AN Wrenches

[Lucid Moments]

What wrenches do you use for AN fittings? I am about to convert the fuel system on my track toy from a returnless system to a return system and that is going to involve a bunch of AN fittings (all aluminum). I know that I can use standard wrenches for them but run the risk of marring the fittings if I do. Does anyone have a recommendation for a decent but not break the bank set of AN wrenches? Or should I bother? Appearances are not at the top of my list of concerns so if all I risk is a little scratching on the finish I don't really care. But I really care about function so if I might impair the function of the fittings I really do care.,

 

[Duster346]

I got a cheap set from Summit Racing.

 

[oldwino]

Agree with Duster…the cheapy Amazon or whatever will do the same thing as the expensive ones. It’s not like you’re putting a bunch of torque on them

 

[cvairwerks]

All we use are stock wrenches at work. Nothing but AN or Beam-Seal fittings on hydraulic, liquid cooling or oxygen systems.

 

[egdede]

Don't use your wright-grip wrenches (if you have any).

 

[Sumboodie]

I use normal wrenches, but very rarely work on stuff with aluminum fittings.

 

[sweet victory]

These have been on my wishlist for a while.

JOES Double End AN Wrenches - JOES Racing Products

Get to those hard-to-reach places with JOES Double end AN Wrenches. Designed to allow you to turn a fitting in 15° increments. Bright anodizing helps find t

www.joesracing.com

 

[Uofime]

For the half dozen fittings you’re using, you can just wrap tape (duct, electrical, gaffer) around the two sides of an adjustable wrench. It’s slightly fiddly but free....
More money for maintenance on the race car!

 

[Steve_P]

I would use a Knipex plier wrench if you have access for one. It's the ideal tool for something like this

 

[4lug39]

Like others have said, tape on the fittings and an adjustable or combonation wrench.
I broke down a coulpe of years ago and bought two of these. I can only find one now that I'm looking for them.
We did a fuel system update on someons elses car and I wanted not to worry about fittings. They don't need to be beefy as you don't use a lot of force on them.

 

[ZRX61]

All we use are stock wrenches at work. Nothing but AN or Beam-Seal fittings on hydraulic, liquid cooling or oxygen systems.

Ditto

 

[bob15]

All we use are stock wrenches at work. Nothing but AN or Beam-Seal fittings on hydraulic, liquid cooling or oxygen systems.

Are those steel AN fittings or aluminum AN fittings? My guess is steel, SS or titanium......

Regular steel wrenches on aluminum fittings can screw them up or mar them badly.

 

[cvairwerks]

Aluminum, steel, stainless and titanium.... A little care with a properly fitting standard wrench will not damage an aluminum fitting. Biggest problem in the non aircraft world is bozo using too much torque. A #4 B-nut only needs 105 pound-inches of torque at maximum.

 

[ToolPolisher]

I have abandoned my aluminum wrenches of all sizes for a 10" Pliers Wrench for -6 and above AN lines, and a smaller Pliers Wrench for -3 and -4 lines & fittings.

 

[AirMech#406]

I am not at all familiar with AN fittings outside of aviation... people actually buy special wrenches for them?

I use regular open end wrenches, angle wrenches, and crows feet.

 

[JSGAuto]

I am not at all familiar with AN fittings outside of aviation... people actually buy special wrenches for them?

I use regular open end wrenches, angle wrenches, and crows feet.

Race car/performance car uses AN-fittings. I like the adjustable aluminum wrench, it seems the fittings among MFGs aren't held to a tight tolerance for the car market. It's certainly not necessary, but having a non-marred fitting goes a long way on the toys!

 

[AirMech#406]

Race car/performance car uses AN-fittings. I like the adjustable aluminum wrench, it seems the fittings among MFGs aren't held to a tight tolerance for the car market. It's certainly not necessary, but having a non-marred fitting goes a long way on the toys!

If you say so! Sounds like a waste of money to me but then again I dont work on race cars.

 

[Lucid Moments]

If you say so! Sounds like a waste of money to me but then again I dont work on race cars.

You know why people race cars? Because we love work and we hate money.

 

[Sumboodie]

I am not at all familiar with AN fittings outside of aviation... people actually buy special wrenches for them?

I use regular open end wrenches, angle wrenches, and crows feet.

Called JIC fittings by most people. Common on equipment.

 

[Steve_P]

If you are working on a race car and care about the appearance of the $$ fittings, and not just getting it tight, then a plier wrench is the tool for the job. If you don't care that your $20-$40 AN-12 fitting no longer looks new after tightening, then a combo wrench or adjustable is all you need

 

[ZRX61]

Are those steel AN fittings or aluminum AN fittings? My guess is steel, SS or titanium......

Regular steel wrenches on aluminum fittings can screw them up or mar them badly.

Maybe if the mechanic is a ham fisted idiot. I haven't screwed up or marred an AN fitting on an aircraft in over 30 years.

 

[Lucid Moments]

So what I am getting from all the responses on here is that the worst I face if I am careless is marring up some fittings but not affecting the performance then I am just going to use the wrenches I have. I may pick up some angle wrenches for access. So for the system as I have purchased for it all the AN fittings I should be using are -6. What size wrench fits a -6 fitting?

 

[AirMech#406]

So what I am getting from all the responses on here is that the worst I face if I am careless is marring up some fittings but not affecting the performance then I am just going to use the wrenches I have. I may pick up some angle wrenches for access. So for the system as I have purchased for it all the AN fittings I should be using are -6. What size wrench fits a -6 fitting?

If memory serves me right an AN-6 should be an 11/16 wrench size.

 

[ZRX61]

11/16

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have aluminum AN fittings on the Mustang and I have zero AN wrenches.

 

[bob15]

Maybe if the mechanic is a ham fisted idiot. I haven't screwed up or marred an AN fitting on an aircraft in over 30 years.

Like I said....a regular steel wrench can screw them up or mar aluminum fittings, especially if they use a FD+ style wrench. Never said they will do it all the time nor ever.

 

[GlennSullivan]

I got a cheap set from Summit Racing.

Same here, Ive had them for 12 or so years and done dozens of AN plumbing jobs with no issues. I dont know if the latest AN wrench kits they sell is same quality though.

 

[iagsxr]

I've raced on and off for 30 years and never had a set of AN wrenches. My stubby SKs are about perfect for aluminum fittings.

Back when I worked on equipment don't know how many JIC fittings I replaced because they'd been overtightened. Wrecks the taper. They may not leak for the jerkoff who originally overtightens them but once they're taken apart they'll never seal again.