3.5mm Flare Tool

Buchan Loon · Post by **Buchan Loon** » 11 Sep 2011, 08:30

Does anyone have a 3.5mm flare tool they'd be willing to lend/hire out?

Wife's car has a couple of burst pipes that run the length of the car. Was going to buy ready-made pipes but it would be much easier just to replace the corroded sections which means flaring pipes on the car.

Plaedies don't sell the tools any more. There's one on ebay but I'm not the only person after it!

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Sep 2011, 08:37

They're like rocking horse poo...

The problem is that they are a precision item and very expensive to have made in small numbers...

Best might be to visit Pleiades and have him make the pipes up for you...

Buchan Loon · Post by **Buchan Loon** » 11 Sep 2011, 08:48

Only slight issue being I'm 475 miles away in NE Scotland!..............

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Sep 2011, 08:54

Buchan Loon wrote:Only slight issue being I'm 475 miles away in NE Scotland!..............

Ahh

he does a postal service.

Tell him the lengths you need and he'll pop them in the post. Watch the postman arrive with a very long, thin parcel

Buchan Loon · Post by **Buchan Loon** » 11 Sep 2011, 09:04

But it would be much, much easier to replace only the corroded sections using a female/female coupler which means being able to flare the existing pipe on the car where I chop it

Anyway, thanks for the replies - I thought you were taking it easy on the boards for a couple of weeks? Can't stay away?

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Sep 2011, 09:06

Buchan Loon wrote:I thought you were taking it easy on the boards for a couple of weeks? Can't stay away?

It's Sunday

I'm only here just catching up before off to Stratford for a couple of hours and then back to attack a pile of email....

Then it's back to the normal grind

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 11 Sep 2011, 10:22

i have not found the hand held citroen 3.5 flairing tool i have likes steel pipes, as it dosent seem to grip them like it does kunifer even after cleanning all the black powder coatting off,

regards malcolm

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 11 Sep 2011, 20:06

Not sure if i have suggested it before but perhaps a flare tool location map would be useful?

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 11 Sep 2011, 21:07

Probably a silly idea, but...

A proper Citroen flare is obviously required where the pipes have to fit other components, but could you use a more common pattern for the straight pipe repair couplings? Perhaps ask an industrial hydraulics specialist for advice?

Buchan Loon · Post by **Buchan Loon** » 12 Sep 2011, 07:20

Dnsey,
Not such a silly idea as I'd considered it myself, but Citroen have opted for an obscure pipe size. Standard fittings appear to come in 1/8" (which is too small at 3.175mm) or 4mm which will probably be too big.

I am probably in a position to do some experimentation, can any one tell me what sort of pressures the hydraulic system can produce?

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 12 Sep 2011, 07:34

Buchan Loon wrote:I am probably in a position to do some experimentation, can any one tell me what sort of pressures the hydraulic system can produce?

IIRC the pressure regulator cuts out at around 170 Bar so you'd need to allow it to take the best part of 200 Bar to allow a safety margin, can copper pipe take such a high pressure?

Post by **xantia_v6** » 12 Sep 2011, 08:43

Buchan Loon wrote:Dnsey,
I am probably in a position to do some experimentation

You should be able to make a sleeve joint with a couple of inches of larger pipe which has an ID to just slip over your 3.5mm pipe. Fill with braizing or silver solder.

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 12 Sep 2011, 08:49

Copper pipe can take the pressure, at least to the steering rack, as i made up some copper pipes for mine.

xmexclusive · Post by **xmexclusive** » 12 Sep 2011, 11:30

I decided not to risk copper pipe for the Citroen high pressure lines as it is not rated high enough. Ideal for replacing complex brittle rubber returns though.

John