Make Hydraulic line?

[ch1ch2]

I have a few bent or crushed steel hydraulic lines. Can I build new steel lines or do I have to buy new lines from the dealer?
If I can build them, is it just a matter of flaring the end of the line and installing a JIC fitting? I have flaring tools from plumbing. Will they work on steel? Will it hold up to 3000 psi?

 

[Arc weld]

You need to use seamless hyd. grade tubing and JIC flare ends are a different angle than copper(plumbing) flares. It's usually not too expensive to have a hyd. shop make up simple lines but for tight bends or complex lines, you often have to buy new lines from the OEM. I had to on a line for my backhoe and they aren't cheap from Cat. On another line that had rubbed through, I cut the bad section out, had the good pieces flared and used hyd. hose to connect them. Otherwise I would have had to do major disassembly to get a new line in.

 

[mrmikey]

If you can it might be cheaper/easier to replace the steel lines with hose, I've done that numerous times mainley because I can get hose and fittings a lot easier than I can tubing.....Mike

 

[ch1ch2]

I have replaced tubing with hose before. But I find I use the equipment in rough areas and the brush and limbs tend to grab hoses but not so much lines. In one case the line goes under the tractor with a few bends. Not a candidate for a hose.

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

I have a few bent or crushed steel hydraulic lines. Can I build new steel lines or do I have to buy new lines from the dealer?
If I can build them, is it just a matter of flaring the end of the line and installing a JIC fitting? I have flaring tools from plumbing. Will they work on steel? Will it hold up to 3000 psi?

I don't know much about plumbing, but most low pressure flares are 45 degrees. JIC fittings require a 37 degree flare. You are probably also working with soft copper tubing, which is quite different from steel hydraulic tubing. The tools you have now may not be up to the task.

We have a number of flaring tools and bending tools available if you want do this right.

Hydraulic Tube Flaring Tools @ DiscountHydraulicHose.com

Hydraulic Tube Benders @ DiscountHydraulicHose.com

 

[mikehaugen]

You could also get braze-on fittings. Then either braze or silver-solder them on. I think that is how my lines are put together, Then uses orb (flat-face) fittings where it joins the hoses.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Most hydraulic flares in my experience are what are called reverse flare fittings. The male end is down in the socket of what looks like the female part. They are also a double flare which is a special tool that folds it into itself and gives a double wall flare which withstands vibration better. Yes, they are 37 degree also which is not your standard hardware store item. Auto gas lines and brake lines use the same system. Most good hydraulic shops can duplicate the lines much cheaper than buying from the dealer.

Ron

 

[ch1ch2]

Thank all of you for the input. I have been out of town and am just now reading this.
All the 5 shops I have been to only make rubber hose type lines. I do not want to buy from the dealer. I have no knowledge or experience building hydraulic lines but I think I can do it, if I know what I need. I do not want to build something dangerous. One of the lines I need to replace has a banjo fitting on it. I may have enough room on the line to reuse that part if I can not find the correct end.
Where can I get the parts and instructions?

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

Most hydraulic flares in my experience are what are called reverse flare fittings. The male end is down in the socket of what looks like the female part. They are also a double flare which is a special tool that folds it into itself and gives a double wall flare which withstands vibration better. Yes, they are 37 degree also which is not your standard hardware store item. Auto gas lines and brake lines use the same system. Most good hydraulic shops can duplicate the lines much cheaper than buying from the dealer.

Ron

Actually, the fitting you appear to be describing is called inverted flare. That fitting is common in automobiles, including many power steering systems, but it is almost never used in hydraulic fluid power for tractors and the like.

37 degree flare fittings, which are as common as pipe fittings in hydraulics, look quite the opposite of what you're described. You can see some examples of 37 degree flare fittings here.

JIC 37° Hydraulic Tube Fittings > Discount Hydraulic Hose.com

 

[dfkrug]

Actually, the fitting you appear to be describing is called inverted flare.
That fitting is common in automobiles, including many power steering systems, but it is almost never used in hydraulic
fluid power for tractors and the like.

They call those "AN" fittings, from "Army-Navy".

