Cutting lines off of master cylinder?

[johnbendik]

I'm trying to replace my master cylinder, and (at least one) of the lines has an almost perfectly round flare nut, with only a few lines to mark where the last pair of vice-grips grasped it. I might have to cut it off.

I'm thinking if I cut the line flush with the back of the nut, I'll have enough of the line left after the right-angle bend (about an inch) to to put another nut on it and re-flare it.  Has anyone ever done this?  Is this a really, really bad idea, or just an ordinary bad one?

Another weird thing: the rear-brake nut (the rounded one) is 1/2 inch, while the front-brake nut seems to be something between 7/16 and 1/2.  Does anyone remember what size is standard?

Thanks to all,

JB

[amcfool1]

hey john. Don't cut the line! try this first. Get a VERY small pipe wrench, the smallest I could find is about 6" long, may not be available locally, but they ARE out there. That will FOR SURE get that fitting loose. then, unless the fitting is frozen to the line, you are good to go. Upon reassembly, put some copper anti seize on the line, so it will never seize the fitting. If things are too far gone for this, then you have no choice but to make up a new line, not that big a deal , really.
Yes, one of the fittings is 1/2", the other is 7/16"  . If they are ok, use what is called a "line" wrench, aka, flared end wrech. good luck, gz

[AMC1]

As long as you don't see or smell any leaking fluid from the line and keeping the reservoir cap on of course, I wouldn't be afraid to use some heat. Hand held propane or mapp gas. If you haven't used heat before you will be amazed who much easier it makes loosening up fittings.

[johnbendik]

Thanks, that was good advice, gz.

 I had tried alternating heat, PB Blaster and vise-grips without any movement.  But I found a 6-inch pipe wrench on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009GF3YS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).  That (with a 2-foot long cheater bar slipped over the end) was sufficient to break it loose.

Ah, the magic of the sloppy old pipe-wrench jaws!  I hope whoever invented that slick mechanism lived well and prospered...

JB