Using brake line for hydraulics

Rolling up some hay, the clip came loose that was supposed to hold a steel hydraulic line away from the PTO on the baler. (855 NH) Rubbed a hole in the line.

So can I use 3/8 brake line as a replacement? I would think it should handle the pressure, but I don't know.

Anybody been there/ done that?

Maybe if the hole's small enough (haven't looked yet, letting things drip dry and cool off) a compression coupling would work...they used compression ferrules on the ends of the steel line from the factory.

Thanks

Fred

So my immediate question come why do you not just fix it with factory line? Should not be all that expensive, and yes there are compression fittings for steel line, you will have to da a good job of cutting it clean and round and the fitting will probably cost a 1/4 of what the new line will cost./

Brake line will hold the pressure that's for sure. On a vehicle pressure can exceed 2000 PSI. But yes I would install a new factory line. Eliminate all doubt...

My guess would be he wants to get it baled before he'd be able to get a new line from the dealer, who'd have to order it, and it's a holiday today. If you get the type of compression fitting that I'd made for hydraulics, it'll work just fine. If you go to the local hardware store and but the type they sell with the little round brass compression sleeve, no dice. I went through that probably 16 years ago or more trying to fix a steering line on an Oliver 1755.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Braze the hole shut, BTDT!

Fred the brake line will handle the pressure easily but the issue is how you join it to your old line. There are hydraulic compression fittings that will hold the pressure. The regular brass ones will not handle the pressure for very long. If you can find the hydraulic compression fittings they work fine. They are high priced. Meaning about $20 each.

What I have done is just used a brake line union. I have the tool that makes the double flared ends on brake line. So if you have room buy a line long enough to get past your worn spot. Then you will need (2) brake line unions and two flare nuts. The new line will already have the flare nuts on it. So carefully measure and cut out the bad section. Make sure and leave enough line to make the double flared ends. Cut your line, slide the flare nuts on it and make the double flare. Then just install the unions and new line. This is a permanent fix.

Also some places that make hydraulic hose have the ends that have the 3/8 compression fittings on one side. So they can make you a short hose with the needed hydraulic compression fittings on each end. These fittings are expensive. The brake line and required fittings would not be more than $10-15 bucks. So if you have the brake line flaring tool you can do a cheaper fix.

This will do it, piece of hose with compression fittings at both ends.

$23.20 for the hose.

I had looked it up last night, NH gets $115 plus ferrules plus shipping for the line...I like this fix better, and I can cut the line a little long so it can be tied off to the side.

Fred

No place that sells the hydraulic compression fittings would be open on a holiday either.

Either way you're sunk until the machinery dealer opened today...

Was going to work on it last night, thought I'd use brake line since oreillys was open.

Then decided I was hot and cranky, wasn't gonna be able to bale till noon anyway, so got a shower and a cold beverage and called it a day.

Picked up a hose this morning, time to bale.

Fred

NH wants $115 for that line + ferrules+ shipping