12 pt "Flare Nut" crowsfeet for hydraulic lines?

[RedneckWelder]

Hey guys, I'm working on construction equipment and I'm looking to add to my arsenal of hydraulic fitting persuasion tools.

Currently most of my needs are covered with angle wrenches and standard combo wrenches, but I'm running into tight situations lately that they have not.

Today was the final straw- a telehandler. I need a trick up my sleeve for tight spots.

One of the things I'm looking at is 12 pt flare nut style crows feet. None of my coworkers seem to have any dunno but I've been looking at getting a set. They are NOT cheap however. It looks like it's going to cost a cool $500 or so to get a set, and it looks like the "industry standard" is a 15 pc range from 1 1/8 to 2"

Like so

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQA1VBY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Before I drop the cash on these bad boys, are they useful for the hydraulic fittings as I am planning to use them? Anybody have a similar set, what are your impressions?

 

[Ruger_556]

I usually use a normal crowsfoot for hydraulic fittings. I'd probably want 1/2" drive for such a thing if I was going to buy them

 

[RedneckWelder]

I usually use a normal crowsfoot for hydraulic fittings. I'd probably want 1/2" drive for such a thing if I was going to buy them

Unfortunately for some of the stuff I've been working on normal crowsfeet aren't working out.

One of the advantages of this style is they that the "deep" part of it looks like it can handle a blocked/slightly recessed fitting better- the big issue I had today was the wrench kept hitting an obstruction- I think these would have cleared it (much like you can get the box end of a wrench into a tighter spot than the open end)

The sets I am looking at are all 1/2 drive and go from 1 1/8 to 2". I can pick up a set of 3/8 that cover 1" and below for pretty cheap.

 

[Airframer]

Well, if you don't mind a non-matching set, you could get this: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/BonneyCrowSets/AF4062X.html then piece together the rest of a set here: http://store.harryepstein.com/search?q=crowfoot

 

[NC-Shaun]

The Craftsman flare nut crows feet are 6 point and they run about 70 bux a set, why do you prefer 12 points?

 

[RedneckWelder]

Well, if you don't mind a non-matching set, you could get this: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/BonneyCrowSets/AF4062X.html then piece together the rest of a set here: http://store.harryepstein.com/search?q=crowfoot

Damn I was looking at HJE website earlier but didn't see the set, only the individual ones.

Let me price that out real quick.

I don't mind non matching, I just need good quality at a good price!

 

[RedneckWelder]

The Craftsman flare nut crows feet are 6 point and they run about 70 bux a set, why do you prefer 12 points?

Those don't even come close to being large enough.

most of our fittings are 15/16 and above in size. The ones that were a pain today? 1 1/8"

The 12 pt style is not necessarily what I want, but it is what seems to be made in these size ranges, as opposed to the smaller sizes. Proto, Snap On/Williams, Martin Sprocket, Wright, Armstrong, they all make this style in these size ranges.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I really could've used a 3/4" 12pt on a Cummins rear injector line the other day. Hardly any room to get in there, plus no room to spin.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I would piece together a set from epstein. that bonney set for 80 and there is a 1-1/8'' Martin for 20 bucks. Martin makes good tools. The 12 points work fine.

 

[gtermini]

Tools Delivered and save almost $2 bills. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSSCF-15-Hand-Tools-Wrenches-Crowsfoot-SAE-Flare-Nut-Crowsfoot

I've ordered a bunch from TD and have nothing but good things to say.

If they are anything like the other Williams USA sockets, they are going to be almost identical to snappy (statement made without trying to start a ******* match on the subject).

Greyson

 

[RedneckWelder]

Tools Delivered and save almost $2 bills. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSSCF-15-Hand-Tools-Wrenches-Crowsfoot-SAE-Flare-Nut-Crowsfoot

I've ordered a bunch from TD and have nothing but good things to say.

If they are anything like the other Williams USA sockets, they are going to be almost identical to snappy (statement made without trying to start a ******* match on the subject).

Greyson

If I am buying them, i am buying them from Tools Delivered. I priced a set from Epsteins and they were only $20 cheaper than a full Williams set.

 

[justme-]

None of my hoists have any hoses that large, but flare crows foot are a necessity on these beasts, unless you want to double to triple the time spent disassembling shrouds/covers/etc to get a job done. There shouldn't be a problem with 12pt for that application - hydraulic hoses should not be tight enough to round from them...most I've found in our lifts are JIC at the blocks and/or ORB - neither are high torque connections.

 

[gtermini]

JIC fittings aren't supposed to be high torque, but I have started hitting loctite on 90% of OEM connections and it takes about three times what it should to break them loose. The moral of this story is don't go cheap on crowfoots because you'll be up shits creek in a hurry with a rounded fitting and a spread wrench.

Greyson