HEL Braided Hoses (warning)

[Rabbitson]

Very happy with the HEL lines that I have, I sent mine away for them to measure and they sent both sets back. A bit of an inconvenience as it means that you can't do the job in the same day but rather that than have the wrong hoses

I have bar risers and as the braided lines are a bit less flexible than the standard ones, I would advise anyone with bar risers to ask for the top section to be made about an inch longer.

David

 

[CPL]

While I have heard of people having problems With Hel I've never had a problem personally and they're also really quick!.

I have used "custom" fit hoses from them on many, many bikes in the last few years, including for the purpose of replacing faulty Goodridge ones, so I'm going to sit on the fence where Hel v Goodridge is concerned.

As an engineer who has designed and worked with high pressure hydraulics systems (up to 10,000psi or alternatively 700 bar) I can make only two definitive comments.

Firstly, if a pressure fitting is properly crimped, the pressure required to rotate it "to fit" is also enough to stress the fitting ferrule and hose construction enough to weaken it and a catastrophic blowout is a real possibility at a later date... So if youve done this, I would advise changing it ASAP.

Secondly, pulsed pressure systems such as ABS and TCS effectively send a shockwave through the hoses and fittings, creating far greater stress and no matter what manufacturers say, they should be replaced at least twice as often as those on non-ABS vehicles.

Sorry if anything in this post offends anyone, but you can't put a price on someone's life.

 

[AndrewD]

I cannot believe that people are giving this bunch of bodgers 10/10 based on being quick or 'helpful'.

They don't deal with quality issues or live up to their quality claims, we've been checking every bike we see from the club etc to avoid HEL like the plague!

 

[manfred]

Does nobody have a local mechanic that makes up Goodridge lines?
Used mine for all my lines until he stopped doing 'em, too much overhead for fittings.

Is there any reason not to use 5.1 fluid?

 

[DrFarkoff]

Manfred DOT5.1 is okay but really all it means is a higher fluid boiling point

I take it you know definitely NOT to use DOT5 as it is silicone based and can cause all sorts of problems with seals etc

 

[manfred]

What sort of problems?
Maybe I was thinking of dot 5, seems to me that non-hydroscopic and doesn't wreck paintwork are definite advantages.

 

[DrFarkoff]

1st is likely deterioration of seals

2nd it isn't as dense as the ethylene glycol based Brake fluid DOT 3, 4, 5.1 so no matter what you do it always feels spongey

and probably most dodgy if you get by with all the above?

Whilst the ethylene glycol based stuff absorbs moisture (which will be spread out through the fluid at X parts per million the silicone absolutely does not and and moisture that enters the system will move about within the fluid and attract more moisture which becomes a drop etc etc and guess where it ends up?

Yup that would be at the lowest point, the calliper Which can get bloody hot water boils at app 100 degrees

Just use DOT 4 or 5.1 and change it every 2 years(at the most) its only a couple of quid for fluid and a good exercise to keep nipples and stuff freed up

If you get a tin and arent sure what it is DOT5 fluid is purple

 

[Deleted account 220427001]

go to venhill engineering there on the internet best ones ive used send old one in soon make you some up in no time !!

 

[The Grey One]

1st is likely deterioration of seals

2nd it isn't as dense as the ethylene glycol based Brake fluid DOT 3, 4, 5.1 so no matter what you do it always feels spongey

and probably most dodgy if you get by with all the above?

Whilst the ethylene glycol based stuff absorbs moisture (which will be spread out through the fluid at X parts per million the silicone absolutely does not and and moisture that enters the system will move about within the fluid and attract more moisture which becomes a drop etc etc and guess where it ends up?

Yup that would be at the lowest point, the calliper Which can get bloody hot water boils at app 100 degrees

Just use DOT 4 or 5.1 and change it every 2 years(at the most) its only a couple of quid for fluid and a good exercise to keep nipples and stuff freed up

If you get a tin and arent sure what it is DOT5 fluid is purple

Just a shame that manufacturers did not take up LHM fluid as used by Citroen for years. It's a mineral oil,does not absorb water and lubricates as well as preventing corrosion in callipers and wheel cylinders. No problem with sponginess either and was used on vehicles with both power brakes (the self levelling models) and with conventional systems.


Of course the sales of spare parts suffer badly and could have something to do with others not using it.

John