ISO 9001:2015 Certified

'SHAPING INDUSTRIES WITH THE FINEST STEEL'

37° Flared Tube Fitting SAE J514 Manufacturer

TES-LOK 37° flared (JIC) tube fittings to SAE J514 — the tube end is flared to a 37-degree cone that seals metal-to-metal against the fitting nose, giving a strong, leak-tight, reusable connection for hydraulic, fuel, and high-pressure tube. SS 316, Carbon Steel, Brass. Tube 1/8" to 2" OD. Pressures up to 8700 PSI (600 bar). Temperature −196°C to 649°C. ISO 9001:2015 certified. Made in India.

SAE J514 / JIC 37° 37° Flare Metal-to-Metal Seal 3-Piece: Body, Nut, Sleeve SS 316 / Carbon Steel / Brass 1/8" to 2" Tube OD Up to 8700 PSI (600 bar) −196°C to 649°C ISO 9001:2015
37 Degree Flared JIC Tube Fitting SAE J514

TES-LOK 37° Flared (JIC) Fitting

SAE Straight Thread Adapter

SAE Straight Thread Adapter (Related)

Compression Tube Fitting

Double-Ferrule Compression (Related)

What Is a 37° Flared (JIC) Tube Fitting?


Definition: A 37° Flared Tube Fitting — commonly called a JIC fitting (Joint Industry Council) — is a tube connection standardised under SAE J514 in which the end of the tube is mechanically flared out to a 37-degree cone. The fitting has three parts: a body with a 37° male nose, a flare nut, and a sleeve (support ring). The flared tube end is clamped between the body's 37° nose and the sleeve as the nut is tightened, forming a metal-to-metal seal on the cone faces. Unlike bite-type and compression fittings — which grip the tube OD — the JIC fitting seals on the flared tube itself, giving a robust, high-pressure, reusable connection that dominates hydraulic, fuel, and fluid-power tube assemblies in North America and aerospace (where the same 37° flare is the AN standard).

Because the seal is made by the flared tube cone, JIC fittings require the tube to be flared with a 37° flaring tool before assembly. The 37° angle distinguishes JIC/SAE J514 from the 45° flare used in automotive and refrigeration (SAE J512) — the two are not interchangeable. JIC threads are straight UNF, matching the SAE/MS straight-thread family.

How the 37° Flare Seals


1
Flare the tube: The tube end is flared out to a 37° cone using a flaring tool, after the flare nut and sleeve have been slipped onto the tube.
2
Mate the cones: The flared tube cone is placed against the body's 37° male nose, with the sleeve supporting the back of the flare.
3
Tighten the nut: The flare nut threads onto the body (straight UNF) and draws the flared cone hard against the body nose.
4
Metal-to-metal seal: The two 37° cone faces — flared tube and body nose — seal directly against each other under the clamping load. No O-ring or sealant is required (though an O-ring "JIC-O" variant exists for extra leak-tightness).
5
Reusable joint: The flare stays formed on the tube, so the connection can be disconnected and remade many times by simply re-tightening the nut.

37° Flare (JIC) vs Other Tube Connections


ConnectionStandardSeal MethodTube PrepBest For
37° Flare (JIC)SAE J51437° flared tube cone, metal-to-metalTube must be flared to 37°Hydraulic, fuel, fluid-power tube; aerospace (AN)
45° FlareSAE J51245° flared tube cone, metal-to-metalTube flared to 45°Automotive, refrigeration, low/medium pressure
Bite-Type (Cutting Ring)DIN 2353 / ISO 8434-1Ring cuts into tube ODCut & deburr only (no flare)European high-pressure hydraulics
Double-Ferrule CompressionInstrument standardFront + back ferrule grip tube ODCut & deburr only (no flare)Instrumentation, analyser, gas tube
SAE ORB / O-Ring BossSAE J1926O-ring on straight-thread shoulderNone (port fitting)Hydraulic pump/valve port connections
⚠ 37° and 45° flares are NOT interchangeable: A 37° JIC flare and a 45° SAE flare look similar but have different cone angles. Mating a 37° tube flare to a 45° fitting nose (or vice versa) gives only a thin line of contact and will leak. Always confirm the flare angle — JIC/SAE J514 is 37°; automotive/refrigeration SAE J512 is 45°.

