my first experience with braided line, are there any tricks to getting these hose ends on or cutting the hose? is it like a steel line compression fitting? might seem like a dumb question but i want to be sure before i spend all day putting on hose ends the wrong way.

 

Since your just starting, recommend you get a Earl's
or Russels catalog.

Usually have all the tips n tricks to assembly

Thier sites probably have this also.

Electrical tape and high speed cutoff wheel are main tips for doing it like a pro.
Cutting// Hacksaw, last resort!!



Later

 

Thats about all you can do, besides swear and get pissed off... definately frustrating

 

Only if you don't know the hose clamp trick.

 

That will work

Later

 

care to explain the hose clamp trick?

 

Put a hose clamp on the end of the hose so that only about 1/16" of the braid is sticking out. Tighten it slightly to squeeze the braid just enough to start the socket over the braid more easily. Remove the clamp and push the socket all the way on.

 

Some of the AN fittings red end, or the one that goes on the hose, have a thread in them, its left handed and they actually screw onto the hose.

As for cutting it, they sell cutters for the line, or you can use a hacksaw, but if you use a saw of somekind you have to take some extra time and do a very good job cleaning the inside of the hose out so you dont get any metal bits in the fluids.

when you make a cut, wrap some tape over the area that you are cutting and cut on the tape, it will help keep the ends from fraying.

 

The clamp trick is slick sh*t...never tried it but 100% would work. I use electrical tape and a dremel. Takes about 30-45 seconds per end cut. Like 86 said, the red end fittings typically reverse thread onto the ends. Also buy the "lube"....kinda smells orangie but helps in putting the fittings and hose ends together.

 

What I like about using tape is after cutting, you now
have two ends ready to go when cutting more than you need.

Later

 

How so? The tape has to come off before assembly anyway.

 

I am currently developing a simple hand held tool that can assemble horribly frayed braided line in a matter of seconds. This tool is the only tool you will need for assembling braided line. Here are some photos showing the worst -6 line you may have ever seen. Most people would never dream of trying to fit this into a fitting, but with this tool it can be done in a matter of seconds. I assure you there is no trick photography going on here. Like I said the tool is still being developed and refined, but I intend to bring it to market as soon as possible. This tool works better then the competitors tapered clam shell style and with ours there is no need to use a vise, lines can be assembled right in the palm of your hand.

 

When you make your cut the other end of the, or
excess piece already has clean cut.

When I get hose I usually get enough to do more
than just one job.

Later

 

thanks for the advice guys. i used a simple pair of bolt cutters first then tried the dremel, a little slower, but cleaner. anyone have advice on brake lines? i want to replace the front brake lines with braided line, but from what i can gather, it will fail faster and make the pedal more spongy? i would think it would work better...

 

You can't use regular hose for brake lines, it's not compatible with brake fluid. You'd need teflon-lined hose and appropriate fittings. It'll much cheaper to buy pre-made braided brake hoses than to make your own.

 

i already bought 20 feet of teflon lined hose for the brakes a couple weeks ago. its all good i like putting things together myself anyways. i just want to make sure its safe or if it needs to be changed out every 10k miles or only X feet of it, etc etc. plus i have to figure out the fitting sizes on the proportioning valve.

 

you do not want to run the entire brake line in flex hose, just the short lengths at the wheels, if you do, the pedal will be very spongy.

 

Is there any real benefit to running braided besides protection and appearance?

I mean yeah, it's stainless, but underneath it's just a rubber hose, right? Is it really going to last longer than a standard hose, barring the regular hose doesn't get nicked or something?

Mathius

 

Protection, appearance and convenience of servicing is it. Braided hose needs to be replaced just as often as conventional hose made out of the same material.