International Harvester wrenches... not what you might think
- Thread starter TruckTech
- Start date
txz28
Well-known member
So I was up at the Farmall museum in Avoca, IA today and they had a few displays of some old IH wrenches. Try to guess their application. Its not what you might think...
What is the bottom on in the center????
What is the bottom on in the center????
As best as I could make the tag out... Chain Detacher?
What is the bottom on in the center????
It is for disassembling and re-assembling steel detachable link chains. These are used as drive chains on various old machines, and as conveyor chains. The links are slotted, you slide the link into the appropriate size slot in the tool, pull the handle to bend the chain until the slot in one link lines up with the sides of the next link, then beat it with a hammer until the links slide apart, re-assembly is the reverse. If you don't have a tool you use vise-grips, channel-locks, hammer pry-bar, whatever, smash your hand, skin your knuckles, and take twice as long to fix it.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/~asm222/Components/ASM222_ChainTypes.html
bgott
Well-known member
Most of those are plow wrenches. But I'll bet there are wrenches for just about any equipment IH made on that board.
Coach James
Well-known member
My dad, 80 years old, gave me several of those type wrenches. Dad said he had kept them from when he worked on the farm in the 30's and early 40's. Said they used them on plows and anything else they found they would fit.
Coach
Coach
Gilbert1960
Member
This type of chain was used on row crop planters and other seeders where a wheel would drive the seed meter and you would change spocket sizes to adjust the rate of seed drop. Then you would have to add or remove chain links to fit the spockets.
Image changing 8 to 12 row units (2 spockets and chain per unit) out in the field with a pair of pliers, "Cresent" wrench and a claw hammer using the planter as a work bench.
Northstar9126
Well-known member
A lot of them look like some kind of ninja throwing weapon.
arkangel06
Banned
Now those are some weird/awesome looking ''wrenches''
Im sure youre all probably right, but the museum guy told me they were mostly for one particular application. No one knows????
heelsroll
Well-known member
IH Halftrack?
As you probably already know, most of those old wrenches are cast iron with very limited strength. As a result, a lot of them bit the dust over the years and their ranks have been thinned.
Elroy is glad he has this example of a "binder" in his collect. It's basic carbon steel and lacks any alloy properties. At least it is bulky enough to have some strength
Addition research has yielded the opinion that "1893" cast wrench originally came with a lawn mower. Read that on one of the "professional collectors" pages. Seems there was a lot of research that went into identifying the OEM application.
Elroy is glad he has this example of a "binder" in his collect. It's basic carbon steel and lacks any alloy properties. At least it is bulky enough to have some strength
The middle "1893" wrench is cast iron. It would be function on low torque stuff ONLY. That is unless you wanted to break it. They aren't very strong. The International how ever is fully forged. These old wrenches are typically forged from carbon steel and don't have the strength of a modern "alloy" tool. They are so thick you can't really hurt them. They also bend substantially before breaking so you know when to stop pushing them.
Addition research has yielded the opinion that "1893" cast wrench originally came with a lawn mower. Read that on one of the "professional collectors" pages. Seems there was a lot of research that went into identifying the OEM application.
heelsroll
Well-known member
Wow. One of my coworkers would love you. Hes a IH freak. Hes finishing up his jacked up scout mud truck, and just bought a travelall that will be his daily driver as soon as it gets brakes.
But no, these are not it.
A hint maybe?
Got milk?
Uncle Buck
Banned
Agreed, but real gas guzzlers though! They also sound like a school bus when you are following them! Just about as fast too, but speed is not their strength is it!
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Milk pump?
bgott
Well-known member
Looking again and paying better attention this time I see that there are a ton of repeats in that collection. With the chain splitter that narrows it down to a hay bailer, combine or a turd hearse. No, I can't guess any closer than that.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
I need to know what a "turd hearse" is!
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Farmall makes more sense now!
Those are some really nice IH sets; I've never seen any like them before...
But don't they fight with those sweet Bonney-made John Deere combos of yours?
manure spreader
Merkava_4
Banned
I saw one of these on the road one day...
Gilbert1960
Member
Manure spreader
The old pull type used a chain driven by the wheels to turn a pair shafts with paddles to throw the manure out the back.
But don't they fight with those sweet Bonney-made John Deere combos of yours?
Yea, I have to keep them in separate places!
heelsroll
Well-known member
Agreed, but real gas guzzlers though! They also sound like a school bus when you are following them! Just about as fast too, but speed is not their strength is it!
Oh, I don't know, that green scout got 19mpg on the interstate at 65. The white 2-ton model would do 10mpg all day long, which ain't bad for its size.
And don't forget that in '73 and '74 the torsion-bar front-end Travelall and pickups were available with the AMC 401 V8.
I had a Travelall with the IH 392 V8 and that sucker would scoot!
This one would do 70mph all day with 10 passengers, each with his/her own window!
Very very close...
Looking again and paying better attention this time I see that there are a ton of repeats in that collection. With the chain splitter that narrows it down to a hay bailer, combine or a turd hearse. No, I can't guess any closer than that.
You know, you guys sound like you know what youre talking about. Im starting to doubt my source...
Yes, theyre are alot of repeats. The owner owns of most of whats in there. He said when he sees them at swap meets, he buys as many as he can.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Cream separator?
