Need A Tool for This Issue: Pic

[BQuicksilver]

My father is building an experimental plane (Glastar) and has ran his fuel lines close enough that he has nothing to tighten the nylon nuts on these lines. As you can see they're pretty close together.

Anyone know the tool for the job. We were thinking something like a coax style tool or fabricating our own wrench. It doesn't need much torque.

Ideas?

 

[x133]

How do they attach to the bracket?

If you can I would try removing them from the bracket, then hooking up the line, tightening the nylon nut, and then re-attach them to the bracket.

 

[Engineer61]

Maybe re-mount that middle one higher, then move the two a little closer together so you can turn them instead of having them jam against the surrounding surfaces.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Cut a notch up the side of a cheap socket maybe?

 

[shoot summ]

Cut a notch up the side of a cheap socket maybe?

That is what I was thinking, might grind some flats on the socket to use for tightening.

 

[03protege]

What was said above, much like a O2 sensor socket. I would just use a deep socket so you don't have to mangle that line too much.

http://www.jbtoolsales.com/lisle-12100-oxygen-sensor-socket-7-8/

 

[91bronc300]

Come at it from the front with a Knipex pliers wrench?

 

[Cryptic1911]

Cut a notch up the side of a cheap socket maybe?

I had the same thought. Cut a notch in it, grind the socket end thinner, and round off the edges where the slot is so you don't dig into the plastic lines, and grind some flat spots in the ratchet end so you can grab it with a pair of pliers

 

[RedFordTruck]

What they said^

You've got more room on the left side so you would need to maybe cut a section out of the socket to fit on the right side and then grind around the other part so that its thin enough to clear on the left side.

Kinda like a flare wrench design on the socket but you only grip 4 sides of the nut.

 

[Sloasszx3]

Flare nut sockets. If you already have them. If not cut one up like already stated.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

to be honest, I'd re make the bracket or re mount the lines.

but flare nut socket will work like sloasszx3 mentioned.

 

[RECox286]

I would rethink the entire installation if a real person will be the

test pilot. Is this setup what was detailed in the plans ?

If it is, then something looks un-aero-plane-ish to me about the

installation, and there must be a better way to do it.

Uncle Bob

 

[Dan Babb]

I'd really want to think about future servicing of the lines if needed.

If it's this tough to tighten them now while he probably has easier access (because he's in the process of building it), how hard will be to get to if he ever needs to replace a line down the road.

I'd want to solve that potential issue first by making a new bracket for the lines.

 

[xbeatles4x]

What about an o2 sensor socket?


Sent from my iPhone

 

[woody 73]

This might sound somewhat Rube Goldberg, but if you could buy a small piece of nylon tubing and have one end with female threads and make the other end with male treads, then only use it for the middle fuel line just to make the line a little longer then the right and left line I think that would solve all your problems.

To connect the two female lines together you could just use a round male threaded coupler and at the other end the new male part would be for the hex nut; mind you will only need to make the new pipe only a little bit longer not to much just enough to bypass the left and right nuts.

woody

 

[BQuicksilver]

Things can get into tight tolerances when you're trying to avoid getting near pulleys that you DEFINITELY don't want to even touch. Uncle Bob, are you a builder or something?

You guys are aces when it comes to this sort of issue. We thought grinding a socket would be the trick, but thanks for the flare nut socket recs. I'll let you know what he does.

 

[2oolhound]

It doesn't need much torque.

I think a 4-way wrench would get in there on a 45' angle. Even with all the lines in place you should be able to get one notch at a time.

 

[Alcohol]

The pliers will work fine

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I wouldn't use pliers. Go with a modified socket, or a flare nut socket. That way if need be you can torque to spec. Pliers seem a bit brutish especially for an air plane. either that or reroute if you can't safely torque them.

 

[Jeeper]

The craftman dogbone won't work on that.

(sorry to be unhelpful)

 

[mhm993]

OT, but, Wow! I've never seen a flare nut SOCKET before! Want!!!

 

[machine_punk]

I was thinking of making your own t-wrench for it. Get a thin-wall, deep socket. Cut out one segment (on sixth), all the way up the socket. Weld a piece of steel rod on the top of the socket, about a foot long (doesn't have to be centered...won't be turning fast and won't need much torque). Then weld a 'T' handle onto that steel rod. There you have it...a custom t-handle wrench for exactly this situation.

Kev

 

[ChevyEFI]

yep a flare nut socket is going to be thinner wall and more fittable in there than a flex flare nut wrench. good golly those are tight and unserviceable in appearance