Hi all,
I need to repair some bubble flares on a rust bucket. This is my first time, so I bought a kit on scamazon and went to work on some spare 3/16" (4.75mm) copper nickel line.
For the life of me, I cannot get a straight flare. The two or so times I got a decent bubble, the center bore looks like it was ripped. To me, it seems like the die is making contact with the line at an angle leading to the crooked flares and "ripped" center bore.
What I have done so far:
Tried the inverted flare die to rule out a poorly machined bubble die, adjusted the depth of how much line was protruding through the flaring bar, used a pair of pliers to crank down the flaring bar wing nuts clamping the line, used wd-40, used a separate tubing cutter than the one that came with the kit, and tried a reamer that wasn't included in the kit, & even a drill bit to remove burrs.
That being said, let me know if you think I'm doing something wrong or I have to exchange this flaring kit for another. This is the kit for reference: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P3TYZNP
I had good luck with this stile.
https://a.co/d/8qLittA
I told myself I should have about 40 years left to build brake lines, and I want the confidence of knowing they are done well. So I bought this. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kti-70081
It is easy to use, and I have never not had one come out perfect. I also have to do bubble flares, and with the old tool I had problems.
Racebrick said:
I told myself I should have about 40 years left to build brake lines, and I want the confidence of knowing they are done well. So I bought this. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kti-70081
It is easy to use, and I have never not had one come out perfect. I also have to do bubble flares, and with the old tool I had problems.
I was looking into that style, but can you reasonably flare lines still on a car?
TJL (Forum Supporter) said:
I had good luck with this stile.
Brake tool
Do they make one that does bubble flares? The link doesn't seem to be working on my phone but if it's ares model 18025, it doesn't look like there is a die for bubble flares.
gsettle
New Reader
9/21/23 12:32 p.m.
Looks like you still need to do the last step of tightening the cone piece down into it??
When you attach your new lines, tighten and loosen the fitting a few times rotating in between if possible. I've had good luck fixing weepers with that method.
BoscoRamos said:
Racebrick said:
I told myself I should have about 40 years left to build brake lines, and I want the confidence of knowing they are done well. So I bought this. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kti-70081
It is easy to use, and I have never not had one come out perfect. I also have to do bubble flares, and with the old tool I had problems.
I was looking into that style, but can you reasonably flare lines still on a car?
I haven't tried yet, but I am in the process of a brake project myself, and may find out. However at the cost of about $2 per foot for new line, I may just build a new one entirely.
gsettle said:
Looks like you still need to do the last step of tightening the cone piece down into it??
When you attach your new lines, tighten and loosen the fitting a few times rotating in between if possible. I've had good luck fixing weepers with that method.
Are you talking about inverted double flares? I don't think bubble flares have a two-step process unless I'm wrong.
I was out messing with my brake flare tool, and I can say it would be pretty difficult to use on a line installed in a car. Maybe possible in the right scenario, but not likely. Also creating the bubble flare should be one step, the inverted flare is a two step, which is what i believe is the reason for it being referred to as a "double" flare.
Also it is kind of hard to tell, but your flares seem to lack the 90 degree shoulder that should be present on a bubble flare, so I wonder if the die you have is correct? here is a picture for reference. inverted on the left, bubble on the right.
I have this one. Works on the car or on the bench. Never a bad flare yet. It also does fuel injection lines and quick connect fittings and other trickery. I figured to get one that would meet any scenario a car guy would ever run into. Probably a little overkill for casual jobs though.
https://www.amazon.com/MASTERCOOL-72475-PRC-Universal-Hydraulic-Flaring/dp/B01NCYKQSN
I got frustrated after years of multiple cheap tools and barely getting useable results. Come to find out it was the poor quality tools at fault and not the operator.
In reply to Racebrick :
You're right. I've already started the exchange, but I'll double check the dies tomorrow. Now I'm starting to get paranoid I used the wrong flaring bar.
I double checked, my paranoia got the best of me. I was using the correct die and flaring bar
In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :
I have this same Mastercool Hydraulic flare tool. Definitely recommend it. To OP, besides getting this tool, get tools to ream or bevel the inside and outside corners of the tube walls where it is cut, as any imperfection there will become lopsided upon expansion.
