Subject: Nylaflow under pressure
From: Paul
Date: 11/9/1999, 6:45 AM
To: zz

X-Mozilla-Keys:                                                                                 
Vance and Emily Jaqua wrote:


Obviously "everyone" has not had trouble with it
a great many aircraft have used it, and similar
products for years in most cases without ever having a problem - it is low cost, light weight
easy to work with, and does not have the
 vibration cracking problems that many metal lines have experienced. However, heat is a
definate problem in the local area next to
the brake under heavy useage, but metal lines
have stifness that can cause problems with the
usual self centering calipers - high cost,
metal braid supported lines are definatly
 superior tho heavier and more difficult to
route. The operating pressures in brake lines
of home built aircraft are rather modest, and
everything is a compromise - Vance


Well as Bill Freeman pointed out a Cessna 150/152 has aluminum lines and
you
never hear of any problems despite the fact there is no loop in the
line to accomadate caliber movement. I have had my Cessna 182 for 25
years
and I have never had any problems at all with the brake lines
let alone cracking where they go into the caliber. Perhaps it has
happened but I have never heard of it. In any event a simple 360 degree
loop just before the line goes into the caliber should add flexibility.
Tying any line (or wire for that matter) down ever three inches is
the usual way to deal with vibration.

Weight is also a non-issue as 1/8 aluminum probably weighs less than
3/16th Nyloflow. Yes double braided stainless -3 weighs more but we
are still talking very short pieces. I will use that where the line
goes into the caliber. 

No contest when it comes to cost.
Nyloflo is probably the cheapest stuff you can find.

I would not use it however because I will spend a lot of time and money
building my airplane and I am not about to save a few bucks on my
brakes. A brake failure at the wrong time can send your airplane
into other parked airplanes near  the runway and cost a lot of
money indeed. 

John Lynch was taxiing his RV4 and the Nyloflow brake
line failed. His prop struck the hangar door and destroyed a bunch
of hangar sheet metal as well as his prop and spinner. He should
have checked his crankshaft for cracks as well.
 
Paul Lamar
 
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