Can you braze a hydraulic line?

[ROUSTABOUT]

Flared fittings do come in different configurations and materials for different design pressure. The local hardware store likely will not be carrying the high pressure version. There are piping situations where flared fittings are not allowed.

Compression or flared?

 

[ptsg]

An hydraulic compression fitting doesn't necessarily have to be flared.

These things work perfectly and can/will handle some crazy pressures. A good alternative for the OP in case he needs to work on that line again. Just cut a section of the pipe off and replace with a short piece of hose with compression fittings.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Roustabout used the proper fitting.

Flared fittings do come in different configurations and materials for different design pressure. The local hardware store likely will not be carrying the high pressure version. There are piping situations where flared fittings are not allowed.

eg. Brake line flares are not the same as plumbing flares.

I've also had a compression fitting on my 1967 F250 since 1990. Right off the back of the power steering pump. It's an ACE hardware fitting. I'm not recommending it, but they do work. On my own things I tend to use any kind of cobbled together crap that will work.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I have a split steel hydraulic line on my Kubota M59. I ordered and have the replacement line. After two days disassembling my tractor, I have realized it is impossible to remove and replace the line. It was apperantly installed early in the construction of the tractor and never intended to be replaced. Which would have been fine if the materials had been higher quality. It was not damaged, it failed. So now I'm thinking I will have to cut the old one out and have a flexible line built on to the Kubota ends. That got me thinking they might have to braze hose fittings onto my cut tubes. So can I braze over the material defect in my tube?? I braze copper lines regularly and brass and steel fittings occasionally. I usually use a 45-55* silver braze with flux on steel or dissimilar metals. Sometimes I will cap with a 15* silver just to beef it up. Any reason I can't do this on a steel hydraulic line??

Advice. I wouldn't weld it up while it is on the tractor. No way to make sure nothing is left inside from welding. Just take it apart until you get the line off. Go to a hydraulic place and get a new line made. We just had several hard lines made for a John Deere 540 B-G log skidder. They all fit just fine. Of course we took the old ones for them to pattern off of. Personally I would arc weld the lines. I've done it several times on larger equipment, usually changing the line later when things slowed down. On heavy equipment lines usually rub together more than split and fail. I put rubber hoses or insulate lines from each other while I'm in there.

Just take your machine on down until you can get the line off and go to a good hydraulic shop and let them have it. In the end, it is the best way to get this accomplished. Ive seen all types of predicaments and circumstances.

 

[ovrszd]

Advice. I wouldn't weld it up while it is on the tractor. No way to make sure nothing is left inside from welding. Just take it apart until you get the line off. Go to a hydraulic place and get a new line made. We just had several hard lines made for a John Deere 540 B-G log skidder. They all fit just fine. Of course we took the old ones for them to pattern off of. Personally I would arc weld the lines. I've done it several times on larger equipment, usually changing the line later when things slowed down. On heavy equipment lines usually rub together more than split and fail. I put rubber hoses or insulate lines from each other while I'm in there.

Just take your machine on down until you can get the line off and go to a good hydraulic shop and let them have it. In the end, it is the best way to get this accomplished. Ive seen all types of predicaments and circumstances.

Lost track of how many times I've done this. Should have read to the end before posting.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I imagine we all do.

 

[IndyJay]

One of the metal hydraulic lines for my dozer split. My neighbor happened to stop by while I was taking it off and he said that he could weld it with a coat hanger. He used a gas acetylene torch and the metal coat hanger, and it's held perfectly for over a decade now.

Before there was duct tape, there were steel coat hangers. The original multi-purpose DIY that was always close at hand.
My wife has replaced all of the house coat hangers with plastic, But I kept a dozen or so in the garage because sometimes that is all you need is a little piece of coat hanger to do a task where nothing else seems to work.

 

[Egon]

A coil #9 wire has many uses! Its more feline than coat hangers.

 

[ovrszd]

A coil #9 wire has many uses! Its more feline than coat hangers.

Yep. Additionally wads of baling wire stashed in the barns, sheds, gate posts, behind the pickup seat, anywhere there might be a need.

 

[59 Sons]

An old friend of mine used to lock her keys in the car so often that she started keeping an extra coat hanger safely locked in her trunk.