COPPER PETROL PIPES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 198, 4 August 1928, Page 14

COPPER PETROL PIPES

HOW TO ANNEAL THEM.

Petrol pipes are almost invariably made of copper, a metal which lends itself conveniently to this purpose by reason of its ductabflity, the ease with which it may be soldered, and the fact that it is unaffected by petrol or atmospheric conditions. There is only one fault —if fault it may be called—and this is its tendency to harden and crack on being subjected to severe and continuous vibration. This drawback can be overcome very readily by removing the pipe from time to time—once a year in ordinary circumstances should be ample—and annealing it; that it, heating it to redness and plunging it in cold water. The pipe will then be quite soft and fit for further use. In parenthesis it may be mentioned that before the annealing process the nipples should be unsoldered and refitted after the pipe has been annealed. When resoldering the nipples it is important to make sure that no blobs of solder are left projecting into the bore of the pips, as these will restrict the How of fuel and may give the owner considerable trouble in detecting the cause of petrol starvation. As a rule it is preferable to fit an expansion coil in the pipe. One complete turn is sufficient, and when possible it should be in the vertical portion of the pipe, a few inches below the tap in the tank. The coil should be in a horizontal plane, and should have a continuous fall.