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Pete's RV-8 Web Site
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Date: 8-30-2011
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Number of Hours: 3.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Reworked brake lines
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I was not happy with my original brake line routing. The lines came across from the gear boxes a bit too high and blocked part of the bulkhead panel that makes up the back of the forward baggage compartment. I am thinking that the panel may be required for mounting some electrical and/or instrument components (fuse blocks, encoder, dimmer heat sink, coax splitter, etc.).
I didn't want to completely remake the lines because getting the bends correct up through and exiting the gear boxes was not easy the first time. So, my plan was to remove some of the bends and add a couple new curves to drop the lines down and run them across the bottom edge of the panel. The question was, however, could I remove the bends without making a mess of the tubing.
My solution was to make the bending tool shown in the second image from some items laying around the shop. I lubed the rollers and carefully pulled the bent tubing through the rollers applying some pressure and it came out reasonably straight. I then reinstalled the lines, marked, bent, cut, and flared as appropriate. The new routing gives unobstructed access to considerable panel space for possible components and I think the new lines look better than the originals.
By the way, I think the bending tool could be improved by mounting four rollers arranged in a square. The tubing would then be pulled through two sets of rollers possibly reducing the need to apply pressure by hand (maybe).
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Original Brake Tubing
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Tool to Straighten Tubing
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Rerouted & Bent Tubing
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