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New problem: How do I make this flare?

FastKat

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Jan 4, 2010
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How/where can I make this flare? NAPA thought that they had them when I talked to them on the phone, but they don't. Is this something that a Mastercool flaring set would make, or do they only make the similar fuel line flare which is flat on both ends?

Is this flare used anywhere other than the automotive industry - like maybe in HVAC, etc?

Thanks, -Dave
 

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FastKat

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Ah, sorry, I forgot to give you guys the background info. Yea - it's a quick-connect fitting for a trans cooler line... GM has used them for the past 20 years or so. They are often found on the radiator trans coolers and on the transmission cases. The ones shown above (and all the ones I've encountered) are in 3/8" OD tube. I need to make a couple lengths of tube with this flare on one side.

This goes into the side of my transmission case. The female quick-disconnect end is screwed into the case.
 
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FastKat

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I just pulled up the Mastercool 71400 kit, and it looks like it does the GM "push to connect" fuel line flares, which have a wider flare set farther back from the end of the tube. Unfortunately, they won't work... I tried!

Mastercool 71400 is the kit you want, I believe.
 

Dewaynep

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If you find something, let us know. I've been looking for a while also. I have the mastercool set and it won't do it. The ones I've seen look like maybe it is swaged on the the end of the tube and not physically flared?
 
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FastKat

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Not sure about the whole swaged thing.... truth is, I don't really know where swagging ends and flaring begins.

I spoke with a tubing company up in the Buffalo area today that makes OEM lines. I sent them a writeup and picture of what I was looking for, and I am waiting to hear back. I am pretty sure they do small orders, so I guess I'll see what they have to say and what they want to charge me in the next day or so. I'll keep you posted! The company's name is Classic Tube.
 

Dewaynep

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Nope, the mastercool sets won't do it. I have one and there is no die that will do that. The end isn't uniform on both sides, the side towards the open end is angled and the side opposite it is flat to allow the lock-ring to keep the fitting from pulling out. Also, the push-connect retaining flair is much further from the end of the tube than this is. I just looked again at my set and that fitting yesterday. There is nothing in the mastercool kit that will make that fitting, I tried.
 

JamieK

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What about something like this...

FIT416.jpg


And then just run rubber tubing to the cooler.
 
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FastKat

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It's not exactly a bubble flare. It needs to have a small section of straight tube that sticks into the female fitting, which seats in an o-ring.

take a look at the MAC FT501
it says it does a bubble flair
is that what you are needing?

bob
 
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FastKat

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I could do that... for the front only. The late 4L80E case has a special fitting on the rear. There is a piece of tube attached to the back of the fitting that goes into the case another inch or so to properly lubricate the parts inside. If your fitting doesn't have that extra inch of tube on it, you won't properly lube the trans, and it will die a quick death.

There is a set of AN trans case fittings (37 degree) for sale on eBay which would be a last resort. It would be really hard (almost impossible) to install that flared tube and properly torque down the tube nut with the trans in the vehicle. It's so tight in there, I would need another set of elbows about 4 inches from my wrist to get it done. I would rather stick with the quick disconnect ends if I could... it would be so much easier.

Today, I ordered two 18" pieces of 3/8" tube with this special flare on each end from Classic Tube in Buffalo, NY. They make a lot of OEM replacement stuff, so I guess they had the tooling. I sent them a picture and gave them a lot of detailed information. I hope they put on the correct flares!

If that is the ****** end of the line just unscrew the fitting and swap in some regular flare adapters. Keith
 

rodm1

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It looks like It would be possible to mode a Mastercool die to make it work. Do you know what angle the taper is on?
 

djb2

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Isn't this just a standard 'tube o-ring' fitting? It's typically used on older A/C systems, but it's not uncommon to see it used on oil systems as well. You just need to use the correct o-rings for oil: the ones from BMW are silver to avoid confusing with A/C and other o-rings.
 
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FastKat

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I don't think so... I think I have one of those standard 0-ring tube fittings on my power steering pump. The o-ring sits on the tube, and then goes into the female fitting. On the trans oil fitting, the o-ring is part of the female fitting, just like the GM quick-connect (aka push-to-connect) fuel line fittings.

Isn't this just a standard 'tube o-ring' fitting? It's typically used on older A/C systems, but it's not uncommon to see it used on oil systems as well. You just need to use the correct o-rings for oil: the ones from BMW are silver to avoid confusing with A/C and other o-rings.
 

Busted Bolts

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purchase the s.u.r&r kit. It has the metal ends and the rest is poly line. Real easy to make ive done tons of them and its chap too. These guys make kits for brake, fuel and trans lines. I saved $350 for fuel lines on a 92 suburban due to this $100 kit
 

Spam16v

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you can buy a chunk of line with a pre-made end that will do what you want, then make a joint further down stream and continue on, flare it AN, double flare or whatever strikes your fancy. you won't be able to duplicate that flare, we've tried.
 

jhelrey

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Just use the line and then cut off the bad part and put on rubber line.
 

Chris83

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Jan 18, 2010
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Langley, BC
How/where can I make this flare? NAPA thought that they had them when I talked to them on the phone, but they don't. Is this something that a Mastercool flaring set would make, or do they only make the similar fuel line flare which is flat on both ends?

Is this flare used anywhere other than the automotive industry - like maybe in HVAC, etc?

Thanks, -Dave

Would the flat on both sides not work? can't remember what the female end looks like on the inside but i think the angle portion is just so it can push in with out having to remove the clip? I may be wrong.
 

Busted Bolts

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Fast Kat, try the S.U.R.&R kit. They already have the ends for what you need and then they have approved plastic line that is clamped on to it. I use mine all the time and works great, not to mention it doesnt rot, good luck
 
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FastKat

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Thanks for the feedback guys. I wound up taking a couple of the tube ends off of a late model Avenger and bending them to suit my needs.
 

Garys Garage

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il
purchase the s.u.r&r kit. It has the metal ends and the rest is poly line. Real easy to make ive done tons of them and its chap too. These guys make kits for brake, fuel and trans lines. I saved $350 for fuel lines on a 92 suburban due to this $100 kit

What is this kit?

We spent a couple hours fixing a GM trans line to find out we could have bought it from the dealer for about 40 dollars.
 

Busted Bolts

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The kit I was refering to was their fuel line kit. They now have a brake line kit, and transmission kit. Also they have adapter kits and brake bleeder assemblies w/extractor. There have been only a few lines that I have run across that are cheap from the dealer. MOST are way over priced. This is especially true when you have lines that start as steel, transition to crimped rubber hose, and back to steel. You can make any configuration and lenght you want. This is especially nice when you may be upgrading newer components on an older vehicle. No rot, and plenty of variations of fittings and adapters. Well worth the investment.
 
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