Mini split rant!!!

[dave sulz]

I have flared the pipe many times with the same old flaring. I use spittle leaklock. Never had a problem.you need to ream the pipe carefully.

[hvac64]

i cut all the flares off and braze. Mitsubishi wants a 45o flare. once and a while we get a leaker at condeser flare connection, thats operator error. I love these mini-splits. If they made a flush mount for residential, i wouldnt install ductwork ever again! I put a Mitsubishi Hyper heat unit in my 24 x24 garage.heats it to 70 at 5o. sweet.

[hvacvegas]

What do you do with the xtra lineset???

horizontal loops. Or, braze in a coupling if you have to.

You still use the factory flares.

[CoolWine]

Agreed that the evaporators are a PITA but the flare's are not a problem.

Start with a good flare tool (I use and like YJ 60278), a clean cut, deburr ends, clean & oil cone, oil back side of flare, use flair wrenches (I'm not good about that) you will have perfect flairs that are leak free. Don't forget that damn nut first and don't overtorque it.

[DeltaT]

Agreed that the evaporators are a PITA but the flare's are not a problem.

Start with a good flare tool (I use and like YJ 60278), a clean cut, deburr ends, clean & oil cone, oil back side of flare, use flair wrenches (I'm not good about that) you will have perfect flairs that are leak free. Don't forget that damn nut first and don't overtorque it.

My distrubutor says there is a recommended flare nut torque wrench now on the market for these units but he could not find any in stock. I'm told they are now easy to find under the Fuj accessories or something like that.

Next system I'm doing I'm going to get that torque wrench.

[yellowirenut]

My distrubutor says there is a recommended flare nut torque wrench now on the market for these units

good to know, Different installers give it a different twist.
some not enough and afraid to damage and others to much and strip it.

[billygoat22]

We've had leaks too. right now I'm the only one at co that owns the special flare kit. skipped getting the torque wrench since thought could get crows feet and use my torque wrench at home.
seems the flare nuts I took w/ me to get right size didn't fit any of the crows feet at store. Another $80 for kit just to torque flare nuts on minisplits?

[pacnw]

our comp has the "special" kit and still can't get it right.

I have seen that torque wrench and did not quite get its use.

size of the flare nuts is weird and I have posed that question before for oil flare nuts. seems there is more than one type of flare nut and they are sized differently. I have both metric and standard flare wrenches and rarely have the exact size to fit the nuts out there.

[techsonac]

We cut off at the evap as well and solder. I have not had any problems flaring em though my guys kept getting leaks at condensers. Started having them buy pre flared solder fittings at Johnson Supply. Cured that.
I keep telling them to use the oil while flaring if not it creates a stereophonic groove in the copper.

[ADillon]

No drier allowed = no brazing allowed = flare fitting required
that being said, I have brazed more than few