Crows feet

[mopar4u]

Not a professional, just a diyer on snowmobiles, atvs, lawn mowers and vehicles. Ive never found myself wishing i had a set of crowd feet. What applications are they best used for? Maybe i need a set

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Hard to reach things or things in confined spaces that you can’t fit a wrench or socket in. Example power steering hose on the back of my dads Freightliner steering box can’t fit that big of a wrench in there and a socket can’t fit either nor would it be able too since it’s a hose. Also used them on serpentine belt tensioners before as well.

 

[sparky 1971]

That's a good question. I'm 51 years old, have taken a lot of things apart and been able to put some, if not most of it back together. I've done most things automotive except rebuild a transmission or transfer case and paint/body work. I have crows foot wrenches up to 1" and 24mm and have never, ever used one. I did try to use one on an easily accessible fastener just to see how it worked. The bolt was too tight and I failed.

 

[plinker]

Hydraulics of any kind. Power steering hose's as well, sometimes brake lines. Odd ball uses.

One example of odd ball, A week or so ago, I had a GM truck fuel tank strap bolt spinning because the stupid clip nut broke (plus rusted bolt threads), only easy way to remove it was use rotobroach cutter to drill the head off, no room for any sort of cutoff tool. I used a 15mm crowfoot on a long extension to keep it from spinning while drilling the bolt head off. Worked very well.

 

[Rinspeed]

I'm pretty sure the only thing I've ever used them for is torqueing motorcycle cylinder base nuts down.

 

[shaune]

In aviation we have occasion to use smaller ones….7/16 - 11/16 ish and when you need one, you NEED one. In the garage at home I don’t think I have used them at all.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I have inexpensive Craftsman ones metric and sae, also used them once but failed, fastener was too tight. Perhaps one day they will come in handy.

 

[Snapped-off]

Hydraulic fittings and fasteners inaccessible by a ratchet/socket are what I've used them on.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I use them mostly on injector lines and hydraulic hoses. I don't use them often but when I do they come in handy.

 

[infinite97]

Hydraulics. Same applications as my 4 way angle wrenches, basically.

 

[Zewnten]

Couple times I used metric crowfoots for fuel lines on small engines along the firewall or frame. That was pretty much the only time.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Occasionally for hard to access fasteners, but I more frequently use them on torque wrenches when I can't use a socket.

 

[ItsNemo]

This has to be the only place where you will find people who use crows feet wrenches. I've had a set for ages on recommendations of this place, they have never been the best option. In fact, I can't remember ever using them successfully.

 

[cvairwerks]

Aviation and heavy equipment work are probably the highest users of them. Gets really fun when you need to torque a fitting and it has to have a backing wrench, and both have to be crowsfeet due to access.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Fluid lines in difficult areas, generally hydraulics, but they have saved my time on a power steering pump before.

 

[plc268]

This has to be the only place where you will find people who use crows feet wrenches. I've had a set for ages on recommendations of this place, they have never been the best option. In fact, I can't remember ever using them successfully.

They're never the best option. They're usually the last option.

Usually use them due to tight access and you can't fit a wrench in, and you don't have enough clearance to stick a socket with extension on.

 

[nadogail]

I purchased a set of Crows Foot Wrenches right after i went to work for a Hydraulics Shop. The jet engine mechanics also use them.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Torquing injector lines.

 

[corn chip]

you can use them for torqing jam nuts on draglinks or tie rod but otherwise i think theyre worthless for home use. in the rare event you ever need one just buy that particular size

 

[d.mcfarland]

I've used the on brake lines coming out of the master cylinder the most.

They are nice on the end of a torque wrench when you can't use a socket like someone else mentioned.

 

[GTO]

In particular, crows feet line wrenches for hard to reach brake line/trans line fittings.

 

[Fedwrench]

Flare crowfeet for power steering fittings on racks. regular open end crowfeet as super stubby open end wrenches often to start difficult power steering hose fittings on racks.

 

[FMB4]

I have both SAE and Metric flare nut Crows Feet wrenches. These can be indispensable when working with hydraulics and fuel lines (as mentioned above). Plus, they don't take up much tool box space.

 

[bobg03]

in the 80's I purchased a set to work on dis-assembling some parts on an inboard boat motor, they were on sale at Sears so I got the metric ones too.

Never used them again gave them to my brother last month, he was thrilled but they'll probably never get used there either.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you can't see the value in them, either straight or flare nut style, you probably don't need them.