Available 37° JIC Fitting Shapes


ShapeConfigurationUse
Male Connector37° flare to male NPT / BSPP / SAE threadFlared tube to a threaded port
Female Connector / Swivel37° flare to female JIC swivel nutFlared tube to another JIC fitting (swivel = no tube twist)
Union37° flare both endsJoining two flared tubes
Bulkhead Union37° flare through-panel unionPanel / wall pass-through
Elbow / Tee / Cross90° / 45° / branch with 37° flare endsDirection change and branching
JIC to ORB / NPT Adapter37° flare one end, ORB or NPT other endConnecting JIC tube to pump/valve ports

Technical Specifications


ParameterDetails
BrandTES-LOK (Tesco Steel & Engineering)
StandardSAE J514 (37° JIC flare)  |  AN (aerospace 37° flare) on request
Flare Angle37° included (per side from tube axis)
ConstructionThree-piece: body (37° nose), flare nut, sleeve
Tube OD Range1/8" to 2" OD (dash -2 to -32)  |  metric on request
Pressure RatingUp to 8700 PSI (600 bar) @ 38°C (100°F) — size dependent
Temperature Range−196°C to 649°C (−320°F to 1200°F) — material dependent
ThreadStraight UNF (JIC)  |  also available with NPT, BSPP, SAE ORB adapter ends
Body MaterialSS 316 / 316L, SS 304, Carbon Steel (zinc/zinc-nickel plated), Brass, special alloys
SealMetal-to-metal 37° cone (standard)  |  JIC-O with O-ring for extra leak-tightness on request
CertificationsISO 9001:2015  |  EN 10204 3.1 MTC on request

JIC Dash Size Reference


JIC fittings are specified by dash size — the tube OD in sixteenths of an inch — with a fixed straight UNF thread for each size.

Dash SizeTube ODJIC Thread (UNF)
-41/4"7/16"-20
-63/8"9/16"-18
-81/2"3/4"-16
-105/8"7/8"-14
-123/4"1-1/16"-12
-161"1-5/16"-12
-201-1/4"1-5/8"-12
-241-1/2"1-7/8"-12
-322"2-1/2"-12

Why Choose TES-LOK 37° JIC Flared Fittings?


🛠 SAE J514 Compliant

37° cone angle, sleeve geometry, and straight UNF threads are manufactured to SAE J514, so TES-LOK JIC fittings interchange with standard JIC tube assemblies and connect reliably to JIC ports from any compliant maker.

🎉 High-Pressure to 600 bar

The metal-to-metal 37° flare seal handles high working pressures up to 8700 PSI (600 bar), making JIC the workhorse connection for hydraulic and fluid-power tube assemblies.

🌡 Wide Temperature Range

With an all-metal cone seal and no elastomer required, the standard JIC fitting serves from cryogenic −196°C up to 649°C (material dependent) — far beyond the range of O-ring-sealed connections.

♻ Reusable & Serviceable

The flare stays formed on the tube, so JIC joints can be disconnected and remade many times — and swivel female ends let tube be connected without twisting the line. Ideal for maintenance-heavy hydraulic systems.

🔗 Easy Adaptation

JIC-to-NPT, JIC-to-BSPP, and JIC-to-ORB adapters connect flared tube to almost any port standard, making the 37° flare a versatile hub for mixed-standard hydraulic systems.

🌟 Full Material Range

SS 316, SS 304, Carbon Steel, and Brass bodies, with an optional O-ring (JIC-O) version for higher leak-tightness on gas and low-viscosity media. EN 10204 3.1 MTC available on request.

Assembly Guide


1
Cut tube square & deburr: Cut the tube square and deburr inside and out. A clean, square end is essential for a concentric, leak-tight flare.
2
Fit nut & sleeve first: Slide the flare nut and then the sleeve onto the tube before flaring — they cannot be added after the flare is formed.
3
Flare to 37°: Use a 37° flaring tool to flare the tube end to the correct cone. Check the flare is concentric, fully formed, and free of cracks or splits.
4
Assemble onto the body: Seat the flared cone against the body's 37° nose, with the sleeve behind the flare, and thread the flare nut onto the body by hand.
5
Tighten by FFFT or torque: Tighten the nut to the recommended torque, or use the Flats-From-Finger-Tight (FFFT) method per SAE J514 for the dash size. Use a back-up wrench on the body to avoid twisting the tube.
6
Pressure test: Pressurise to 1.5× working pressure and check the flare joint for leaks before returning to service.
⚠ A good flare is everything: The seal depends entirely on a clean, concentric, crack-free 37° flare. An off-centre, split, under-formed, or wrong-angle (45°) flare will leak no matter how tight the nut. Always use a proper 37° flaring tool, inspect the flare before assembly, and never mate a 37° tube flare to a 45° fitting.

