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Hobbyist Grade Crows Foot Wrenches Recommendation

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MoparTrucks

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I do not have a set of Crows Foot wrenches and never had a need for them I thought until recently working on one of my tractors and I'm now getting ready to replace the leaking power steering lines on my 2003 2500 GMC HD so...

Anyone have any recommendations for a decent hobbyist grade set (I'd love to have professional grade but money is tight)? I am within reasonable driving distance of most big box stores and places like Oreilly's and Autozone and I could also order them on line so location doesn't really matter.
 
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mustangtyson

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I just looked at the orillys performance tool ones. They are made in Taiwan. They looked like they would work and were 16 bucks. I was not thrilled or impressed with them or anything.

Lots of the other online offerings are made in china. If that is something that matters to you.

The lowest cost USA one is the SK set i believe.
 
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6MocoA

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The Evercraft ones go on sale at Napa occasionally for ~$20. I got a set in metric and SAE. Havent NEEDED to use one yet, but they look and feel nice - especially for the money.

I would also trust Sunex for inexpensive but good.
 
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MoparTrucks

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Thanks, I'll check those out. Just ordered a creeper from Tooltopia and figured if the old lady is going ***** I might as well make it worthwhile!

Its kind of interesting how you dont have a tool and have never really needed it then all the sudden your doing a HTF am I going to get that off type of deal. Its the same way with the cheap $9.00 HF digital calipers....I use the hell out of that now that I have one.
 
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rsanter

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First off, for power steering lines you are best off with a line type crowsfoots wrench.
You don't want the hassle of rounding that fittin in a confined space.
Getting cheap crowsfoots wrenches is a disaster waiting to happen. If it was me I would pop for a quality truck brand ( used if possible) in the two or three most common used sizes you will need. If you are just a hobbiest, the likly hood that you will ever use even half of the ones in the set is very low. Go for quality and save the headache.

With that said. I think the snap on ones are the best I have used. I have also had good luck with the older Mac and proto ones as well

Bob
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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I believe Cripe Distributing has a couple of sets of old Allen crows feet at a reasonable price.
 
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thegroundpounder99

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66354dream said:
I have the Sunex sets and they've been really good.
Click to expand...
I have Sunex also and so does most of the others in our shop. I have the line ones and never had an issue w/ them and they're a couple years old. They're not bad quality, especially for the price and they're nicely finished. I have some SO regular ones too, but I got those used and cheap.
 
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Jim C.

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I bought a SAE set of Craftsman about 20 years ago... They seem pretty good. I don't recall EVER using a single one of them, but they seem pretty good.

Jim C.
 
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crewchief888

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rsanter said:
First off, for power steering lines you are best off with a line type crowsfoots wrench.
You don't want the hassle of rounding that fittin in a confined space.
Getting cheap crowsfoots wrenches is a disaster waiting to happen. If it was me I would pop for a quality truck brand ( used if possible) in the two or three most common used sizes you will need. If you are just a hobbiest, the likly hood that you will ever use even half of the ones in the set is very low. Go for quality and save the headache.

With that said. I think the snap on ones are the best I have used. I have also had good luck with the older Mac and proto ones as well

Bob
Click to expand...

flare nut wrenches & crowsfeet and really not the place to be cheap.

buy good ones, you'll be happier in the end.


:beer:
 
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MoparTrucks

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This may seem like a stupid question but I have never bought off a tool truck. I have a friend who owns a body shop and the Snap-On guy is there every week or so and have been offered the chance to hit him up but never have . Can I just buy the couple sizes I would need for a line wrench type (thanks for that tip too by the way) or do they only come in a set?

I sure could have used a one when I was working on some hydraulic lines on my IH 424 so I would need a few sizes but I get scared off by some of the tool prices I see some guys pay from the tool truck vendors. I also don't mind buying used but so far this year its been slim pickings even at farm auctions.
 
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back2class

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Agreed, this is one tool where cheap can lead to disaster. However, if pros here are saying Sunex is workable then go for it. Very rare where it makes sense to go buy just ONE quality socket or wrench, but in this case maybe that is the best idea. I use my tools a ton and have used a crowfoot wrench/socket twice in my life. I have owned a few tractors too. Even own a backhoe. Just fine I never need them. So maybe just get the one size from Napa you need for the fitting in question you need to get to.
 
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NC-Shaun

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Tekton has a nice set for cheap.....I havent tried them, but am considering them.

http://www.tektontools.com/All_Tools/Wrenches/Wrenches_Specialty

They arent flare nut style. I have come across one or two times where I did need a flare style crow foot for a fuel line on a car that was only accessible VIA a long extension and a flare crow foot. 2 times in maybe 18 years wrenching in a pro environment. I still dont own a set.
 
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efb16acrx

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MoparTrucks said:
This may seem like a stupid question but I have never bought off a tool truck. I have a friend who owns a body shop and the Snap-On guy is there every week or so and have been offered the chance to hit him up but never have . Can I just buy the couple sizes I would need for a line wrench type (thanks for that tip too by the way) or do they only come in a set?

I sure could have used a one when I was working on some hydraulic lines on my IH 424 so I would need a few sizes but I get scared off by some of the tool prices I see some guys pay from the tool truck vendors. I also don't mind buying used but so far this year its been slim pickings even at farm auctions.
Click to expand...

IIRC, you need 16 and 18. But seriously, just get the sunex set. Take that from a guy that works on 3/4-1 ton gm trucks everyday.
 
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n8n

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Curtis Bay, MD
tlpatter said:
craftsman USA can be won on ebay for good prices and are pretty good quality for hobby use.
Click to expand...

Are they better than their RP line wrenches? I bought mine back in the day when most of the Cman stuff was still reasonable quality and they still spread on the first or second fitting. Based on that (and the fact that it was such a hassle to warranty them as most Sears stores don't have open stock line wrenches) I stopped looking at Cman for anything that I expected to have to fight unless I could use a socket or box wrench.
 
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dovco

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I use Sunex and Tekton stuff at work. Either brand is good quality and economical.
I got Tekton SAE and Metric 3/8 drive crow foot sets for about $20 each. They work well.
 
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blackwire

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I have the Tekton set. It is made in Taiwan. It has held up pretty well, although I have used only 2 sizes.
 
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Plombob

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Crewchief is right, don't go cheap on flare wrenches. Years ago I bought a set of Bonney flare wrenches. They would spread and round fasteners. Gave them up for Protos and never had another problem. I bought a Sunex for a cooling fitting on our Mustangs. The finish is a bit sketchy, but it was cheap and works.
 
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