Heated pitot installation question

[Snoho3]

Greetings,

Getting ready to install a new pitot into an RV wing. This is definitely a beginner question, but wanted to ask before I did something stupid... How do I bend the 3/16 aluminum tubes that will be internal to the wing? I need to put in a 90 degree bend and do not want to risk kinking the line.

Can I just gently do it by hand? Do I need a tube bender and if so, would a 1/4 inch tool work? And is there a minimum radius for 3/16 tubing? Thanks for any inputs!

 

[f14av8r]

Can you bend it by hand? Yes. Should you? NO!
You'll need some special tools. A better place for your question and research would be the following:

vansairforce.net
eaavideo.org

 

[airguy]

I cut my aluminum tube short enough that it doesn't need to bend, and made the switch to plastic tubing there. Make sure you leave several inches of aluminum to dissipate the heat from the heated pitot though, so it won't soften the plastic. I would advise to measure it carefully and cut it short for the connection, leaving it as long as you can. I put in a service loop for wiring and plastic tubing so I can unscrew the pitot from the mast and pull it down out of the wing far enough to make the disconnects outside the bottom of the mast, that's much easier than fighting the connections through the small access plate. The access plate is for zip-ties on the service loop to keep it secure to a wing rib.

 

[mmarien]

You'll need some special tools.

I used my thumb to bend them into a 90 with a 1+/- inch radius. No better tools than your hands sometimes.  If not this type of fittings works well for pitot/static lines.

https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/avpages/averyefistoolkit.php?clickkey=32397

 

[dynonsupport]

As a note, this is soft aluminum tubing with a relatively thick wall. We bend them by hand here in production. Keep your radius large and bend them only once. This isn't fuel line that needs a lot more care.