Best practise when fitting hydraulic tubing and hydraulic hoses
Installing a hydraulic hose is more than simply tightening the metal connections. Our list of DOs and DON’Ts when fitting hydraulic tubing will help you maximise safety and service life.
DO
Use light cuts to prevent deformation of the tube end.
DON’T
Take heavy cuts on thin wall tubing with a tubing cutter. If the tube end is out or round, a greater possibility of a poor connection exists.
DO
Ream tubing for removal of burrs only.
DON’T
Over ream tubing as it can weaken the connection.
DON’T
Allow chips to accumulate in the tubing – they can be difficult to remove after bending.
DO
Follow the manufacturers recommendations on the use of flaring tools.
DON’T
Over-tighten the feed screw handle on a compression type flaring tool. Improper use of a tool can cause washout and/or splitting of the flare connection.
DO
Bend tubing instead of cutting and using a fitting. This reduces pressure drop and minimises system losses. The minimum radius of a tubing bend should be at least three times the inside diameter of the tube. Larger bends are preferred.
DO
Sketch the optimum tubing route before beginning the bending process. Be sure to use tubing with the proper temper to prevent wrinkles and flattened bends.
For best results, heavy wall tubing should be cut, deburred, and flared and bent using power equipment. Most flares are made by hand or power tools that swage the tube end over a split die. The standard flare angle is 37 degrees from the centre-line.
