anyone ever have any luck in gettting a double flair on the end of a steel brake line. i use my tool as directed but they never seem to get that nice bubble end like the factory ends.
It all depends on the quality of the tool that you are using and the type of brake pipe. We use a Hazet tool that cost $400 back in the early '80s, I don't know if it is still available. With good brake pipe, it makes a perfect double flair every time. The dies used by some of the cheaper flaring tools are crap, and I have had some bad batches of brake pipe, where it tends to split when you flare it. Practice with different pipe and/or get a different flaring tool
Ihave found that a litle experimentation on how much tubing to extend out the end of the tube clamp and a little bit of CV moly grease on the die helps. I also reuse the threaded ferrel because the new ones are poorly made. Good luck! Jeff Pintler 89 348tb, 86tr, 99 360 3-pedal
The tool I have is crap too. Save yourself a lot of grief and cut your lines, bend them up, then take them to your local brake shop to get them flared. You could also try to find a good tool that is 30+ years old. They worked great!
The critical thing here is the depth you set with the line. @nd is alignment...if the line is cocked or not set in the tool centered and straight, it will be a defective flair. The depth is usually set by the die. Use a nice clean cut and deburr it,,in and out. Set the depth and don't force against line so as to cock it as you flare. Be patient, good flares are easy (don't forget to put the nut on first) done a few of those. Slow down and watch alignment, check depth and the Snap-on set I use does it for you if your patient and pay attention. Get some scrap tube and play with it til you get it down pat.
If you want perfect flares every time with minimal hassle get yourself a Sykes Pickavant lever action brake flaring tool kit with the dies you need. The dies come in both metric and SAE. They're expensive but there are several manufacturers who make copies. Amazon has one but best bet is eBay UK I believe Sykes Pickavant is no longer in business but I'm not sure. Those flaring kits with a yoke and a 2 bar clamp are crap. On edit: Looks like they are still in business, here is the catalogue page. you want the "270 series" http://www.sykes-pickavant.com/Portals/0/PDFs/Braking/Braking%20-%20Brake%20Pipe%20Flaring%20Tools.pdf and the their home page: http://sykes-pickavant.com/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
