| Author | Message | ||
     Torquesauce |
So after a riding buddy pointed out my oil cooler lines looking... "goofy", I couldn't stop running ideas through my head to solve the issue. I looked into replacing them, I found kits that were previously sold on cobweb-covered threads, and I considered having them coated black just to blend in a little better. Then, while I was ordering some goods for my new regulator, it hit me. TechFlex Flexo PET Braided Sleeve I did some research on its sizing, color, and heat resistant options and found that it would do the job nicely. Specs: http://www.techflex.com/prod_pet.asp I ordered mine from Part-Express (Reasonable price, great customer service, fast shipping). I chose 1/2" sleeve as it expands just enough to get over the mid-section of the line, but it stays reasonably tight on the rest of the lines. How-to: Obviously this can only be performed when you change the oil out. Once you're all dried out, pop the little retainer clips off the oil lines, and they'll come right off the bike, don't hassle with removing the nuts. Let the lines drain to make them easier to work with. I slid two layers of TechFlex over the lines. It's easiest to hold the sleeve, scrunch it together so it expands, then let it creep its way up the lines. Worked like a charm twice. The major gripe about TechFlex is that the ends fray no matter how you cut them. I used scissors and certainly made a mess. But the trick is how to clean up the ends for the long haul. I used heat shrink that slid over the ends of the oil cooler lines, but shrunk down tight on the braided sleeve. Worked perfectly and cleaned up the ends nicely. I've put a couple hundred miles on with the TechFlex on the lines and had no issues with melting, hot plastic smell, or any of that jazz. If you look at the spec sheet per TechFlex. There should really never be a heat issue with this stuff. Many colors are available, but I feel black blends in the best and gives everything a uniform appearance. The second picture has a flash in it, and yes you can just barely see the original lines shining through, but who looks at your bike, this close, with a camera flash. Exactly.   | ||
| Dannybuell |
the way is should have been in the first place, nice job! | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
The textbook answer to a question no one thought to ask..... I work with computers all the time and LOVE the stuff....and never would have thought of that. Genius!  | ||
| Wymaen |
I'm not on board with that, myself- I happen to prefer the stock look to this. Just my opinion, though  | ||
| Albert666 |
has someone not done this before? i can't say it's ever bothered me on my own bike, but buells are for fiddling with | ||
| Jdugger |
Someone here went to the trouble of building stainless steel lines. It looked uber-trick, but was crazy expensive given that it's a purely cosmetic thing on a part prone to all kinds of track muck, anyway. | ||
| Jimustanguitar |
I've used mylar sleeving like this to spruce up rubber brake lines and make them look like stainless before. You can get a really nice finished look from that stuff. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partn umber=082-466 | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I think wrapping it in heat shrink would look better. | ||
| Spike240sx |
Or, go for the full race look and do a AN Line fitting conversion. Someone here has covered it before. | ||
| Froader4life |
I was the one that made the oil line kits. Although they are mainly a cosmetic fix, I have sold kits to people that had they're stock lines fail for some reason or another. The quick release feature of the factory lines seem to be the weakest link. But 99% of people will never have an issue. I could race cars for a living so I just had to put some race parts on my bike. Here is a link to my post of what I did. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/707312.html This sleeve is a good bandaid for hiding the horrible factory lines. |
