Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Crowfoot wrenches

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
elect 101

11-21-2004 18:05:30




Report to Moderator

As an electrician, I don't use too many wrenches, just basic combination wrenches and cresent wrenches. My question is what is a crowfoot wrench used for. I asked my dad once, who is a mechanic and he said for a paper weight, so what is the real use, they must have one, or snap on , mac etc wouldn't make them.




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Dean Minnesota

11-23-2004 17:20:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
They are also handy under the sink when changing valves.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Craig TN

11-23-2004 06:02:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
If you need to torque a nut that will not accept a socket you can use a crow's foot socket turned 90 degrees to either side on the torque wrench. This will allow you to apply proper torque without calculation as it adds no effective length to the torque wrench.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
NC Wayne

11-21-2004 20:20:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
Being a heavy equipment mechanic I can say they do come in handy once in a while on bolts and nuts in hard to reach places, but their worth their weight in gold when doing hydraulic work. If you have a valve body with multiple lines coming off of it you can't get a wrench to the lines in the middle. Being a line of course you can't get a socket on it, and because of the lack of clearance a regular wrench is out of the question, and that is where the crows foot comes in. Maybe it's design, I don't know, but usually there is just enough clearance between the lines to get a crows foot of the correct size on the nut and still have at least a few degrees of swing before you have to reposition. So with the wrench on the nut and an extension long enough to get above the lines it gives you plenty of room to put a rachet on it and get the line loose. They also work well under basically the same conditions when you have a line running up/down into an area where there isn't room to get your hand, a wrench, and enough leverage to do anyting. Once again, a crows foot, a long extension, and a rachet and your in business.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JoeK

11-21-2004 19:24:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
They are one of the tools that you never know you need until you need one.A set came with my tools when I bought em 20 yrs ago and the only time I ever used one was one time when I used it with a breaker bar to remove a stubborn 1" nut.Prolly not a major priority to buy unless you do a lot of exhaust manifold,gland nut or front suspension work.Mine were sold a couple yrs back and I have not missed them yet.I've got a couple/three different"around the corner,behind the widget"distributor and such wrenches with kinks&bends that will get most places I want to get,and a set of cheap import combos for "bend and burn" applications.Now if I could just find a toolbox ta fit my 38"x5/8 box end :)

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
David - OR

11-21-2004 19:17:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
I've used them to take fuel injection hard lines off a Stanadyne diesel fuel injection pump. You can't use a socket because of the fuel line through the fitting. You can't use a fitting wrench or even a plain open end wrench because there isn't enough clearance to the side to swing the wrench.

But the crow's foot wrench is short enough to fit into the available space, and you can turn the crow's foot with a ratchet with an extension on it. The fittings are not torqued all that tight, so a few passes is all that it takes to get the thing loose enough to spin off the rest of the way with your fingers.

I can't think of another way to do this sort of tight-clearance job.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
VaTom

11-22-2004 03:54:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to David - OR, 11-21-2004 19:17:56  
That"s my normal application too, injector lines. My set is line wrenches. From Harbor Freight no less. Bought "em thinking they"d probably come in handy. Yup, a few times/yr.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
kraigWY

11-21-2004 18:39:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to elect 101, 11-21-2004 18:05:30  
There are several applications for crow foot wrenches that come down the pike. You will know them when you see them. Example: adjusting the dist. on my 61 IH Dump Truck. I have been gonna get a set for several years. and have been cussing myself several times for putting it off. Finely got in the truck and made a trip of 70 miles Each way to get a set in metric and SAE.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

11-22-2004 05:57:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to kraigWY, 11-21-2004 18:39:27  
Hi ya Buddy!

You failed to mention the rest of the story.

For instance, if you are like me, your mailbox is 12 miles away. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Stickler

11-22-2004 10:13:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to Allan in NE, 11-22-2004 05:57:16  
Me too, mine's 15 miles away, and ain't no harbour freight within about 300 miles.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
HarryG

11-24-2004 13:27:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Crowfoot wrenches in reply to Stickler, 11-22-2004 10:13:39  
Now flare nut crowfoot sockets come in REAL handy on fuel lines and such. Basic crowfoots I rarely use but when I need a flare wrench and the area is too tight I use the flare nut crowfoot.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy