Wrenches for Clayton jam nuts?

[word302]

I had seen the Metalcloak wrenches, and both the JKS and RuffStuff ones look nice as well. The issue was that according to the Clayton directions neither of them had the correct sizes available. Thanks for the input though, and had I known what I know now, those would have been perfect.

I emailed Clayton and got the following response, along with a picture of their wrenches on the nuts:
"Hello. We have used the 46mm and 1 7/16 for many years now. Not sure if the tolerances on the wrench and jam nuts vary slightly or even brand of wrench.

We have found that the 1 ½ and 1 7/8 the Fastenal Jam nuts call for can be a little loose and if you really pull down end up rounding the edge off. But I understand your point and will look into updating this information with this type of information so customers can make the necessary decision.

Sorry for the inconvenience."

I spent about 15 minutes with a file on each end of the wrench last night and got a very tight fit on both nuts, so I think what I have, combined with the adjustable wrenches, will get me by. I would have preferred the wrap-around style, and may go ahead and order them to have on hand, but hopefully I won't be revisiting these anytime soon after the lift is done!

That’ll work. Just don’t use any Loctite until you get everything aligned.

Sponsored

 

[dlong1119]

Coming back around to this a little over a year later as I was browsing the Clayton site and noticed they now offer a wrap-around crows foot wrench for both of their jam nut sizes. Reading the description they even mention that they're made slightly undersized. At only $15 each and with a much lower profile than the dual sided Motobilt set I bought I think I might just throw these in with my next order. Note - It is a slightly confusing description since they list them as the nut size, not the wrench size, but then also go on to talk about the wrench sizing. Regardless, it looks like they finally got the memo that their nuts/wrenches were out of spec!

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-jam-nut-wrench
https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-1-4-jam-nut-wrench

 

[Inkhero]

Coming back around to this a little over a year later as I was browsing the Clayton site and noticed they now offer a wrap-around crows foot wrench for both of their jam nut sizes. Reading the description they even mention that they're made slightly undersized. At only $15 each and with a much lower profile than the dual sided Motobilt set I bought I think I might just throw these in with my next order. Note - It is a slightly confusing description since they list them as the nut size, not the wrench size, but then also go on to talk about the wrench sizing. Regardless, it looks like they finally got the memo that their nuts/wrenches were out of spec!

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-jam-nut-wrench
https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-1-4-jam-nut-wrench

Really appreciate you and anyone else who brought this info to them. Helps out the rest of us!

 

[John VonJeep]

What are we using these jam nuts for?

 

[dlong1119]

They lock down the adjustable trackbars and control arms.

 

[dragoneggs]

Those would be a nice addition to my onboard tool roll.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

@dlong1119 Thank you for looking into the details. I was about to buy the Motobilt jam nut kit too. Glad I came across this thread.


I'm also looking at the Clayton adjustable front track bar, the install PDF says "Tighten jam nut using a 1-7/16" wrench", should I use this wrench? https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-1-4-jam-nut-wrench

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

@dlong1119 Thank you for looking into the details. I was about to buy the Motobilt jam nut kit too. Glad I came across this thread.


I'm also looking at the Clayton adjustable front track bar, the install PDF says "Tighten jam nut using a 1-7/16" wrench", should I use this wrench? https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-1-4-jam-nut-wrench

@Clayton Off Road can you help confirm the jam nut size used on front track bar and the correct wrench size?

 

[Inkhero]

@Clayton Off Road can you help confirm the jam nut size used on front track bar and the correct wrench size?

For the front adjustable track bar. Use the 1" [2500100] wrench. The jam nut is 1-1/2. The larger one is for their control arms

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-jam-nut-wrench

[2500100]

[2500125]

[Front Trackbar]

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

For the front adjustable track bar. Use the 1" [2500100] wrench. The jam nut is 1-1/2. The larger one is for their control arms

[2500100]

[2500125]

[Front Trackbar]

Awesome! Thanks a bunch for the reply and pics! I’m about to buy the Clayton front track bar to center the axle.

- Did you tighten the jam nut after mounting the track bar?

- What torque did you use? Their instruction doesn’t specify.

 

[Inkhero]

Awesome! Thanks a bunch for the reply and pics! I’m about to buy the Clayton front track bar to center the axle.

- Did you tighten the jam nut after mounting the track bar?

- What torque did you use? Their instruction doesn’t specify.

-Yeah, follow the pdf they provide to get the track bar to the correct length. Once it's measured, just run the jam nut until it stops, no need to tighten yet. https://www.claytonoffroad.com/sites/default/files/product_instructions/4509100 Instructions.PDF

-Install track bar, and torque the bolts to 110 ft lbs.

-I would aim for around 250 ft lbs for the jam nut, like the others have mentioned in this thread. Would be nice if Clayton provided a suggested value for those.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

-Yeah, follow the pdf they provide to get the track bar to the correct length. Once it's measured, just run the jam nut until it stops, no need to tighten yet. https://www.claytonoffroad.com/sites/default/files/product_instructions/4509100 Instructions.PDF

-Install track bar, and torque the bolts to 110 ft lbs.

-I would aim for around 250 ft lbs for the jam nut, like the others have mentioned in this thread. Would be nice if Clayton provided a suggested value for those.

Thanks. One thing I still don’t understand is why they didn’t machine the track bar end so a wrench can be used on it when torquing the jam nut. Like the way the tie rod, two wrenches can be used rather than relying on the frame and axle mounting brackets to hold the track bar. 250 lb-ft is a lot, that’s actually the max of my 50-250 torque wrench. I’m afraid that much of torque applied on a single jam nut may possibly bend the mounting pieces?

 

[roaniecowpony]

For the front adjustable track bar. Use the 1" [2500100] wrench. The jam nut is 1-1/2. The larger one is for their control arms

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/crows-foot-1-jam-nut-wrench

[2500100]

[2500125]

[Front Trackbar]

I was just about to post about using a "line wrench" style that picks up a couple more corners on the nut.

Here's some commercially made ones. Williams is more widely used in machine shops and whatnot. They are part of the Snap-On family.

Williams SCF60 Crowfoot Wrench Flare Nut, 1-7/8-Inch - Open End Wrenches - Amazon.com

 

[Pismo61]

For reference Rock Krawler recommends 250-300 ft-lbs on their 1” jam nuts and 275-325 ft-lbs on their 1-1/4” jam nuts. Not sure how big yours are but it’s not for the faint of heart.

I could hardly get 190 on the control arms with a 26 inch torque wrench.A chassis lift would be nice.

 

[Pismo61]

Thanks. One thing I still don’t understand is why they didn’t machine the track bar end so a wrench can be used on it when torquing the jam nut. Like the way the tie rod, two wrenches can be used rather than relying on the frame and axle mounting brackets to hold the track bar. 250 lb-ft is a lot, that’s actually the max of my 50-250 torque wrench. I’m afraid that much of torque applied on a single jam nut may possibly bend the mounting pieces?

You need a bigger torque wrench.Maxing them out is a no no.I nerded out on torque wrenching awhile ago.

Sponsored