a better way of sweating on plastic diesel lines?

[Dez]

I'm about ready to make up the fuel lines for the pickup (once ive had a delivery or two), and ive decided to use OE style hard black nylon fuel line fitted to proper bolt-on unions, rather than copper lines, rubber and hose clips, as its less likely to leak, neater and easier to connect/disconnect to work on.

in the past whenever ive needed to swap the ends on these it involves warming the ends in boiling water to soften it to push onto the union, but that means the workshop brew tastes of diesel for a week afterwards

so is there a easier way of doing this ive totally fialed to see, or do I need to buy a cheapo kettle just to do it?!

[RobinJI]

Sorry, probably not quite what you're looking for but could you just float a small half full container in the kettle? Might take a little longer but the water in the container should heat up sooner or later, and should keep the taste out of the rest of the kettle. Or just heat up a metal container of water with a stove/hob/blow torch ect..? Or even more simply, once the kettles boiled tip the hot water into something you don't plan to drink out of?

I've not used the stuff my self, so can't comment on easier ways of doing it, but I've found that for other fittings on small plastic hoses (Magura rim brakes on trial bikes), a notched block that lets you hold the hose tight in a vice without collapsing it usually lets you tap the fittings on with it cold still.

[Dez]

yeah, true the obvious solution is not to use the kettle, I was in a rush last time (changing duff pich fittings on a transit) and didnt think about the repercussions.....
I probably will just boil it in a pan or something, I cam chuck the end in then so they're hot too to keep it soft till ive got it all the way on.

the principle is exactly the same as magura lines, and I already planned to make up a pipe clamp like we used to use at the bike shop when I worked there for doing those, its just these are a lot bigger/stiffer (8mm ID/10mm OD) so do require quite a lot of force to get em on even when hot, so theres no way theyll go on cold without damage.

[welshpug]

there is a tool that just clamps the pipe and you push the fitting in, looks much like a vice grip but with different jaws.

I have used another fitters one on truck and bus airlines, 10 12 and 15mm plastic pipe.

[Dez]

ive had a look around and the closest i can find is a mega flash looking thing for about 300 dollars. ive not found a cheaper option, but i did find this thread-

forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/184617-pressing-nylon-fuel-lines-onto-barb-fittings.html

it seems its a common problem, and everyones come up with the same ways of doing it as i have, so I'm just going to do what the guy at the bottom did and make up a wooden clamping block to hold the pipe and them proceed that way. ive only got 6 to do so hopefully it cant be that much grief to do em this way!

[rtlkyuubi]

Voss do a proper tool, got one at work but no idea what its called. will take a picture tomorrow, you would probably be able to make one.

But another good tool to use especially in tight spaces is this:

www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht172-automotive-pipe-flaring-kit?da=1&TC=SRC-pipe%20clamp

just use the clamp part and then using a hammer, tap the banjo union in.

[bortaf]

I used to use an old camping stove and a pan (same one i use to heat waxoil) but TBH i just run the whole lot in rubber now with h/D jubalee clamps on the origional banjo fittings, you do need to change all the pipe clips to larger ones though
I did use the kettle as well once, never again blerrr taisted foul (mind you my tea taist bad anyway) lol

[MrSpeedy]

Hot air gun ??

Personally, I'd rather use copper lines and braided flex with flared fittings but that's not what you're after!