Cleaning out used hydraulic lines?

Start with air, some of the dirt comes out better dry than after it is wet.The rest of your ideas seem good to me.I have used a fair amount of used hydraulic hose and pipe over the years and never had problems that I thought were caused by dirt from used components.

braze a tube brush onto a 3/16 wire rope and pull through. there are a lot of things that could withstand an air blast, solvent cleaning, and even some water flushing:
1)remains of dirt dauber nest
2)surface rust

boiler brush--should reach across the length of the tube

Thanks boys, looks like I am going shopping.

Tube Brush? Guy at the Hardware store will give you a blank look.
Boiler Brush? The same Guy will send you to a Plumbing/Heating Supply store where you will pay through the nose because you don't have an account.
INSTEAD!
Go to your local Sporting Goods / Gun Shop and buy shotgun cleaning brushes! All you have to do is shove a wire down the tube, tie on the brush and pull it through. 👍
I definitely agree on flushing them.
Brush, Flush, Brush Flush. That way you get the big chunks out and then scrub loose the surface rust.

[quote="drujinin"]Tube Brush? Guy at the Hardware store will give you a blank look.
Boiler Brush? The same Guy will send you to a Plumbing/Heating Supply store where you will pay through the nose because you don't have an account.
INSTEAD!
Go to your local Sporting Goods / Gun Shop and buy shotgun cleaning brushes! All you have to do is shove a wire down the tube, tie on the brush and pull it through. 👍
I definitely agree on flushing them.
Brush, Flush, Brush Flush. That way you get the big chunks out and then scrub loose the surface rust.[/quote]

Hell, I got one of those right here! Never would have thought of that! Thanks!

G

Yes on the shotgun brush. I get tube brushes from the vendors at the local engine/tractor show. I use them quite a bit in my cordless drill when cleaning parts in the solvent tank.