37 degree flares are ok on fuel and maybe even 45 degree external flares. Some flare nuts are longer than others and therefore provide a vibration restraining collar to provide extra support to the tube at the fitting. Internal flares were developed by the auto industry so save the cost of installing a separate flare fitting into the body of the part in question. The factory has a special drill and tap and beveled end such that the whole thing is done right into the carb body or brake caliber. I don't like them much as they tend to get siezed and are a bear to get undone without ruining something. |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
According to the Gentleman that surveyed the SeaRay, the fuel line from the pump to the carb must have at least a A-1 rating, something like 1400 degrees for three minutes. Most AreoQuip hose are NOT Coast Gusrd approved, but that doesn't mean that they are NOT A-1 rated.
Robert |
Re: Help on custom fuel lines
If you have a Parker store nearby they'll make rubber hoses for you. And thier USCG approved.
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
Hey thanks for all the advise! For now, I'm going to go with steel lines with the pre-fab internal flares. That will get me in the water anyway, and USCG approved. I would definately prefer stainless, but don't think I can bend it (and I KNOW I can't flare it). I think I'll make an extra one out of steel and look around for a shop to duplicate it for me in stainless over the winter. Regards!
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Re: Help on custom fuel lines
tewks;
You can bend and double flare SS tubing as easily as doing steel. You may have to anneal the tube end after the cupping step, but you can polish it after the final flaring using very fine emery paper, sometimes called "crocus cloth". It is colored redish brown and very fine abrasive. Check with very extensive hardware stores and ask a man, not the cute girl behind the register. Go to mcmaster.com and do some research on tube benders and flaring tools, and also check emery cloth/crocus cloth. Jim in Texas |
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