Assembling AN fittings
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TECH Senior Member
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Arlington TX
Assembling AN fittings Does anyone have any tips to do assemble AN fittings? I've done a couple of hoses each time I have messed up the anodized finish on the fittings. I would like to keep the last few I need to finish looking good.
Even with the wrenches it is hard to not mark them if your not very careful. I just did my fuel system and it was my first time using them. There are some fittings or parts of fittings that I notice do not work with AN wrenches. I was using Trickflow/Russell/Earls/XRP and Summit fittings...lol figured I would use a little of every brand. It was really an issue of what was in stock in black, as I went with everything black including the lines.
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Cutting the SS hose is the key to easy assembly...
On 8 - 16 hose I wrap the hose with fiberglass tape and cut with a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel, I usually go around the hose so the blade rotation is towards the inside of the hose, makes a clean clean edge.
On -3 to 6 hose, I wrap the hose with fiberglass tape and use a mason chisel and cut the hose on a block of aluminum
Cutting the hose and getting a clean edge is the key to easy assembly, if you fight the hose going into the nut its going to be a PITA to assemble.
To assemble:
Use some aluminum jaws and tighten the nut portion, make it tight so it won't move
Start with 1/2 of the hose in the nut and use a small flat edge screw driver to shoehorn the remainder of the SS tube in
Tube should slide all the way in
Remove nut/hose and install AN side
Use some oil on the threads and oil on the inside of the SS hose
Insert and holding the hose and nut run onto AN fitting as far as possible
Once its tight than switch to a AN wrench and tighten remainder which usually is only 2 turns or so.
On 8 - 16 hose I wrap the hose with fiberglass tape and cut with a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel, I usually go around the hose so the blade rotation is towards the inside of the hose, makes a clean clean edge.
On -3 to 6 hose, I wrap the hose with fiberglass tape and use a mason chisel and cut the hose on a block of aluminum
Cutting the hose and getting a clean edge is the key to easy assembly, if you fight the hose going into the nut its going to be a PITA to assemble.
To assemble:
Use some aluminum jaws and tighten the nut portion, make it tight so it won't move
Start with 1/2 of the hose in the nut and use a small flat edge screw driver to shoehorn the remainder of the SS tube in
Tube should slide all the way in
Remove nut/hose and install AN side
Use some oil on the threads and oil on the inside of the SS hose
Insert and holding the hose and nut run onto AN fitting as far as possible
Once its tight than switch to a AN wrench and tighten remainder which usually is only 2 turns or so.
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I use electical tape and a cutoff wheel on the dremel to cut the SS, clean cuts w/o stray braids makes the assembly alot easier. I also put a light dab of clean oil on the inside of the fitting and the hose end.
For me the best and easiest way to cut the lines (-6 in my case) was to wrap electrical tape twice around and the 4.5 grinder / cutoff wheel. That provided a really clean cut, and with a bit of oil on the end, got it right on there.
As far as the ends go, i was using a regular wrench and electrical tape around the end, and i messed the finish up, and screwed up a few ends. I dicked up the pressure relief ball, which was causing leaks. After i got some new ends, i used the special -6AN wrench, with some electrical tape around the ends. Using that method and being careful i didn't mess up the finish, or screw end end up.
Good luck!
Thanks...
--Mike
As far as the ends go, i was using a regular wrench and electrical tape around the end, and i messed the finish up, and screwed up a few ends. I dicked up the pressure relief ball, which was causing leaks. After i got some new ends, i used the special -6AN wrench, with some electrical tape around the ends. Using that method and being careful i didn't mess up the finish, or screw end end up.
Good luck!
Thanks...
--Mike
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 1
From: Arlington TX
Thanks for the replies. I don't have a problem cutting the hose or getting the hose in the fitting. It's threading the other part into the hose. Each time I do that part I seem to tear up the finish. I'll try wraping it with electrical tape. I tried some masking tape but it wasn't thick enough to protect it I guess
