Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

I've got a Blue Point hand held brake pipe flaring tool and I was going to change the rear brake pipes on my Mondeo for it's MOT with a spare roll of Kunifer I have.

It won't touch it! it refuses to grip the pipe at all, it keeps slipping out, even in a vice....

I bought the tool off my Snap on man last year to use on my Cossy restoration but now I'm not so confident

Am I doing something wrong or do I need a better tool?

I've also got a 10 metre roll of genuine Ford Steel Green pipe to do

stevieturbo

Ive one I bought from Frost and it works ok.

But you can buy the hydraulic Sykes flaring tools for a little over £100 now. And they are the job.

It will do first class flares on copper, steel, whatever.

http://www.uktools.com/flaremaster2-...l-p-11497.html

http://www.toolsdirect2you.co.uk/pro...on=1&P_ID=9735

I have this one. It works, but is only OK at best. It will do Kunifer ok. Not a chance in hell of it working on steel though. And the jaws do damage where it grips the pipe

http://www.premiertools.co.uk/produc...g_Tool_Kit.htm

Or a cheaper ( than sykes ) mechanical tool. Similar design, so should work ok and due to jaw design, shouldnt damage the pipe

http://www.premiertools.co.uk/produc...aring_Tool.htm


Sykes is the daddy though.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

http://www.premiertools.co.uk/produc...aring_Tool.htm


^^^^^ That's the one I have but Blue Point

I've tried to read up on the Sykes one at the top, but I can't find any confirmation it will do Kunifer or Steel, it's a lot of money to take a gamble on?

stevieturbo

Are you sure the dies you are using are the right size ? Are you clamping the pipe tightly ?

In what way will it not work ? Even my crappy one will do kunifer, although it isnt a great job.

Ive used the Sykes, it works. The clamp design is basically the same as the old vice unit. Except the portable one...is portable lol

tabetha

Don't know if this is any help, but it was either Car Mechanics, or PPC that in the last few months did a test on brake pipe flaring tools, I'll see if I can dig it out and post up.
I just dug the mags out, had a lot about Escort and Fiesta for some reason!!, but it was not flarers it was benders in PPC, and wind back tools in CM, sorry.
tabetha

tabetha

I borrow me mates all singing all dancing kit, this is a Sykes kit doing all the diff size flares, it's clamped in a vice, but was about £300 I think years back, but defo does kunifer as that's what I use.
tabetha

stevieturbo

A google just seen that mentioned too

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/view...&page=1#bottom

But there is no question. Sykes is THE brake flaring tool.

I see it on egay for as little as £101 + £5 postage. Although looking at pictures, seems as if the cheaper kits have a tool missing from them ?

TBH, it is a bargain. Sykes flaring tools used to be a few hundred quid years ago.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

It's not clamping the pipe tightly enough, once you put pressure on with the die it simply pushes the pipe out of the clamp

I've placed it in a vice and clamped it up as tight as it will go even using an adjustable on the handle itself to tighten it up more than hand.

I'm wondering if I should shave a bit off the mating faces on the clamp to bring them closer together?

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

thanks anyway

stevieturbo

Shaving the mating surfaces should work. Although it's a guessing game how much.

Are the pipe and tool surfaces clean from oil etc ?

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

Yeah all brand new unused stuff.

I'll have another look at it tomorrow after dinner