I have an old be very good Sykes Picakavant brake flare tool it works great but it is very awkward to use for on-car flares something that I
find I need to do more and more often.
So guys what is the experience of hand held compact tools for flaring 1/8" bore 3/16" od steel Bundy pipe.
[Edited on 10/11/12 by britishtrident]
I've used the handheld Sykes Pickavant brake pipe flaring tool , had one myself and also at a cxouple of places I've worked . Does the job OK but the tool itself is a bit on the weak side and can/will break eventually. Had a cheap one years ago that was better but don't think it's still available. Didn't Practicle Classics test a load a while ago?
ah the old Moprod type I remember being told thet were simple but effective sadly no longer available I am looking at the Franklin one on ebay just under 40 quid.
I can recommend this
style of flaring tool for on-car use. My father bought one for me as he uses the same one regularly at a classic car specialists he works
at.
The lower priced tools that use the long split pipe clamp
like this are
pretty poor in my experience, which was backed up by a group test in Car Mechanics magazine a while back.
[Edited on 10/11/12 by MikeRJ]
The Sealey AK5063 is only for copper pipe which is pretty pointless for on car use. With modern cars the under bonnet space is so cramped that often it is impossible to replace a brake pipe without removing manifolds or dropping a subframe, so the only economic repair is to use a joiner splice on to a sound section of the existing steel pipe.
I found my old Moprod in the shed the other day and had forgotten how to use it 
I found some instructions via google and it still works well. The
Sykes Flaremaster 2 is good but not cheap and there is a tool on ebay that looks very similar in principle to the Moprod but I have not used one of
them. . On-Vehicle Micro Pipe Flaring Tool 3/16"' .
The Sykes Flaremaster is good until it breaks, I've seen at least 4 that have all broken in the place
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I found my old Moprod in the shed the other day and had forgotten how to use it. [/quote
Yes thats the Franklin one I like the look of it and for £40 it looks a good bet ...... Sealey also list exactly the same tool at £140 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
David Jenkins - 11/11/12 at 10:19 AMquote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I found my old Moprod in the shed the other day and had forgotten how to use it
I was in exactly the same state a few weeks ago! Fortunately I still had the instructions from the original packing...
The handle on that ebay thing looks very useful - always a pain trying to keep the body of the Moprod thing steady when cranking down the die.
big_wasa - 11/11/12 at 10:58 AMquote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
The Sykes Flaremaster is good until it breaks, I've seen at least 4 that have all broken in the place
What even the mk2 version ? Mine has been great.
rusty nuts - 11/11/12 at 03:25 PMMy own was a mk1 version but I have seen at least one mk2 broken . The old Moprod tool I had years ago only had dies for imperial flares but worked well
wilkingj - 11/11/12 at 05:09 PMIts Sykes Pickavent for me.
I used to have a very cheap one (non Sykes), and the serrated jaws used to chew up the pipe where they grip it. Then you have to rub it all down.
It was pretty poor.
The Sykes one does a perfect flare every time. Had it 12 years. Owes me nothing, after doing two complete Land rovers, the kit car, plus odd pipes for my main Landy.
Wouldnt have aq cheap one if you paid me.
MikeRJ - 11/11/12 at 06:43 PMquote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
The Sealey AK5063 is only for copper pipe which is pretty pointless for on car use.
Only ever used mine with cupro-nickel pipe with perfect results.
britishtrident - 7/1/13 at 06:49 PMI took delivery of one of these today I am most impressed, strictly speaking it does 3/16" SAE flares not DIN
Powerhand brake pipe flaring tool for 3/16" pipes £36.95
ebay item 181040263445
From this seller http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Autotools-Direct-online/Brake-related-/_i.html?_fsub=4161078014&_sid=1025170484&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
[Edited on 7/1/13 by britishtrident]
