I just got in all the stuff to bag my bonneville, but I am thinkin about plumbing the whole system in 3/8 copper tube and compresion fittings. Is there any reason this wouldnt work? I think the look of polished copper would be cool. the top of the bag mounts bolt direct to the top of the frame, and Im only doin the rear. any reason this wouldnt work?
I think it could work but I wouldnt do it. if it was a great idea the airbag companies would have metal kits for them.
dan.. how would fix anything "roadside"? with the hardline? run the plastic line and carry a few feet (ok 10 feet extra in your case) add a few T fittings and a coupler or two.. (and a schrader valve and you'll be bulletproof) that is unless you cut a bag.. give me a ring sometime i
Just about everyone I know that has a bagged ride(mostly daily drivers) use copper tubing but with slip-n-lock fittings and rarely have any problems. I get my copper from Lowes/home depot in 50ft rolls and the fittings from the local Aeroquip dealer(they are made by Kamazee(sp?), just stay away from the ones that have plastic parts. For a roadside fix, I take about 20ft or so of a roll, a couple extra fittings and a tubing cutter on long road trips but have never had to use them yet.
i used stainless steel tubing and fittings courtesy of the plant i work at looks nice and it has zero leaks
copper draws excessive amounts of moisture. somthing you do not want with airbags or going through your valves. Running hardline for airbags on custom applications is most common in the southern and southwestern states where the sun gets ungodly hot on plastic lines. if the lines are mostly hidden i wouldnt worry baout running hardline. Stainless hardline looks the best
True, but only if it is moving. With a hard lined system and a bag of Adel clamps there shouldn't be any movement, therefore no breaking. I think the plastic line is much cheaper and plenty durable so that's all they usually offer.
How long of time are you talkin though? We've run copper on stuff for 4-5 years with no problems down here in Texas. I figure by then, if it breaks, it probably needs to be gone through and replaced anyways. Maybe up north it does, bc of the weather gettin so cold. Hell, down here we GOTTA run copper, cuz all the plastic lines melt during the summer from all the damn heat!
How long of time are you talkin though? We've run copper on stuff for 4-5 years with no problems down here in Texas. I figure by then, if it breaks, it probably needs to be gone through and replaced anyways. Maybe up north it does, bc of the weather gettin so cold. Hell, down here we gotta run copper, cuz all the plastic lines melt during the summer from the heat.
my .02 cents, i ran it on the rear of my buick and it had the least bit of movement and ended up cracking. im sure it works great if you really take the time to secure it everywhere so it doesnt have any flex but thats so time consuming and all your bends have to be perfect and the length to the fitting has to be just right. i had a hell of a time with it but im sure if you really wanted to use it there would be no probs. i think the stainless would look better and probably be a littloe more durable.
been there done that never again. I did my first arbag set up about 15 years ago before it was as popular as it is today. I ran copper lines and compression fittings and had nothing but problems. As soon as I switched over to plastic and pust to connect fittings I never looked back.
At the shop i worked at we ran plastic for another reason too. It may not matter to you but, it is d.o.t approved.
How would you be work hardening it? This is a static system! Not a friggin trampoline... Why copper isnt common, my guess is that copper is not as easy to install properly or fix, copper cost a bunch more and it corrodes.
First this is not a guess.... it will happen. Pick up a metallurgy book, i could lend you mine from college if you want. Copper work hardens, even small vibrations can cause this. Every time copper moves it becomes harder but at the same time more brittle and it will do so until it breaks. And what type copper are you going to use...DWV,M,L,K?
it all depends on the installation. plastic installed poorly will fail, so will copper. if you run a 3" long piece of copper in a straight line between two components that have slight movement, yes it will fail, but if you have longer runs, and loop it to take up any movement, as well as clamps to hold it in places, it will last a long damn time. i run copper in most every air setup i've done, i use it after a braided stainless leaderline to help cool the air and condense moisture before the air gets to the water trap. i'll use copper anywhere there is excessive heat as well. YES it can be a little trickier to seal than PTC fittings, but it's usually jsut a matter of tightening the fitting a little more. plus, if there ever IS a failure, you can find replacement parts anywhere, any hardware store or home improvement store will have copper tube and fittings. the moisture you speak of is already in the air! all copper does is cool the air causing the moisture to condense into liquid from vapor.
Static when the car is sitting still, but road vibrations will still move the materials around enough that this MAY be a problem, but brake lines are metal and they seem to do OK. Personally, I'd go with the plastic lines the manufacturers recommend and not have to worry about it.
I understand about road vibrations...I guess what was missed is that I said "Proper installation". This is open to debate but an ideal situation would eliminate any excessive vibrations that would lead to premature failure. If copper was the issue, then why arn't air lines made of stainless like breaks lines???? Copper does indeed work harden, why do you think casting was invented... Wars cant be won on weapons that break on first strike.
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