Getting 3/8UNF unions to start threading has been the bane of my life for decades!
That's especially so when working in cramped conditions like the master cylinder on my Dauphine & lately the rear callipers on this (expletive deleted) XJ6 I'm working on for a mate.
But I think I've found a way to get them to start 1st time every time.
I use 2 open ended spanners, one small (eg 8mm) to fit over the pipe & one for the hexagon fitting usually 7/16AF or 11mm
1. Put the fitting in the hole
2. Make sure it's absolutely perpendicular to the hole
3. Push firmly on the fitting with the smaller spanner
4. Turn the hex with the bigger spanner
Worked brilliantly on the calliper cross pipes in very cramped conditions. I was close to removing the callipers to put the pipes on!
That's especially so when working in cramped conditions like the master cylinder on my Dauphine & lately the rear callipers on this (expletive deleted) XJ6 I'm working on for a mate.
But I think I've found a way to get them to start 1st time every time.
I use 2 open ended spanners, one small (eg 8mm) to fit over the pipe & one for the hexagon fitting usually 7/16AF or 11mm
1. Put the fitting in the hole
2. Make sure it's absolutely perpendicular to the hole
3. Push firmly on the fitting with the smaller spanner
4. Turn the hex with the bigger spanner
Worked brilliantly on the calliper cross pipes in very cramped conditions. I was close to removing the callipers to put the pipes on!