Simple tool to release DOT Air Fittings

[Gary LaBombard]

Please post this in the TECH section when possible, I tried to post their directly but it was locked or I just could not go there to make new post.

Most my posting is about my Eagle only so I don't bore any of you here on this board I don't post too much here any more.  But I have come up with a simple tool I believe a lot of you will be able to use to release any Push On Dot Air Fittings you may have to release or change on your air systems on your buses.  You can get these tools at any flea market for maybe 25-50 cents each I would think.  
1) Buy a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" open / box old wrench.  These are the sizes of the outside diameter of the most common sizes of DOT tubing we use on our buses.  These wrenches above will just slide over the outside of the tubing and allow you to pull down on the fitting locking mechanism with the wrench in one hand while you push in further the tubing to release and then pull out quickly with the hand holding the tubing real quick to pull the tubing out of the fitting.

You will probably have to do this a couple of times to get the technique down right or best for you but you will no longer have to use a pair of pliers, screwdriver, your finger / nails, pliers etc. and I know you tried it all as I did too.  

2)  Bend the wrenches as I have in the photo below, maybe more so in a 90 deg. so that you will be able to grip the wrench with four fingers and hold tightly to the fitting with the thumb as you pull out with the tubing with the other hand.  I would suggest using a acetlyene torch to heat and bend the wrenches in a vise for ease of bending.

Good Luck, hope this helps some of you.

[B_K]

Great info Gary!
  BK 

[goutoe]

Good idea, those things can be a real pain sometimes>>> Thanks John.

[bevans6]

I've used a wrench to do that before but never considered bending the handle, could make a nice assist.  That works on Sharkbite PEX fittings too, btw, which are an awful lot like to DOT air fittings.

Brian