Tried using a heat gun on a stuck fuel line fitting and it saved me 45 minutes

Honestly I was wrestling with this fuel line fitting on a Cessna 172 for like 20 minutes and it just would not budge. I was about to cut it and order a new line but then I remembered a guy at my old shop in Phoenix saying heat works on corroded fittings. Grabbed a small heat gun I use for shrink tubing and hit the fitting for about 30 seconds and it came loose with a regular wrench. The aluminum expanded just enough to break the corrosion seal without damaging anything. I felt kinda dumb for not trying it sooner especially since we deal with heat shrink all the time anyway. Has anyone else used heat on stubborn aluminum fittings or is there a risk I'm not seeing?

2 comments

2 Comments

adams.taylor3d ago

Yeah Ive done the same thing on stuck brass fittings on air compressors more times than I can count. A little heat from a regular propane torch for maybe 20 seconds does the trick every time, just gotta be careful not to melt any seals or rubber nearby. I usually hit it with some penetrating oil first then the heat, works like a charm even on really crusty old stuff. Just keep the heat moving and dont let it sit too long in one spot and youll be fine.

barbara_butler2d ago

Buddy of mine tried this and accidentally melted a plastic bushing right off a regulator.