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Stop using speed handles on hydraulic line fittings

I keep seeing guys in the hangar grab a speed handle to zip off hydraulic fittings on main gear struts. Last week I watched a guy cross-thread a 3/8 fitting on a 737 strut because he was too lazy to start it by hand. That repair cost the shop 2 hours of labor and a $150 replacement line. I learned this the hard way back in 2009 when I did the same thing on a Cessna 172 brake line. Use your fingers first for at least 3 full turns. Has anyone else seen this shortcut cause a big headache?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_johnson5114d ago

Totally agree with hand starting fittings, but you're thinking of a 172 main gear strut, not the brake line - the brake lines on those are way smaller like 3/16.

drew_reed6213d ago

Brake lines are 3/16?" You sure that's not the parking brake line?

barbarah1912d ago

...and actually that 3/16 size is for the flex lines that go down to the wheel, not the hard lines running through the gear leg. I've seen guys try to use standard 3/16 tube on those older 172s and it just doesn't flare right with a standard flaring tool. You need the thin wall 3/16 or it'll crack at the flare every time. Plus hand starting those little AN fittings is tricky because they're so easy to cross thread if you don't get them perfectly straight. I usually put a little anti-seize on the threads just to be safe.