Rainman's Brake Lines

[Rainman]

Next issue is a big one. My supplier of my custom 10mm line nuts has ordered a ton more but is out. It may be months before he has them in. China's new year has everyone off for a couple of months. Unreal. I'm down to about one kits worth... Maybe. Not good.

I can get 10mm nuts with a 7/16 hex on them. They will work and they look the same installed. I just hate having to grab the 7/16ths line wrench out to use on a Cruiser. This question has been asked before... How many of you who need lines care about that?

 

[rossl]

Next issue is a big one. My supplier of my custom 10mm line nuts has ordered a ton more but is out. It may be months before he has them in. China's new year has everyone off for a couple of months. Unreal. I'm down to about one kits worth... Maybe. Not good.

I can get 10mm nuts with a 7/16 hex on them. They will work and they look the same installed. I just hate having to grab the 7/16ths line wrench out to use on a Cruiser. This question has been asked before... How many of you who need lines care about that?

Don’t count me in this bucket for future orders since you just sent me a tracking number for my new lines (yay!), but the 10mm nuts was one of the big draws for me as a customer. I try to keep only metric on the cruiser, SAE feels wrong.

 

[davework]

Count me in for a set for a '79 40 when they are available again. I don't need for a bit. Didn't see a way to order on the site currently?

I would prefer the 10mm nuts

 

[Rainman]

I’m guessing most Cruiser guys are like me. I’d rather have metric parts on my truck too. I just hope China gets back to work and make the nuts as soon as possible. I’ll let this spot know when they’re here.

I just talked to my supplier and he said safest bet is April. So... 7-8 weeks out.
...

 

[Rainman]

Count me in for a set for a '79 40 when they are available again. I don't need for a bit. Didn't see a way to order on the site currently?

I would prefer the 10mm nuts

There’s a contact page where you can email me your order.

 

[Rainman]

We're mid-April and still no nuts. Hang in there...

 

[Rainman]

Okay guys. Around the mill and through the woods or whatever works...

My manufacturer has failed me. BUT! I have found an at least temporary supplier that has almost exactly what I was making. I've ordered more tubing and nuts (10mm with 10mm hex) which will be here by weeks end. So to be safe, Monday, next week, I should be able to start making kits again. Again, I can't just blast out kits like candy but I should be able to get orders done more timely now.

Please, please, those of you who have gotten lost in the vacuum, please forgive me. I don't think many have been missed but maybe one or two. I've tried to tell everyone to pay attention to this thread. It's the best way to keep up with this little business. It's just me and it's part time. Focus on part time.

Thanks for your patience and your business. I hope to be doing this for a while longer. I can't last forever...

(I do even have a new product in the works. It's not brake related either. More news as it comes.)

 

[bottombracket]

Thank you for what you do, you keep us on the road!

 

[Rainman]

Bringing back an old habit. I ordered some new NiCopp lines from a new source with a good price. HUGE mistake. The lines are NOT Nickel OR Copper. They aren't even the right color. I figured the shots on the site were too bold. NOPE.

Test 1: The tubing is stiffer than NiCopp.
Test 2: The color gives it away in person.
Test 3: It's magnetic.
Test 4: I stuck it in some dirt and watered it every day for about 3 weeks. Look at what it did to the finish. Where the mud stuck to it, it completely removed it from the tubing as I washed it off. And check out the blotchy finish on it too. That was just from water drying on it.
Results: I'll use this stuff to make patterns for FJ60s and anything else I need.

 

[ToyotaMatt]

if your willing to mention the source do it , so others will not get poor materials either ?

sorry you have had a bad experience rainy ............

 

[Rainman]

ANOUNCEMENT!

I now (finally) have all brake lines available to the FJ60/62 bunch. Just the ones common to both. The SLPV setup on the 62s isn't available. It only covers some of the 62s from 8/87 to 1/90 so I don't think that will affect many trucks. I do have a question for those of you who may need these kits:

Would you mind if I deleted one of the 6 clamps? The two firewall lines are quite complex and even more so than the 40's will need a union in both lines to be able to install them more easily. There are so many mounting clamps on these lines, I believe loosing one for ease of installation won't be an issue. I plan to place unions where the arrow shows one of the clamps. This location more or less hides them a bit and leaves them accessible for tightening too. There's no way to install these lines in one piece without ruining the shape to do it.
So. I have most of the master patterns made. I still have these two lines to create. The patterns are made just not the masters. (I'll explain that only if you're interested.)

 

[Rainman]

And to confirm, I have most of the FJ55 lines but only 1 full kit so far. It's the earliest 55 kit. 69 - 6/70. Turns out it's the least expensive of any of the kits. The lines are the simplest to make. That makes them the easiest to install by shear accident. They really have nothing to do with each other. It's just a simpler truck I assume.

 

[EWheeler]

@Rainman Did you ever get the 10mm nuts? Are you waiting on more brake line to replace the bad stuff you got before you can make more kits, or are you open for business for all previously developed products?

 

[Rainman]

Yes. I'm making lines. I figured my latest posts would confirm that. Sorry if I was vague.

I did find a new source for 10mm nuts and I went back to my trusted supplier for the tubing and got more stock from them. The nuts ended up silver and I'm getting them yellow zinc plated now. Hope to be ready later this week.

Edit: Yep, I looked back and forgot about the delay in the line nuts. All is more or less back to normal. Whatever that looks like...

 

[Rainman]

Crankin' some kits out and got a 9/71 - 8/75 kit complete and packed ready for shipping. The guy who ordered it thought the kits were less than half the price. So he backed out. I wished him luck with wherever he found that price and let it go. So if anyone with a production date in those years, "No waiting." That never happens as I make the kits to order when you order. $480.00 shipped. Same price it's been for a long time.

 

[Rainman]

Didn't take too long. That 71-75 kit is called for. Just pending payment at this point. Thanks Duane.

 

[Advent]

I haven’t had a chance to read the whole thread, but do your FJ60 kits have clutch lines as well? Sorry if this was already answered!

 

[Rainman]

Not right now. BUT! I have a 60 in my barn that I may be able to get a pattern off of. Let me check tomorrow and I'll see if I can figure out an estimate for you. That is if it's not crazy.

Sorry for the delay, I've been on a week's vacation in Florida. It's been too long...

 

[Advent]

Thanks! We’re about to convert an FJ62 to a manual and the clutch line I salvaged is ‘meh’ at best. Depending on timeframe and budget it might end up getting that used line to start and do the full brake line kit a bit.

I hear you on the vacation!

 

[Rainman]

I took a look at the 60 and it's clutch line. It's so tight in there, I can't even follow it completely. There's no way for me to create a pattern for it. Sorry. Looks like I'd need one out of the truck. Installing it would be a real pain too. It would need at least one union. Anyway, sorry but I can't help you at this point.