Fuel Line Bender

[Wes Ragle]

Guys,

I'm working on the fuel system and need a *good* tube bender. So, could someone point me in the direction of a good tube bender for 3/8" line?

Thanks,

Wes

P.S. My computer asks me odd questions after I post. So, as I fumble around trying to get the hang of this please excuse me if I post twice.

[Gavin Chester]

Have a look at the Ridgid 400 series

[jaredyates]

I used one like this one. I don't know whether or not it would qualify as good, but it worked fine on the aluminum tubing. Even the 5052 was so soft that it didn't take a very beefy bender, though I did notice that the 5052 would work-harden and only bend easily in one direction. For example, if I made a 90-degree bend and actually wanted an 87-degree bend, if I tried to widen it a little I'd get a 90-degree bend followed immediately by a 3-degree bend in the other direction. Further bending in the same direction multiple times was not too much of a problem. This was also less of a problem with the 1/4" 5052.

[Zzz]

I went with this one and it has working brilliantly, making some very nice (i.e. full cross sectional area) 90 degree bends in 5052. It has actual rollers instead of just smearing down the tubing surface. The down side is that it's more expensive and only does one size per tool.

After many scrapped pieces trying to precisely route my fuel line, I developed a method for rough bending with the tool, then hand bending for precise fit.

[Wes Ragle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check them out and order one. I do like the idea of a roller. The crummy one I have galls the tubing every time.

Wes

[Battson]

With the pipe bender and flaring tools, I found smaller was always better - you want to be able to squeeze them into small spaces at times - particularly at the end of the build and during maintenance.

[Matt K.]

I like the spring bender for small freehand stuff. For 90 deg+ bends: http://www.dualrudder.com/rv7/tube-bending/

[Wes Ragle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check them out and order one. I do like the idea of a roller. The crummy one I have galls the tubing every time.

Wes

P.S Every time I post I get asked whether I want to open or save an xxx.json file. Then I get the "working" message at the top of the page. The message never goes away until I leave the page. Sometime the post sticks sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what that is all about.

[DRLPatrol]

P.S Every time I post I get asked whether I want to open or save an xxx.json file. Then I get the "working" message at the top of the page. The message never goes away until I leave the page. Sometime the post sticks sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what that is all about.

I do too, with IE. If I use Chome it works a lot better.

Doug

[Wes Ragle]

Thanks Doug.

Your right. Chrome does work a lot better.

Wes