Obscured fasteners, where I need the offset from the drive tool, and working with lines of various styles with captive nuts.

 

[02camaro86]

nope, never used them and never had a reason to use them. had a really nice full set of matco SAE and Metric that sat for years. sold them on to someone else so they can never use them and take up space in their box. a few months ago i was given a set of virtually new snap on metric flair crows feet. dont think im gonna sell those but also dont think ill ever use them, maybe brake lines, idk. snap on line wrenchs are so nice i assume the crows feet version will be equally as great if i ever need to use them, may as well keep them.

ive heard they are useful on hydraulics heavy equiptment but i dont work on either so

 

[Fatboy148]

If you need to swap the valve on the top of a propane tank that has a mostly solid guard on it is another place. As was said, it's a pretty specialized tool.

 

[Iridium rand]

They were initially baffling to me how they could possibly be useful, stick an extension on the ratchet then the crowsfoot on that, now it makes a lot more sense.

Naturally hydraulic lines especially need them since they require an open end and are often found in confined spaces where a wrench handle can’t fit

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I pulled wrenches for a living for quite a few years.

Needed a crowfoot for a job one day, can't remember what. Bought a set that were delivered with the parts, finished the job, put them in the box where they have mostly stayed since.

I have needed them a few times over the years, mostly on various machine hydraulic hoses.

You'll know when you need one.

 

[Greg5OH]

Typically hydraulic or other fluid handling fittings, for example diesel injector flare nuts at the pump and injector body, steering rack hoses.
also handy for proper use of torque wrench on a line nut

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

For years my main use for them was torquing things to spec in situations where I couldn't use a socket, like some other posters have mentioned. Just came upon another use recently though. If you ever use equipment where you need BIG open end wrenches, a crowfoot on a breaker bar can be the most economical way to do it. Lately I've been using a spinning lathe where I need a 2-1/2" open end wrench. I shopped around and my best options were either buy the cheapest possible 24" adjustable wrench from harbor freight for $30, or a nos crowfoot for $24 online. The crowfoot takes up a lot less toolbox space too.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Great for old-school A/C fittings. Once you break the fitting free, the crowsfoot by itself becomes a super convenient "stubby" wrench until the fitting is truly loose enough for fingers.

-Ryan

 

[RedneckWelder]

Use mine daily for hydraulics and diesel injector lines. Same goes for angle wrenches. And a lot of hydraulic fittings are extremely tight so they get used with the 3 foot breaker bar a lot also.

regular cars not so much.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

If you ever use equipment where you need BIG open end wrenches, a crowfoot on a breaker bar can be the most economical way to do it.

I ran into something similar while working on my mountain bike. I needed a special tool to tighten a jam nut on a crank spindle. Because of the spindle protruding, a big socket couldn't be used on the tool. I felt it imperative to properly torque this jam nut as it was a super fine thread aluminum nut going onto another piece of aluminum. A big, cheap, 36mm Sunnex crow's foot was like $13 and did the job perfectly.

 

[RTM]

I needed them back in the day when I worked on cars with distributors, as we didn't have those fancy bent obstruction wrenches, or the smarts on how to bend a (now classic wrench. Got along fine without them for decades after that. Now that I am finding them cheap at GS or surplus stores, I am grabbing them, never know when the need may strike again. Just like square or double square sockets. Grab them all when cheap.

 

[FMB4]

Just like square or double square sockets. Grab them all when cheap.

Ya, those Sq and DB Sq sockets are good to have around.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the flare nut style only. My somewhat regular use is an oil pan drain plug that has a wire to the integral oil temp sender. Yeah, an open end would work, but I can also torque it with the flare nut crow foot.

 

[quattroman]

I use them to torque things I cant get a socket on at work.

Suspension service on bicycle forks and shocks. (pictures from the Fox service manuals).

Bicycle hydraulic brake hose compression joints with olives to manufacturer spec




B

 

[Sneezer]

Handy on some serpentine belt tensioners. I was working on my FIL's Taurus a couple weeks back, wasn't enough clearance between the fender and the tensioner to get the normal tool into place.

 

[danski0224]

This has to be the only place where you will find people who use crows feet wrenches. I've had a set for ages on recommendations of this place, they have never been the best option. In fact, I can't remember ever using them successfully.

This is one tool where it's Snap-On or bust.

Line wrenches would be #2 on that list.