avistar181

I have put together about 3 fuel tank assemblies since i have entered this hobby and one thing that i still have yet to accomplish without messing up is bending the fragile, easily kinkable/breakable feul tubes that go through the stopper. I have triend putting a peice of copper cable through it and bending it as to not kink the tube, but then Its really difficult to get the copper wire out once I have the tube bent the way I like it. Can anyone please shed some light on this problem of mine. Thank you.

blvdbuzzard

I have run into the same thing. This is what I have done to keep it from breaking or folding. I replace the aluminum with brass tubing or I do not bend the aluminum tube. I make the tank position so that I do not have to bend the tubing on the out side of the tank. I have drilled a 1 inch hole through the fire wall in the middle of the motor mount so the aluminum tudes stick straight out. A foam donut around the front of the tank, between tha tank and fire wall, seals the area from fuel.

Dru.

Shihtzutan

You guys are tough! Why don't you go get a tubing bender? The cheapest way out for small tubing sizes is a set of springs (most hobby shops have these - if not try Micro-Mark). The spring slip on over the outside of the tubing and evenly distributes the pressure without kinking it. The spring also easily slips off!

blvdbuzzard

I have the spring benders, I also have the bender that has a grove around a radios die. The problem is the cheap, thin walled, soft aluminum. It will crush with finger pressure so it is hard to bend. I do not have a problem with the brass tubing just the soft aluminum stuff.

Dru.

ballgunner

My Feedback: (1)

I believe DuBro or Sullivan at Tower Hobbies have tubing benders. I haven't had good luck with the spring things from Micro Mark. Harry Higley also has a tube bending tool. I've switched to entirely brass tubing. As you say Aluminum is much too soft and I'm not too sure about its resistance to fuel corrosion. I've also tried the wire down the middle bit and it's not that great. You could try annealing the tube and then rehardening after the bend is in place.

LouW

I have had good luck with the DuBro tube bender. While brass bends OK, soft copper tubing is better for tight bends.

Shihtzutan

Why don't you avoid the problem altogether and get an aftermarket Hayes or Great Planes tank? After a season, the stopper set-up usually leaks anyway; that is if the tubing doen't cut through your fuel line first!

RaceCity

Thank God somebody figured it out....a Hayes or a GP tank eliminates all that hassle. Gee Whiz!!!!

(The easiest way to bend tubing without kinking it (and without buying a tubing bender is to insert a piece of insulated wire (of a close fitting diameter) into the tubing BEFORE you start mangling it......bend the tube to shape and pull the wire out. The tubing CANNOT collapse with the wire inside it)

A tip at NO CHARGE from your Uncle Nite.....