The Right Tool for the Job

Myles Clifton

  I can’t recall how many times I’ve had a mess when trying to make a repair. Blown hydraulic hoses spewing oil, only to have more oil leak out while you undo fittings to remove the hose. Always when you're in the field, everything is covered in dirt, which is now covered in oil. This can often times make the job much more frustrating than it should be. These things only happen when you’re busy. 

   A major pain that can come with hose removal is having the proper wrench. Especially, on larger, newer equipment hoses and fittings are often large sizes in tight and confined areas. This can be a hindrance when removal is necessary and a typical combination wrench won’t quite fit. As with many jobs the answer to this problem is having the right tool for the job. As is becoming familiar with the types of fittings your equipment uses. This can help determine the possible size wrenches you may need.

  I remember on several occasions where a crowfoot was the only answer for the job. Once I was removing a hose on a tractor that required a 2 inch wrench. But this fitting was located underneath the tractor cab and was also behind the hydraulic pump. By no means was it the ideal place for a regular 2 inch wrench, which is often very long, big and bulky. The only fast and easy solution was to use a 1/2’ drive 2 inch crowfoot wrench. I attached a long extension and a long ratchet and I was able to break it loose.

  Doing a lot of our own repairs on the farm, especially the easier task, I often took the time to find solutions to common problems. Ways we could do things easy or faster. This could often times require having the right tool for the job. One of these specific tools I came across was the service wrench, sometimes referred to as a pump wrench. Slim and small they’re the perfect answer to many common hydraulic repairs. Made in large wrench sizes but much more compact that your typical wrench. They allow you to fit in those often tight spaces to remove and install lines and hoses.

  One of the worst parts of dealing with a blown hydraulic hose can be installing the new one. If you’re working in the field there’s typically no pre-repair clean up to do before you install the new hose. So things can be messy. The last thing you want to do is pick up more dirt on the new hose. This can cause issues with the hydraulic system and filter. So one thing that can deter this that I often do is plug off the hose and any fittings or ports the hose connects to. Not only can it save you the trouble of contaminating your fluids with dirt and debris but they can also save the lose of your fluids while your making a repair as well.

  Becoming familiar with your equipment and the requirements of some common repairs can save you a little bit of time and frustration. When you have a break down in the field you can to get things up and running as quick as possible. Having the right tool for the job can help get you back in the seat to get back to work.

  There are a great selection of both crowfoot wrenches and service wrenches available and ready for you. Both from brands such as Sunex and Gearwrench as well as American made Martin. A great solution for fast and easy plugs to use on many types of equipment and fittings are Rhino Drip Proof Plugs. These great tools are available from Clifton Tool and Supply LLC. Feel free to contact use today at (573)517-1242 and cliftonbros008@gmail.com. Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook at Clifton Tool and Supply. ∆