JD2 Tube Bender Hydraulic Conversion

[Frizzle Fry]

Bought an air over hydraulic ram a while ago at HF with the intention of doing this. Finally took some time off other projects to get it done.

Manual tube bender (JD2 Model 32)


Decided to use existing parts as much as possible without making irreversible changes. This manual lever arm became the host for the ram. Here it is in the manual config (I ended up flipping it over later)


Ring templates/guides for plasma:


Cylinder support:


The cylinder assembly slides on over the existing lever arm and bolts on with 3 1/2" bolts. Holes are evenly spaced so two positions are available.


I plan to add a back-bone to the tube/ram support for increased capacity.


With spacers installed:




Template for the ram attachment bracket:


Installed and working

[screamin_c10]

That is slick!

[Frizzle Fry]

Works great. Guess you and I are the only ones who understand the what it does

[VA72C10]

That's VERY cool! Better than what most exhaust shops have....that's for sure

[VA72C10]

Building a roll cage for the minx?

[Frizzle Fry]

No cage for the Minx just yet but I did use it (manually) for the A-arms, engine mounts, and front frame cross-brace. My wife's FJ40 will see the first benefit from this; cage, bumper, sliders, maybe tube fenders, etc.
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[Dunenutt]

I keep threatening to do that to mine...

I keep forgetting how much it hurts, until I get done with another cage.

I do have a 5' handle though

[screamin_c10]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Works great. Guess you and I are the only ones who understand the what it does

Wish I had one... would save a fortune in mandrel bends and pre-bent stuff for the Chevelle and future projects...

[Frizzle Fry]

Wish it could do exhaust!
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[Bomp]

My Jd32 arrived last Friday, ordered the same ram from HF and its here. Have two sticks of 1.5" .120 DOM ready for bending.

Your write up on the bender is going to have a major impact on my build.

Thanks for taking the time on the info.

[Frizzle Fry]

Hey Bomp, just saw this. Glad to help bud

[bnoon]

I've dreamed of doing something like this. Glad to see someone has the time to make the dream come true and work out the bugs before I get to it. :-)

[Frizzle Fry]

One of the best things about this conversion (besides the obvious advantage of being hydraulic) is that it is now mobile and does not have to be bolted down to use. The stand I have it on now has 6 casters

[Alan's Classic]

Very well done. Maybe I can get this setup someday. Thanks for posting.

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks Alan. I saw that Bomp has his converted and twisting tubes up! I'm sure you guys will improve on it

[maxxxy]

Just got the manual version of this at work, it sure is a lot of fun to play with. We are running it in the horizontal orientation. Added a hitch receiver style mount that slides into a slot in the top of our welding table.

[screamin_c10]

Hey Mike... Guess what I'm getting with this next bonus... Gonna do the hydro mod as well (shamelessly ripping off your ideas).
I just got done doing an HF bead roller with winch motor and foot control. Works like a charm.

[rambler]

lots of talent here.. wish I could do something like this..

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by screamin_c10

I just got done doing an HF bead roller with winch motor and foot control. Works like a charm.

Sooooo........ did anybody post a how too on this one somewhere?

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by screamin_c10

Hey Mike... Guess what I'm getting with this next bonus... Gonna do the hydro mod as well (shamelessly ripping off your ideas).
I just got done doing an HF bead roller with winch motor and foot control. Works like a charm.

Do it!
I need to mod my bead roller. Where's the build?

[screamin_c10]

I'll get it posted up ASAP...

[screamin_c10]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=658922

[swamp rat]

Thanks for the link!

[watahyahknow]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Wish it could do exhaust!
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you might be able if you fill the tube with ice
they make trumpets and trombones by filling the pipes with water and freese them before bending , after bendeing they just les the ice taw out and pour it out of the pipe

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

you might be able if you fill the tube with ice
they make trumpets and trombones by filling the pipes with water and freese them before bending , after bendeing they just les the ice taw out and pour it out of the pipe

You're right, might work! I just checked and the biggest die set they make for my bender is 2.5" dia. Big enough for lot's of stuff.

I bent thin-walled aluminum in this bender by annealing it and packing it with sand.

Problem with ice is finding a big enough freezer to put the pipe in..