Old Imperial tubing bender screws

[miamicuse]

I have a question for those who have used these old copper tubing bender made by Imperial. I think they are called the 360-FHA tubing bender.

The set comes with multiple rounded form wheels, one for each size 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" etc...and there is a pivoting "hook" that is secured to the wheel with a screw.



Well, out of the four wheels I have, two of the hook screws have broken off. These screws take a lot of shear as you bend the tubing with the hook sliding around the tubing as the handles are cranked.

I am trying to find replacement screws, but these are not standard screws, because it has a round shoulder under the screw head that fits the ID of the hook exactly.



Anyone knows if these screws are still available somewhere? Or if they may be "standard" screws if I know the specifications?

[Bob D.]

what model is it?

Can't be of much help without that.

Sorry, I see you gave it as 360-FHA

Can you give me some dimensions off the bolt? They all the same for each size shoe I suspect.

So diameter and length of the shoulder, thread size and length, and the OD of the head.

You give me that and I will find you a replacement (I hope).

[Bob D.]

I would try here, and ask if their part number S66914 will work on your model 360-FHA.

I did not find a replacement parts list for the 360-FHA but I did find one for the 364-FHA
and I bet that screw is the same animal.

https://imperial-tools.com/contact/


If you get nowhere with them then try McMaster-Carr.

https://www.mcmaster.com/shoulder-bolts/

I just took a SWAG at some dimensions and guessed 3/8" shoulder and 5/16-18 thread.

Would something like this work?

[Bob D.]

You are using lube on the shoe when bending correct? As I remember that is called for in the instructions. I bent thousands of feet of copper and SS tubing piping up instrument panels and running through tray. We used Imperial and RIDGID hand benders and also a Parker bender which was mounted on the bench but I don't remember the model.

I worked a job years ago where we were building a 140k SqFt bus maintenance garage and ran .125" wall 3/4" OD steel tubing to each service bay. I think there were five lines; two motor oil lines, plus transmission fluid, gear oil, grease. We used an electricians big Greenlee conduit bender for that because the steel tubing was breaking all our RIDGID tubing benders. The same screw that is breaking for you. What we really needed was a pipe bender but the shop didn't have one, so we borrowed the Sparky's bender. Had to learn the sparky way of doing things to use the conduit bender gain and takeout markings which took some getting used to. End-to-back and other crazy ways of measuring which just seem crazy when you're used to working C-C or E-C. It was all field run so we didn't have any hard locations to meet except for a couple wall penetrations so we got it done. Looked good when it was over.

[Bob D.]

miamicuse , did you ever get your tubing bender fixed?

[cactusman]

Don't you simply hate it when someone asks for help or ideas and never returns to let us know if they were successful or not.

Cactus Man

[Bob D.]

It happens. People have time to ask others to do their research but not to thank them when they do. He was last on here on 9/26 so he could have responded if he saw this thread. But is under no obligation to do so of course.

There is so little participation on this forum any more. Does anyone post anything other than asking for help besides me? I started my shop blog so I could relay what I'm doing when I'm in the shop. I also post about other topics I think might be of interest to some of you or about things I think you should be aware of, but little acknowledgement from the regulars other than a handful of members. Makes me ponder if it's worth my time to bother any more.

I think about half the new posts are people who sign up just so they can ask for help with a RIDGID tool they have a problem with. Sometimes they come back but many times they never visit after making that initial request. So did they ever find out if anyone responded I don't know. Maybe they found the answer elsewhere and didn't need to come back. Again don't know but it's a definite possibility which while frustrating for those here who offered help is understandable and they have done nothing wrong by not acknowledging the assistance.

I'm on here more than most, at least 3x a day, but that's because I'm watching out for the spammers so I can delete their junk and ban them so they don't post more garbage. So I look at almost every post and will sometimes make a comment in a new thread IF I think I have something worthwhile to offer but not always.

[blue_can]

I always feel obliged to return and update or thank people who take the time to respond to a question on online forums. But not everyone does this - unfortunately just the way things are with online forums.

I do visit fairly regularly but I don't post much since I don't do much by way of plumbing or woodworking anymore. I agree with Bob that a lot of people sign up to ask about Ridgid tool or to complain about the LSA thinking that this is somehow a Ridgid monitored forum.

[cactusman]

OK I'm posting something to keep this forum alive!

This coming Friday I get to do "sister in law projects" This is because I'm such a good son in law!!!!!
I have to replace some exterior halogen lamps....have you noticed how their prices increased?
Then, I need to replace a LED dimming light switch...again YIKES the last time I bought one it was around
nine dollars American. Today the cheap ones are over thirty dollars!!!!!

Oh, I'm the good son in law because I can fix stuff, have the proper tools, do it safely, don't charge $100 per hour,
and the main reason she calls me is she does not know anyone else to come by on a to fix stuff.

Cactus Man

[Bob D.]

Comes with the territory, just part of being handy and knowing how to do stuff everyone else was too busy to learn. I get the same 'respect'. But I don't mind helping family out. And maybe someday I will need their help in some area that I am not proficient in.

Not sure how this relates to tubing benders though.

[BadgerDave]

$100 an hour? I don't know anyone who works that cheap.

[blue_can]

Same for me. I'm known to be handy by a lot of people I know and kept getting asked to do stuff - I had to start turning those down due to lack of time even though they wanted to pay me. I rarely do any handy stuff for anyone anymore except on a few rare occasions and if I have time,

[miamicuse]

I would try here, and ask if their part number S66914 will work on your model 360-FHA.

I did not find a replacement parts list for the 360-FHA but I did find one for the 364-FHA
and I bet that screw is the same animal.

https://imperial-tools.com/contact/


If you get nowhere with them then try McMaster-Carr.

https://www.mcmaster.com/shoulder-bolts/

I just took a SWAG at some dimensions and guessed 3/8" shoulder and 5/16-18 thread.

Would something like this work?

I apologize for the delay in response.

I couldn't find anything locally in specialty hardware stores, so I looked online and found the shoulder screws on McMaster per your suggestions. I hesitated to order because to order 2 screws the shipping was like 5X the cost of the screws LOL. So I sat on it for another few weeks and finally placed the order, and by the time they arrived I was busy on other things and didn't get a chance to try them. until one day I saw two screws in a miscellaneous parts drawer and I was scratching my head..."oh yeah, those are for the tubing benders" so I tried them out.



They worked fine but they "bottomed" before tight against the lever, they were may be 1/8" to 1/16" too long, so I took out my angle grinder and grind off a tad and that worked.

Again, apologies for not reporting back sooner.

You are right, the traffic is slow on this site so it makes it difficult to visit frequently.