Heat shrink tube installation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 09-10-2011, 04:47 PM

I need to shrink some 3/4" heat shrink tubes down onto my 1/2" D clutch cable for my race car.

Can I use flame? will a hair dryer be hot enough? I don't want to set it on fire.

t walgamuth · #2 09-10-2011, 04:57 PM

Ok.

I stood at the gas stove and played it back and forth about two inches above the flame and kept at it until the shrink wrap pretty well telegraphed all the features of the cable under it and bled out a little liquid out at the ends of each section of tubing.

If the Mrs. had realized how greasy the cable sheath was she would have run me out of there!

Biodiesel300TD · #3 09-10-2011, 04:58 PM

I've used both. With open flame you've got to keep it moving or you'll set the shrink tube on fire. Heat gun has a lower fire risk, especially if it's got more than one heat setting.

kerry · #4 09-10-2011, 06:02 PM

Open flame is fine. Propane torch, jeweler's torch, stove, cigarette lighter, matches, you name it. Not sure whether a really hot Jalapeno will work or not.

layback40 · #5 09-10-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

I've used both. With open flame you've got to keep it moving or you'll set the shrink tube on fire. Heat gun has a lower fire risk, especially if it's got more than one heat setting.

X2

heat gun gives the best results as you are less likely to damage the shrink tube or the other plastic that may be on your part.

we dont use crimped connections on electrical stuff. always solder & shrink tube on top. I have had a lot of success with coating the ends of the shrink tube with silicone after shrinking when the component is going to get very wet.

Once cracked a metal fuel line a long way from home, found a bit of shrink tube on the floor. Put it over the crack, used cig lighter on it. It got us home. Didnt have anything else to try & fix it with.

engatwork · #6 09-10-2011, 10:37 PM

As already stated heat guns do a good job.

I was watching one of the car tv shows today and they demostrated this stuff:

Gates

very, very neat looking product that may be an answer to replace some of those funky hose sections where the diameters changes.

kerry · #7 09-10-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engatwork

As already stated heat guns do a good job.

I was watching one of the car tv shows today and they demostrated this stuff:

Gates

very, very neat looking product that may be an answer to replace some of those funky hose sections where the diameters changes.

OK, who's going to be the first guy to try this stuff on the oil cooler lines?

t walgamuth · #8 09-11-2011, 07:20 AM

It appears from the ad to be capable of that.

engatwork · #9 09-11-2011, 07:43 AM

They were using it on two different size radiator hoses on the show in which it was being presented. I would think that if it would work in that application then the oil cooler hoses would be fine too. I'll probably try it out on the crankcase gas type application first.

layback40 · #10 09-11-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engatwork

They were using it on two different size radiator hoses on the show in which it was being presented. I would think that if it would work in that application then the oil cooler hoses would be fine too. I'll probably try it out on the crankcase gas type application first.

Some how I dont think it would take the pressure.
If it would, it could be used in some hydraulic applications.

tyl604 · #11 09-11-2011, 03:26 PM

Layback - you used a cig lighter on a metal fuel line?

engatwork · #12 09-11-2011, 04:01 PM

I have not been able to find any pressure specs.

layback40 · #13 09-11-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

Layback - you used a cig lighter on a metal fuel line?

Yes, It was a diesel not petrol !!

Cleaned all the fuel that had leaked.

Have you ever tried lighting diesel on a cold day? You need to put it on some paper & start the paper first.

Desperate situations call for desperate solutions.

We did have the fire extinguisher ready just in case though!

Orv · #14 09-12-2011, 02:12 PM

I agree that a heat gun is best, but in a pinch you can improvise. I've used a Zippo before with good results. It's a relatively low temperature flame, though; had to run the tubing pretty much through the flame to get it shrunk down tight.

If I'm soldering something with my butane soldering iron I use the side vents on the iron tip to shrink the tubing. Nice strong radiated heat, like a catalytic heater. Incidentally, if you don't have a butane soldering iron in your toolbox it's worth having. Works anywhere, and gets super hot. The one I have is supposed to be equivalent to a 30 watt iron but it will solder things my 60 watt gun won't touch.