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Old 06-21-13, 08:44 AM   #51
Xringer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jumpmaster View Post
Xringer,
I have got the three inside units mounted on the brackets and I am ready to bend the copper tubes away from the unit. The instructions say to bend the tubes down and away from the unit. Then it gives instructions on bending the tubing left if you are running the lines to the left. My lines will run straight back into a wall. I am thinking it would be better to bend the tubes straight back from the unit in one movement. How did you bend your tubing on your installation? Thanks.
Scott
At the point of exit, (from the indoor unit) the lines seem to be more flexible
than regular lineset copper. My first install was straight back into the wall too.
(Second install needed a downward bend).
IIRC, I did both jobs slowly, trying to hold firmly onto the lineset,
squeezing the insulation down flat as possible,
while pressing with my thumbs and fingers while pulling the lineset out from it's 'factory' position.
The idea was to distribute the bending pressure over an 'area' of the tube,
and not apply a 'point' pressure that would kink it.

Once the line came outside the wall (outdoors), I used a 2.5" OD wooden dowel,
pushed into the bottom of the line set, as I bent it downwards.

Before:


After: You can see the dowel sitting in the upper right of this pic.

Bending around the wood gave me a nice smooth turn.

Outdoors, where I wanted to make turns with the main lineset,
I would use a large paint bucket etc as a form to bend around.
If you mess up, be ready to spend another $95 on copper.

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