hydraulic steel lines DIY?

[radioman]

Bending tubing:

This is what I got using my hands bending around a ball bat.
It is 3/8" Hyd./Fuel/Brake line from auto parts.
CAUTION:
Do not lend your bender out when you can't remember to who it went

Very nice and clean look! I like it. Did you use the automotive connectors as well ?

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Ok great advice so far. So you have no issues with brake lines on tractors for hyraulic connections ? How much of a bend are we talking about for preventing vibration issues ? A simple wiggly line kind of thing or anything greater then lets say 25 degree bend ?

In my experience, auto store brake line is not as high a quality tubing as the standard .049", but I have used brake line tubing and never had a problem with it. If I am doing a job with some tricky bends, I may grab a piece of brake line as it is softer and bends easier.

All you really need to prevent cracks due to vibration is a little jog in the line. I'm looking for symbols on my keyboard, this is the closest I can find. Kinda like this. ]------^------[

 

[ol'George]

The fittings pictured are Parker fittings 37* flare nut, not inverted nut, 45*(auto style)
A person should use 37* flaring equipment when using 37* fittings.
That said, I have been using my 45* double flare kit for 40+ years and have not had leaks.
(Boy, I'm gonna catch flack saying that, but it is true.)
I agree that lines should have some kind of bend to eliminate vibration.
The double flare, and the sleeve on parker fittings, prevents cracking of the line @ the fitting.
Vibration harmonics will destroy a line if they are allowed to occur.
So bends help upset this harmonic vibration.
Longer runs are more prone than short.
Many times a simple tubing clamp or two will be suffice.

 

[radioman]

In my experience, auto store brake line is not as high a quality tubing as the standard .049", but I have used brake line tubing and never had a problem with it. If I am doing a job with some tricky bends, I may grab a piece of brake line as it is softer and bends easier.

All you really need to prevent cracks due to vibration is a little jog in the line. I'm looking for symbols on my keyboard, this is the closest I can find. Kinda like this. ]------^------[

Thanks guys- I feel like I am getting the crash course in hydraulics . These are the things I'd like to know when trying to build something, its easier to listen to advice and comprend from there instead of making my own costly mistakes (although its the best way to learn sometimes )

 

[ol'George]

Forgot to mention,
You don't need to double flare with the parker fittings. as the sleeve provides,
the support to prevent cracking @ the flare.
On bending tubing, you can pick up a piece of say 1/4" @ auto supply and practice bending it to see how it does for you. I'll warn you, it will kink easier the bigger you go in size.
If you plan on building a project that requires a lot of nice bends and you plan on doing other projects, a bender is a very handy thing to have. Especially if you use the thicker wall Hyd. tubing They do last a lifetime
I still wish I could remember who I lent mine too.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

The fittings pictured are Parker fittings 37* flare nut, not inverted nut, 45*(auto style)
A person should use 37* flaring equipment when using 37* fittings.
That said, I have been using my 45* double flare kit for 40+ years and have not had leaks.
(Boy, I'm gonna catch flack saying that, but it is true.)
I agree that lines should have some kind of bend to eliminate vibration.
The double flare, and the sleeve on parker fittings, prevents cracking of the line @ the fitting.
Vibration harmonics will destroy a line if they are allowed to occur.
So bends help upset this harmonic vibration.
Longer runs are more prone than short.
Many times a simple tubing clamp or two will be suffice.

There are no such thing as "Parker" fittings.
37 degree (JIC) and 45 degree (SAE) are industry recognized as being interchangeable. I think you have the inverted flare in mind when talking about 45 degree.
You only need a bend in a steel line if it is going between 2 differently mounted components. If you have a steel line running the lentgh of a loader arm and it attaches to fittings mounted on the same arm, no need for a bend.

 

[ol'George]

You are correct, Parker Hannifin is mega comapny, and they make many types of fittings, as well as a million other products. I always considered them to be the standard of the world, sorry my bad.
I'm glad you brough to light, my oversight

 

[mjncad]

OK, this is a guess on my part; but I suspect hydraulic tubing is rated for continuous use where brake lines are generally considered intermittent duty.

 

[radioman]

ok - what do you guys prefer to bend the metal lines with ?

 

[Wayne County Hose]

ok - what do you guys prefer to bend the metal lines with ?

a metal line bender.