Hel hoses, incorrect flare? Opinions please

[b16 mini]

I've got some hel hoses for my ek9, I was about to fit them and noticed they have a concave flare where they meet the hard pipe, where as the oem hose is convex,

This means it's going to be two concave flares clamping against each other,

Personally I think this is wrong and my first thoughts were that they have been made wrong,

I took a quick look at the leaflet that came with it and this is what it says



So I thought ok, I will try tightening one up on a old spare hard line, and the result was a slightly mangled end that looked like it was sealing over a small area,

So what I'm wondering is has anyone else noticed this problem, or what are your views?

I think it's a bit of a bodge and I'm not sure I want to fit them to my car

 

[robbieD]

I guess this makes them more universal and cheaper for Hel to manufacture. Many people use them so it must work but it wouldn't feel me with confidence.

 

[b16 mini]

After looking at Google images of the hel double flares I think mine look different to some others, mine seem to have sharper angles and look more like a standard concave where as others seem more like the diagram,

 

[FreakyParts]

I've been fitting (and supplying) HEL hoses for a good few years now and their double concave flare works fine. Never had any issues with them sealing against OEM hard pipes.
If you're unsure give the supplier you purchased them from or HEL direct and they'll help you out.

 

[b16 mini]

You were the supplier After taking a look in better light my hoses do look like the diagram,

After doing a bit of searching there is a lot of threads on other forums discussing the same matter and people having similar concerns, and the same feedback is always given from hel.

I'm going to fit the hoses as there's not really any alternative.

Hel claim that they seal fine but the thing I don't like is that it damages the end of the hard pipe to suit its self, meaning that if I went back to a oem flexy hose for any reason it may not seal again so easily.

in my mind this double flare design is just a low quality cost cutting idea

 

[FreakyParts]

Then why not contact me

I've had a few customers question it, but when fitted there's no problems and the seal works fine.
As far as I know, it's common to supply the double concave and used by most suppliers.

 

[b16 mini]

I simply wanted to see if any one had any views on it, simply to see if any one had any personal experience with them or had even noticed this design before.

I expect many members on here have bought them and bolted them on with out even looking at them.

 

[NLek]

I noticed the same....I decided not to keep them but going for Goodridge which has the correct fittings.

 

[Dino-Spumoni]

I can't really see what's going on in the first picture because the subject is out of focus.
But I agree with you b16mini I would not feel inclined to mate anything but a convex flared hose end to the concave double flare of the hard line.
At least, however, if it does leak, and you want to go back to a hose with a normal flare then you can just snip off the oddly deformed end of the hard line and re-flare the very end of it.
As my 2 cents I've noticed that even slightly imperfect or crooked DIY flares will be able to seal.