Industry Applications


IndustryTypical Use PointWhy 37° JIC Preferred
Industrial HydraulicsHydraulic tube assemblies on power units, presses, manifoldsHigh-pressure metal-to-metal seal; reusable, serviceable joints
Mobile & Construction EquipmentExcavator, loader, crane hydraulic tube and hose endsJIC is the dominant North American hydraulic tube standard; swivel ends ease assembly
Fuel & Fluid SystemsFuel, oil, and coolant tube on engines and gensetsLeak-tight metal seal; no elastomer to degrade in fuel/oil
Aerospace & DefenceAircraft and vehicle hydraulic/fuel tube (AN 37° flare)Same 37° flare as the AN aerospace standard; high integrity and traceability
Oil & GasHydraulic control and instrument tube on skids and rigsSS 316 corrosion resistance; high-pressure, wide-temperature seal
Power GenerationTurbine governing and lube oil tubeAll-metal seal for hot oil; wide temperature range
AgricultureTractor and harvester hydraulic tubeField-serviceable, reusable flare connections
Machine ToolsHydraulic and lubrication tube on presses and CNCCompact, high-pressure, reliable JIC connections

Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What is a 37° flared (JIC) tube fitting?

It is a tube fitting to SAE J514 in which the tube end is flared to a 37° cone. A flare nut and sleeve clamp the flared cone against the fitting body's matching 37° nose, forming a metal-to-metal seal. Known as a JIC fitting, it uses straight UNF threads and is the dominant high-pressure hydraulic tube connection in North America and (as the AN flare) in aerospace.

Q2. What is the difference between a 37° JIC flare and a 45° flare?

The cone angle differs: JIC/SAE J514 is 37°, while the automotive and refrigeration flare (SAE J512) is 45°. They are not interchangeable — mating a 37° flare to a 45° seat (or vice versa) gives only line contact and leaks. 37° JIC is used for higher-pressure hydraulic and fuel-power systems; 45° is for lower-pressure automotive and refrigeration lines.

Q3. Does the tube have to be flared before assembly?

Yes. The seal is made by the flared tube cone, so the tube end must be flared to 37° with a flaring tool before the fitting is assembled. The flare nut and sleeve must be slipped onto the tube before flaring. This is the key difference from bite-type and compression fittings, which need only a square, deburred tube end and no flare.

Q4. How is JIC different from bite-type and compression fittings?

JIC seals on the flared tube cone (the tube is flared to 37°). Bite-type fittings (DIN 2353) use a ring that cuts into the tube OD. Double-ferrule compression fittings grip the tube OD with two ferrules. JIC dominates North American hydraulics and fuel systems; bite-type dominates European hydraulics; double-ferrule dominates instrumentation. Choose by region, equipment standard, and whether tube flaring is practical.

Q5. What pressure and temperature can JIC fittings handle?

TES-LOK JIC fittings are rated up to 8700 PSI (600 bar) at 38°C, size dependent, with a temperature range of −196°C to 649°C (−320°F to 1200°F) for the all-metal version, depending on body material. The metal-to-metal cone seal — with no elastomer — is what gives JIC its very wide temperature capability.

Q6. What is a JIC swivel fitting?

A JIC swivel (female) fitting has a free-spinning flare nut, so a tube or hose end can be connected to another JIC fitting without rotating the tube/hose itself. This avoids twisting the line during assembly and makes JIC connections easy to make up in confined spaces and on hose ends. The seal is still the 37° cone.

Q7. Can JIC fittings connect to NPT or SAE ports?

Yes, via adapter fittings. JIC-to-NPT, JIC-to-BSPP, and JIC-to-SAE ORB adapters have a 37° flare on one end and the port thread on the other, letting flared tube connect to almost any port standard. This makes the 37° flare a versatile hub for mixed-standard hydraulic systems. Note JIC straight UNF threads should not be confused with SAE ORB ports — use the correct adapter.

Q8. Is there an O-ring version of the JIC fitting?

Yes — the JIC-O (or "JIC with O-ring") version adds an O-ring at the flare seal for extra leak-tightness, useful on gas and low-viscosity media or where zero weepage is critical. The standard JIC fitting relies on the metal-to-metal cone seal alone and is preferred for the widest temperature range. Specify the O-ring option and elastomer (FKM/NBR) when ordering.