what are "Hardlines"

[bboy_jon]

I see. Also, I didnt get a gauge (to measure the correct gap) from swagelok, I assumed they just threw one in but I guess they cost extra? I was wondering, how tight do the fittings need to be tightened? finger tight plus a half turn with a wrench or something?

[Rob Cote]

You have to go well beyond finger tight because you need to crush the ferrule inside the fitting against the tube, otherwise it will just pop out when pressurized. In my experience, you'll feel the run-on torque spike twice, once when the cap of the fitting bottoms out on the ferrule, and then again when the ferrule is completely crimped. The second spike is where you want to stop. Then pressurize the system and check for leaks. Tighten as necessary to stop leaks.

[adkins]

You have to go well beyond finger tight because you need to crush the ferrule inside the fitting against the tube, otherwise it will just pop out when pressurized. In my experience, you'll feel the run-on torque spike twice, once when the cap of the fitting bottoms out on the ferrule, and then again when the ferrule is completely crimped. The second spike is where you want to stop. Then pressurize the system and check for leaks. Tighten as necessary to stop leaks.

You don't need to crush the ferrell. I have no leaks in my lines and none of mine are crushed. Besides what if you crush the ferrell and still have a leak. Then you tighten till the nut cracks. Just snug the fitting till it doesn't leak. No need for Heman.

[whitemk4golf]

my first try at it. Im pretty happy the way it came out.

[Rob Cote]

You don't need to crush the ferrell. I have no leaks in my lines and none of mine are crushed. Besides what if you crush the ferrell and still have a leak. Then you tighten till the nut cracks. Just snug the fitting till it doesn't leak. No need for Heman.

I have been using ****ty compression fittings from Home Depot. Ander-lock or something like that. The ferrule is a separate piece from the cap, but it's somehow locked into it. I tried "real" compression fittings a few days ago. I put them on snug as you said and leak-checked. I continued to tighten until the leaks went away. Except they bottomed out before it stopped leaking. I was working with my dad on it, as he does a little plumbing over the years. He taught me a little trick I'd like to share with you all in case you're ever in this predicament.

Install the fittings as mentioned above. If you've bottomed out but can't stop the leak, take the cap off and solder the ferrule onto the tube. Reinstall. It is possible to leak out of the cap, so you may also want to install the caps with thread paste.

I'm happy to report I'm finally leak free in the hatch. Still got a leak on the driver's side rear that I haven't been able to track down but that's another story.

Carry on with the hard lines please!

[adkins]

I have been using ****ty compression fittings from Home Depot. Ander-lock or something like that. The ferrule is a separate piece from the cap, but it's somehow locked into it. I tried "real" compression fittings a few days ago. I put them on snug as you said and leak-checked. I continued to tighten until the leaks went away. Except they bottomed out before it stopped leaking. I was working with my dad on it, as he does a little plumbing over the years. He taught me a little trick I'd like to share with you all in case you're ever in this predicament.

Install the fittings as mentioned above. If you've bottomed out but can't stop the leak, take the cap off and solder the ferrule onto the tube. Reinstall. It is possible to leak out of the cap, so you may also want to install the caps with thread paste.

I'm happy to report I'm finally leak free in the hatch. Still got a leak on the driver's side rear that I haven't been able to track down but that's another story.

Carry on with the hard lines please!

Very good thought. I'm trying to find a leak on my passenger front. But it's after the hardlines were it goes soft. Getting annoying.

[arethirdytwo]

Bet it is!

... were it goes soft. Getting annoying.

[whitemk4golf]

Very good thought. I'm trying to find a leak on my passenger front. But it's after the hardlines were it goes soft. Getting annoying.

Mine is leaking in the same place( passenger front) and I found the leak to be at the ptc fitting that's on the leader line off the bag. I just sprayed som windex on it and found my bubbles.

[Andrew@ORT]

Looks great, Pedro. Just out of curiosity, why did you use the clear traps?

[toplessvw]

my first try at it. Im pretty happy the way it came out.

looks good but where are your check valves?

[whitemk4golf]

Looks great, Pedro. Just out of curiosity, why did you use the clear traps?

thanks andrew. idk.they were free but I want to change them to the high pressure ones.

looks good but where are your check valves?

thanks. They're there. It's a 1/4 npt check valve with 3/8 OD Compression in one. I got it from McMaster-carr

[whitemk4golf]

installed and so far so good

[Niagara_V_Dub]

Love the action shot! Is that a W3,6 or 7?

