| Author |
Message |
Curt H (67.226.233.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 8:34 am: | |
I drilled through the rear floor of my coach and straight through what appears to be a 3/4" copper air line.(It comes from the compressor on the engine) Now, my question is: how to fix my mistake? Thinking about taking it off and having it sleeved or looking for a replacement altogether. What would you guys do?
Thanks,
Curt
PD4106-045 |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.43)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 9:34 am: | |
Just cut it at the hole and put a compression union there. You may have to go to a wholesale heating and air conditioning supply house to find the right size fitting if it isn't a plumbing size item. |
Mike Heron (199.250.136.5)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 5:33 pm: | |
One quick fix is to take an appropriately sized sheet metal screw, coat the threads with JB Weld or MarineTex epoxy, and drive her in there delicately. This will at least get you running, or get you by for a short while. A sleeved in portion is the best long term fix. |
Greg Coffin (207.174.6.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 11:32 pm: | |
If the hole is less than 3/16" you might try brazing it. I've used Sil-Phos brazing rod to make live steam boilers and it is very easy to work with, and you don't need any flux. A 24" rod costs only a couple dollars tops. The heat and pressure from the compressor will not be a problem for the braze.
If you're not familiar with brazing, practice a couple times on a piece of copper pipe, you'll be amazed at how easy it is. Lightly debur the hole, heat the area to medium red hot (a propane turbo-torch has enough heat), fill the hole with braze, and let cool. Clean out the inside of the tube with a rag or compressed air to remove any oxidization from the heat, don't want to clog something downstream. Should make a permanent fix.
Be aware that the tube will be pretty soft (annealed) where you heated it. If it gets bent, roll it between two flat surfaces (two 2x4s, table, etc) to straighten it out again. Copper work hardens, so once bent and re-straightened it will be relatively hard again.
Good Luck,
Greg |
Curt H (67.226.233.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 7:46 am: | |
Thanks Friends for all the suggestions! I knew you guys would have the answer to my problem.
Curt Hollifield
PD4106-045 |
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