Yes, those are the ones used for automotive hydraulic applications, and (sadly) you guys at DHH don't carry
any adapters. The last time I used an automotive PS pump to power an hydraulic cylinder, I had to buy an
AN adapter, which connected up fine to my JIC hoses.

 

[Mace Canute]

Most hydraulic flares in my experience are what are called reverse flare fittings. The male end is down in the socket of what looks like the female part. They are also a double flare which is a special tool that folds it into itself and gives a double wall flare which withstands vibration better. Yes, they are 37 degree also which is not your standard hardware store item. Auto gas lines and brake lines use the same system. Most good hydraulic shops can duplicate the lines much cheaper than buying from the dealer.



Ron

37 degree fittings are not used on automotive. The ISO Flare (Bubble Flare) is 45 degrees and the female seat angle is 96 degrees. The Double Flare is 45 degrees and the inverted seat angle is 42 degrees. The DIN Flare (Mushroom) is 31degrees and the female seat angle is 120 degrees.

 

[MHarryE]

But if you want to avoid leaks your best option is ORFS connections.

 

[Egon]

Go with some rated compression fittings and the proper tubing. Bending tools would be required but they are not expensive.

You'll have to locate a supplier as the local hardware fittings are not up to the pressure ratings required.

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[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

They call those "AN" fittings, from "Army-Navy".

Yes, those are the ones used for automotive hydraulic applications, and (sadly) you guys at DHH don't carry
any adapters. The last time I used an automotive PS pump to power an hydraulic cylinder, I had to buy an
AN adapter, which connected up fine to my JIC hoses.

AN fittings are also 37 degree flare, and can be interchanged with JIC in most industrial applications. However, true AN fittings are made from aluminum and may also be approved for aviation applications. Standard JIC fittings (usually steel or stainless steel) are not approved for aviation.

Just sharing this, because I wasn't sure if your comment was referring to JIC or to the other flare being discussed. Some readers might be new here, and be confused by some of the conflicting information in this thread.

JIC = 37 flare (usually steel, but can sometimes be purchased in brass or stainless steel). Common in most fluid power applications, including farm tractors, forklifts, bucket lifts, car carriers, etc. Male thread on the fitting, female thread on the tube nut or hose end (usually swivels).

AN = 37 flare (aluminum). Common in some automotive applications, usually high performance motorsports, and also aviation. Same thread size and configuration as JIC above, but AN fittings are manufactured to stricter tolerances, which is why they are approved for aviation.

As someone else pointed out, we do not sell AN fittings at DiscountHydraulicHose.com.

 

[dfkrug]

AN = 37 flare (aluminum). Common in some automotive applications, usually high performance motorsports, and
also aviation. Same thread size and configuration as JIC above, but AN fittings are manufactured to stricter
tolerances, which is why they are approved for aviation.

So AN fittings are always aluminum? I was disappointed to see the last one I bought was Al, tho the
pressures involved are 1500 psi or less.

I would like to see more adapters available from the more common power steering pump threads (metric) to
JIC-male.

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

So AN fittings are always aluminum? I was disappointed to see the last one I bought was Al, tho the
pressures involved are 1500 psi or less.

I would like to see more adapters available from the more common power steering pump threads (metric) to
JIC-male.

AN fittings don't have to be aluminum, but most of the time, they are. Check with your supplier if you need another material. Thing is, unless you are working on an aircraft or a piece of military hardware, you probably don't need AN fittings. JIC is specified in most agricultural and industrial applications, and JIC fittings are almost always steel.

To answer your other issue, DiscountHydraulicHose.com carries a number of JIC to metric thread adapters, which you can find here. Metric Steel Hydraulic Fittings

 

[kjonfc]

so besides the dealer, where do you usually pickup steel hydraulic lines? I want to run a pair of hard lines from around the FEL control to the front, then put some quick connectors so I can remove the grapple if I want/need to. I'll run hose from my rear remote to the hard lines on the FEL. It would be easier to just run hose all the way up, but that isn't as clean and could potentially get in the way. So any advice on where to procure some steel hydraulic lines would be greatl appreciated.

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

If you can find a good hydraulic repair service in your area, they should have the hydraulic tubing needed to make up some steel lines. If you have the right tools, you can bend and flare it yourself. If not, they can probably do it for you.