Any tips on "making" braided stainless fuel lines??

Black97civic · 08-11-2005

I have the hose ends and the braided stainless line, but I am having a hell of a time getting the line not to fray when I cut it.

I have tried putting tape around it, and that works to a point, and then when I take the tape off it "springs" out and makes it impossible to get the fitting on.

I am using a cut-off wheel as recommended by the directions.

Also, how far does the hose have to go into the hose end fitting to be safe as far as leaks are concerned?

These things are really frustrating.

EclipseGST · 08-11-2005

Dont take the tape off. Put a little gear oil or some sort of grease/lubricant and it helps out a lot. I made all my SS/-AN lines and I used electrical tape and bearing grease. Works wonders!

Black97civic · 08-11-2005

how many times did you wrap the tape around??

EclipseGST · 08-11-2005

Not very much. Just enough to hold the strands together and so it wouldnt be too thick for it to fit.

Black97civic · 08-11-2005

What exactly did you cut it with, because the strands are "overpowering" the tape and it frays out and spreads the tape with it.

This is good 3M black electrical tape too...

Black97civic · 08-11-2005

Can I just install the hose end under the stainless braid and trim it later, so I would only have the rubber hose being clamped??

Seems like it would be a hell of a lot easier and should work just as well.

EclipseGST · 08-11-2005

I cut it with a hack saw, then found it was easier to use a band saw.

As for the strands, seems as if you need to wrap it tighter or more. Should work fine.

Black97civic · 08-11-2005

ok, I guess tomorrow I am going to get the sharpest "finest" hacksaw blade I can

I did the end you can't see (the one by the fuel pump) by stripping the braids back a little and just clamping onto the rubber hose, that seems to work fine structurally, but looks like ass, so it won't do for in the engine bay.

2003eclipse · 08-11-2005

try taping it and then cutting threw the tape.

Pimpin Dsmstyle · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2003eclipse

try taping it and then cutting threw the tape.

I'd second that idea if you werent doing it already. If it cant START to fray, it wont be a problem

EclipseGST · 08-12-2005

Sorry I didn point that out earlier... That is what I was talking about.

**Goat Blower** · 08-12-2005

I don't like using the tape, it seems to gunk up everything once it gets a few drops of oil or gas on it. I just put it in cleaning up the little wire strands with wire cutters and put a touch of oil inside the tube so it slides on the fitting better. Worked good even with some big-ass -12an line.

9guy9 · 08-12-2005

I found tapeing it, and cutting throught the tape with a cut off wheel works well. You can cut all the way around the circumference cutting the metal first then slice through the rubber last. A air powered cut off wheel works best, but a Dremel works too.

Black97civic · 08-12-2005

yeah, I was cutting through the tape.

I worked a 12 hour day today, so no progress, but I will hit up home depot tomorrow or sunday, I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

Black97civic · 08-15-2005

Well, I figured out the secret, if anyone else needs to know.

You can do it no matter how shitty you cut the line as long as you have good electrical tape, and you pull it tight as a damn drum.

I actually ended up cutting one part with tin snips, trimmed a few long strands, and wrapped the tape as tight as I physically could without someone else (or a vise) holding the hose, and that got the braid under control.

Just wrap it aroud twice, as tight as you can, if you cannot clearly see the braid imprinted on the tape on the second time around, it isnt tight enough.

FattyBoomBatty · 08-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue89Quest

and wrapped the tape as tight as I physically could without someone else (or a vise) holding the hose.

that hurts!