Detailing Tractor & Trailer chassis

[FirePig]

Looking for some good resource material for air lines, hydraulic lines, and their associated tanks, reservoirs, pumps, valves, etc. What do you guys suggest? :?

[Old Albion]

Hello Dan,

You might try Howard at Kit Form services. He has some great items for detailing, bolt heads, air valves etc. (www.kitformservices.com)

Best Wishes

Dave Bates

[Trailer Mechanic]

Dan

For the service/emergency air lines (blue and red) I use some old computer cable/wires (example from the printer to the comp) Use a razor and cut the jacket open and you'll find a series of smaller wires inside. Cut a section out about 10 inches long. Tape one end of the wire to a think wire coat hanger w/ a diameter less that 3/16 inchand wrap it around several times. Use a lighter,butane fueled micro torch, or even a heat gun and warm up the wire then let it cool. Do this will allow the coils retain form.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=73989143

For the air lines you would find plumbed from relay valves,emergency valves to brake chambers the rubber tubing found in AMT kits is perfect.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=67210297

For the plastic 3/8 and 1/2 inch air lines I experimented w/ fishing wire.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=73330542

You can scratch build the various air valves out of styrene. Companies such as Bendix,Midland,Sealco,Tramec,Haladex are manufacturers of these.

Good Luck

[FirePig]

That's all very helpful info & illustrations. I appreciate it!

Best.

[mrglubaum]

I like to use the telephone wire with the solid copper core. There are six different colors inside the outer coating. Red and blue for the tractor to trailer air lines, green or black for the light wire. The solid copper core helps it to stay in the shape you want it to.

[Aaronw]

Spalding Trading and Shipping has alot of detail stuff for trucks, both parts and reference material.

http://www.stsmodeltrucks.com/

[midwest 1953]

As an added note to Lee's telephone wire--I got mine from a commercial building that was being re-wired . The cable was about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and probably has a hundred wires inside (maybe not)

Anyway a 4 foot piece will last a lifetime

[Guest Anthony Oteri]

As an added note to Lee's telephone wire--I got mine from a commercial building that was being re-wired . The cable was about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and probably has a hundred wires inside (maybe not)

Anyway a 4 foot piece will last a lifetime

That cable does indeed have 100 wires in it. It is known as 50 pair cable.

[midwest 1953]

I use this stuff for everything. The wire slides out of the insulation easily. The insulation is smaller than the tubing in the AMT kits.

I use the wire for fittings and locater pins. It's great stuff.

The only downside is the color of the insulation. It's multi-color stripes.so it has to be painted.