[whitemk4golf]

Love the action shot! Is that a W3,6 or 7?

Thanks. W6

[Andrew@ORT]

thanks andrew. idk.they were free but I want to change them to the high pressure ones.

Ah, ok, that makes a lot of sense

Missed you yesterday at Fresh Meet!

[whitemk4golf]

Ah, ok, that makes a lot of sense

Missed you yesterday at Fresh Meet!

I know I was supposed to go but I had to take care of my daughter.

[bboy_jon]

should be finished with my new setup this weekend. Screwed up my measurements and ended up snapping a few lines so I had to order more tubing

[max and tiny]

I know most people run rubber line under the car but has anyone ran hardline everywhere?

[shadowdglx]

I know most people run rubber line under the car but has anyone ran hardline everywhere?

Me...

[Robert@WinnVw]

By Swoops

[swfloridamk6]

By me. First timer. Not as much copper as had hoped. Run into issues with line placement, too tight for bulkheads.

[aVWGTIguy]

By me. First timer. Not as much copper as had hoped. Run into issues with line placement, too tight for bulkheads.

That looks great, nice work. One thing though - I'd change that avs trap asap. Those thing look nice but always leak.

[bmx_a4]

This whole thread is just plain awesome!

[VR6_notlosin]

what fittings are you guys using for the bulk heads? they look like PTC that the copper line inserted into .. just wanting to know getting ready to do hard lines and redo the trunk setup i currently have

[chadone]

what fittings are you guys using for the bulk heads? they look like PTC that the copper line inserted into .. just wanting to know getting ready to do hard lines and redo the trunk setup i currently have

I got all my stuff from Parker Fittings

[bboy_jon]

some people are using ptc fittings, others are using compression fittings. I like many others, are using swagelok. I definitely like them over ptc fittings

Also, finally got around to changing my setup (only took 10 months) and changing out the pewny 1/4 lines for some 3/8 lines.

Old setup





That new new

[ForVWLife]

i prefer race car fittings

[arethirdytwo]

i prefer race car fittings

You mean AN. Actually government designed. Believe it stands for Army/Navy.

[ForVWLife]

You mean AN. Actually government designed. Believe it stands for Army/Navy.

which go hand in hand with racecars

[Will@BagRiders]

i prefer race car fittings

Sick

[Mayor McCheese]

i prefer race car fittings

eh em geeeeee its jooseyyyyyy

[harlequin80]

Anyone ever done crazy stuff with the lines and tried writing words or making a design? I dont mean design like squiggles and stuff, like making it like a VW logo or something of that nature.

I need to figure out how to get matching bends and how to know where it is going to start bending

[Rob Cote]

Anyone ever done crazy stuff with the lines and tried writing words or making a design? I dont mean design like squiggles and stuff, like making it like a VW logo or something of that nature.

I need to figure out how to get matching bends and how to know where it is going to start bending

There are ways to know where the bend will begin. Some benders have an indicator on them. A lot of it is trial and error. The tough part about doing detail stuff is getting the bends down small enough without crushing.

[arethirdytwo]

It doesn't work as you cant do hard angles. Think about the VW. The points on the bottoms would be about a inch wide. You'd either have to make it 50ft tall or just a wavy line that kinda looks like VW.

[bboy_jon]

Anyone ever done crazy stuff with the lines and tried writing words or making a design? I dont mean design like squiggles and stuff, like making it like a VW logo or something of that nature.

I need to figure out how to get matching bends and how to know where it is going to start bending

I considered doing words but then decided against it. In regards to getting matching bends. Its kind of a pain to figure it out, but once you do its pretty easy. Honestly, I just held up my new line to the one I already bent, and eyeballed where the bend started and marked it and placed it at the proper marks on my bender. The most frustrating part is that as your line gets more bends, you have to maneuver the line and orient it in different ways to fit it in your bender or remove it. I screwed up a couple of lines because I would be bending in one direction, mark up the next bend, realize that I had to put the line in the other direction, and my bend would be completely off. Just gotta make sure you measure correctly and check twice, bend once.