trans cooler line

[SRehberg]

I know you can buy a replacement line from various sources to replace the factory quick connect, but has anyone cut the return line at the trans, flared it, then used a hydraulic line for the short distance to the trans? Seems like a shame to trash the whole line when a simple flare fitting/hose could fix it. I have replaced the front pressure line with the factory replacement, but hate looking at the seeping quick connect. I know it's a matter of time until it says it's out of there, causing catastophic damage! Thanks in advance.

 

[illflem]

Some folks have replaced their entire in and out cooler lines with hydraulic hose. Cheaper and more heavy duty. If the dealer hadn't accidentally replaced my lines under recall (they thought it was a gasser) that's what I would do.

 

[dcash]

illflem,

they thought it was a gasser?

goes to show how smart these dealers can be.



hey, thats one rough running gasser! lol



du$ty

 

[Blakers]

If the dealer hadn't accidentally replaced my lines under recall (they thought it was a gasser)

Wow! Good thing they didn't do you a favor and take it down the road and fill it up with gasoline:{



Blake

 

[SRehberg]

Thanks for the replies; I can appreciate the comments about the dealers, as I will not go to them unless absolutely necessary. The truck usually comes back worse than when it went in; not the same problem either, usually something else has been screwed up! I shouldn't lump them all together, but our local one has run off more business than they keep.

 

[JWRowe]

trans cooling lines

SRehberg,

I have done just what you are inquiring about regarding the flaring of transmission cooling lines. I started with brand new straight steel tubing and bent them to duplicate factory shaped lines. I left each end a little short then flared the end. I used the first step of making a double flare and did NOT go to the second step to invert the flare. The end looked similar to a flare on some European brake lines I have seen in the past.

I replaced all the factory fittings with barbed hydraulic line fittings and used hydraulic hose to connect the lines and fittings. All connections were then fitted with a hose clamp. It was suggested to me later that using a barbed fitting of the correct size but not "hydraulic" barbed fitting would have made it much easier to get the hydraulic line on. They are a bear. To date this has worked very well and I have not had any leaks or weeping.



Good luck,

John

 

[SRehberg]

I appreciate the input, as it is always a little scary going it alone the first time. But this forum is great, it always gives me the confidence to forge ahead. I just hate to buy anything from the stealer; if they were reasonably priced, then maybe more people would buy from them.



From your post it indicates you started with new tubing, so you didn't try to use the old; was there a reason or just wanted to make the new one before you removed the old? I'm willing to experiment with the old, as it isn't going to be any good anyway, but haven't yet. Those plastic quick connects are a joke.

 

[JWRowe]

cooler lines

SRehberg,

Part of the reason was the new steel lines were very inexpensive and the shop where I purchased them allowed me to use their very high quality tubing bender. That part is important as these are good size pieces of tubing. They must be clamped very tight prior to making a bend. This shop also had the fittings. Both kinds. As I mentioned prior, I think I would use the regular barbed fittings for easier insertion into the hydraulic hose. (That last line leave a big barn door open. )

Total cost of the steel lines, fittings, hose and clamps was under $50 plus my time to bend the tubing and install everything. I did have the transmission out when I did all this but I do not think it is any problem regardless. Everything is pretty easy to get at. I have kept all the parts taken off just in case.

The shop I got my material from was a supplier of sawmill equipments and supplies. They also did hydraulic hose work for the construction business in the area. This is about all I can think of at this point. Any questions and maybe it will jog something else.



Regards, John