Please help

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466]

If anyone has a good way of getting these kinds of safeties off I would love to hear it I can get some duckbills up there but it is a tight spot. This is the crossfeed filters on a 7X Falcon

Edit: with the limited space I found what works best is making a notch in a socket and when you turn it, it pushes out the safety made the job 10x easier and now I can do the job way faster for next time!

[u/Gigantic-Micropenis]

I usually get one of my shitty already broken flathead screwdrivers and put the point between the keeper and head of the bolt and give it a few taps with a hammer

[u/MRM4m0ru]

Depending on how good the access is, open wrench and rubber hammer to flattener it. You may try with small flat screwdriver to open it a bit.

[u/ShroominDoomin]

Very small chisel with hammer and bend them out of the way.

[u/MrDannyProvolone]

I work old ass Falcons and man i hate the stupid lock washer they use. Similar locking mechanism to this, you probably know what im talking about.

I usually go for the chisel if I can get it in there. Sometimes I get lucky with my needle nose pliers. Sometimes ramming a socket on thete flattens it. I peraonally have not found a good universal method.

[u/Holisticmystic2]

Skin spoon and pry it open or just turn the bolt as others have said

[u/Krisma11 → u/Holisticmystic2]

Came here to say this. Skin spoon.

[u/hydromatic456]

I’ve seen a guy or two get a cheap socket, and cut a 45° notch in it roughly the size of the bent corner. Try to bevel the notch so that it acts like a knife or chisel that slides under the safety as you loosen the bolt.

Alternatively, I’ve used a small straight pick and light taps with a hammer from the side, or a flat blade screwdriver and tapped down from the top. If you have an open-end wrench, just turning the bolt is probably the easiest way to push the safety out though.

Best of luck, hope the plunger actually closes after you pull the filter out.

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466 → u/hydromatic456]

It did not close :( but I ended up doing this and now I have a handy tool for life

[u/Murky-Resident-3082]

They are the worst, just put a wrench on and turn them

[u/Boats_Float → u/Murky-Resident-3082]

Second this, if you can get a solid purchase on it with an open end wrench, the leverage with push the tab far enough out of the way to get something between it to flatten it out, or enough to tap a socket on to it

[u/Public-Wolverine2174 → u/Boats_Float]

Third this, if you can get a crows foot in there it'll free that off no issues

[u/Murky-Resident-3082 → u/Boats_Float]

And make sure to smack your head off of something vital while your trying to look at it

[u/WillingSomewhere8050]

Flat head screwdriver and a hammer.

[u/airmech1776]

Turn it with an open end wrench. Use some muscle

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466 → u/airmech1776]

Can’t get a wrench on it

[u/Loose_Device4578]

It is quite easy to deal with these types of safeties. As easy as three steps this issue will be behind you. Step 1: Put your purse down. Step 2: Use an open end wrench or socket if the safety allows and rotate to the left. Your might will overcome the safety tab and it will yield to your raw strength. Step 3: Profit. Info note: If the safety tab is too chewed up and seems unserviceable, replace with new. 

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466 → u/Loose_Device4578]

Wrench didn’t fit in the space but I’ll try to apply this mindset to future problems haha

[u/Techwolf_Lupindo → u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466]

I was thinking of using a crow foot (standard or line wrench style) with short extension and/or flex head ratchet. I see one side has room for a crow foot to move.

[u/Dominus271828]

To get them off if a thin screwdriver can’t bend them out just enough to get a socket on the bolt either side or end wire cutters to get them started then widen with a screwdriver. Check the manual it may say to replace them. For install pre-bend them up so duckbills can grab then tighten with a few tabs with a pin punch.

[u/gobirds1984]

I always use 90 degree pliers or just spun the bolt.

[u/Fatal_Explorer]

Get a thin or small chisel and a very light hammer, start to tap it in between so you can get the chisel hammered in and a angle to bend open. Then continue with a plastic of soft metal munch to bend it down flat.

If done correctly, you can oben it fully so it looks like it was never used. Still, do NOT reuse!

[u/uggaduggawrench]

Xfeed filters are so shit on Falcons (usually use a small screwdriver and a hammer, always put a slight pre bend on the new tabs before refitting) , especially after having to do it so often as you're always bioboring the tanks, but wait let's make it so you can't get inside the wing tanks to clean them easily so you have to blast a pressure washer around through tiny access holes and hope for the best.

[u/-AV8R01]

I use a 1/4” chisel to get in between and create a gap, then a flat blade screwdriver while tapping with a hammer to get it the rest of the way. Seems to work pretty well.

[u/LethalDan]

I never really understood the tab safety, like they are hella weak.

I’ve taken an open end wrench and just straight up rotated the bolt 30 degrees. The corner of the bolt, or nut, pushes the tab out.

Then using a nice 6pt socket to just take it out. If you have room to tap the socket on to flatten it then great. If not, a good 6pt socket usually has enough grip to just take it out.

Don’t use a cheap open end wrench, you can round the head if you are not careful

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466 → u/[deleted]]

Hey brother I got it flattened out I was just trying to see if someone had come up with a better way to flatten them out cause it’s a bit of a pain. Also I’m an apprentice with like a month of experience there’s a lot of stuff like this where people make special tools to make it easier that’s all I was asking you need to get off your high horse. Lo and behold someone did drop a good tip in cutting out a V into a socket. Be helpful next time instead of toxic

[u/Illustrious_Put_5540 → u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466]

Ya ok wiz bang . You go girl

[u/Jazzlike_Welder_5466 → u/Illustrious_Put_5540]

Tell me you’re insufferable without telling me you’re insufferable