Wrench for air hose connector

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Air hose end has a connector with a flexible ball joint and compression ring.  Joint is leaking and need to tighten the ring, but only means to tighten is a wrench with two opposing t*ts, like a spanning wrench that goes around the 5/16-inch ball extension part to each side that has the small notch in the ring; notches are diametrically opposed and are only 5/8-inch apart (talking small fittings here).  I have made a few wrenches but metal is soft and the t*ts just break off.  Where might these wrenches be available or am I approaching the problem wrong, or trying to use the wrong tool?Last edited by Chris Bar; 02-12-2011 at 07:15 AM.
Reply:Hummm, a ball end 3' whip hose is only $7 at Harbor Freight.  Is it worth repairing?Would vice grips do the trick?Last edited by rlitman; 02-12-2011 at 11:46 AM.
Reply:For gland nuts similar to what you are describing I have use offset snap ring pliers to tighten the packing, in a pinch.  If it is a recurring job I make a pin spanner by cutting the wrench head and handle out off suitable material and use steel pins from the hardware store for the tips.  For the occasional CamLock drill fixture I have also used the needles from old U-joints for the pins.BTW the cheap Horrible Fright swivel whip hoses have a nasty habit of blowing apart due to poor crimp on the fittings.  I have had to wrestle more than one to the ground, inside the tail cone of a Cessna.  Hate those thingsRogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:Yes, I suppose that I adequately described it.  Actually it is not a repair, just need to tighten the nut.  Tried with tips of my needle nose pliers yesterday, and managed to tighten a little but am concerned I might break good pliers.  I had also tried the ring pliers, the type that can be reset to open or close when closing the grips.  They did not work so well, but again was concerned they would break.Will make the tool you describle Roger.  As I read that you used pins from hardware, thought that small roller bearing rollers would work too, and they are strong.  Pin spanner, so that's what they are called.  I have searched the web but never had the proper name.  Seems there is not a ready built tool that I did not know about, or is a pin spanner wrench a regular tool?Thanks for the comments and ideas.  Bet I can find an old flat wrench around here that can be sacrificed for a useful new purpose.Edit:  Found a tool called an adjustible face spanner wrench which appers just the item needed, if I can find one sufficiently small (1/2 inch).Last edited by Chris Bar; 02-13-2011 at 12:06 AM.