Original Posted By: Clif Dawson
Howdy, low 'n' slow fliers;It's been so lazy and quiet here lately that I thought I'd throw out a little item for discussion. I've been reworking the brakes on 41CC so I'm attentive to details on brakes just now. Corky ran the brake lines in soft aluminum but they got considerable damage and I've decided to replace them with nylaflow tubing. I don't care much for flare fittings.Anyway, I've taken great pains to route the lines snug to the gear legs, well secured, and around the back of the brakes, always keeping in mind operation off of grass. To me, that's half the enjoyment of these airplanes- flying off of grass, dirt, and sod. And I've operated out of some REAL grass... where it gets in your tailwheel, up in the gear, and isn't this low-to-the-ground stuff. So my concern has been to keep the brake lines in a position where twigs or grass won't snag the lines or tear at them.Walking the flightline at the SWRFI event last weekend, I was dismayed to see how many aircraft have the brake lines out in the breeze, willy-nilly. Even the RVs and others with the one-piece spring gear that is gun-drilled for the lines, when they get down to the brakes they have an open loop of flex hose or nylaflow tubing, just hanging out there inches from the ground, exposed where any passing clump of grass or twig can rip at it. Most horrifying were some of the ultralights and light planes, one or two of which had nylaflow tubing with absolutely nothing holding them to the gear legs or anything else between the exit from the fuselage and the brake mechanism... just a couple of feet of loose tubing out in the breeze. I couldn't believe that any inspector would pass such an installation, grass operations or not. Oh, and even some of the certified aircraft have loops of flex brake hose out there in the breeze, away from any protection and some of them out ahead of the wheel where even the brake doesn't protect the line.Maybe I'm being overly cautious here. Anybody have any comments on brake line routing?Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 19:33:47 -0700
Pietenpol-List: brake lines
Re: Pietenpol-List: brake lines
Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Oscar,Just do it the way *You* think best. Thats all you can do.Regards,Dave...Down in florida----- Original Message -----
Oscar,Just do it the way *You* think best. Thats all you can do.Regards,Dave...Down in florida----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: brake lines
Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Oscar,Most all Varieze, Cozy and Longeze lines are 'willy-nilly" hanging out in the breeze. Seems to be no problem for about 25 yrs. Couple tips though......be sure to follow the instructions on these nyloflow lines, ie. the little tiny insert is very much needed to insure the line doesn't collapes when the crimping sleeve is nutted down tight. Without these inserts the lines leak. Secondly, use only the thick red brake fluid approved for storebought spamcans. Or use the newer synthethic silicone based stuff. Don't use the automotive stuff, it boils off and adsorbs H2O will cause problems with seals in your calipers.Gordon Bowen----- Original Message -----
Oscar,Most all Varieze, Cozy and Longeze lines are 'willy-nilly" hanging out in the breeze. Seems to be no problem for about 25 yrs. Couple tips though......be sure to follow the instructions on these nyloflow lines, ie. the little tiny insert is very much needed to insure the line doesn't collapes when the crimping sleeve is nutted down tight. Without these inserts the lines leak. Secondly, use only the thick red brake fluid approved for storebought spamcans. Or use the newer synthethic silicone based stuff. Don't use the automotive stuff, it boils off and adsorbs H2O will cause problems with seals in your calipers.Gordon Bowen----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: brake lines
Original Posted By: Wizzard187(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: brake linesPiet listers:Not sure if I'm preaching to the choir or not, but Vans (Vans Aircraft -- the RV people) sells a very good brand of nylon tubing called Parflex N whichis 1/4 in .062 wall rated for 500 psi working pressure. That's not all that high for brakes. They also have the fittings and inserts for that tubing. Ialso used the .062 wall tubing for the pitot and static lines because it resists kinking. What I'm saying is don't use the thin wall stuff that you buyfor ice makers, etc.Dan HopperRV-7A flyingPietenpol plans, but not started________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: brake linesPiet listers:Not sure if I'm preaching to the choir or not, but Vans (Vans Aircraft -- the RV people) sells a very good brand of nylon tubing called Parflex N whichis 1/4 in .062 wall rated for 500 psi working pressure. That's not all that high for brakes. They also have the fittings and inserts for that tubing. Ialso used the .062 wall tubing for the pitot and static lines because it resists kinking. What I'm saying is don't use the thin wall stuff that you buyfor ice makers, etc.Dan HopperRV-7A flyingPietenpol plans, but not started________________________________________________________________________________