Plomb WF-7 9/32 breaker bar

[alton1911]

I found a Plomb WF-7 handle and a WF-15 socket. There is a “lanyard “ hole through the handle... common, but there is also a hole from the end of the handle that opens into the lanyard hole... never seen a similar hole on any drive tool.
What would have been the purpose of this hole?




Thank again,
alton1911

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think that is for a cheater

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Its to drill the hole for the detent ball for the 'cheater' drive bar to live in.

 

[r_olson_06]

Its to drill the hole for the detent ball for the 'cheater' drive bar to live in.

The cross bar? Or in Plomb terms pin handle?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

 

[alton1911]

Sorry for the confusion. It’s hard to explain. I will get some other pics.
Thanks.
alton1911

 

[alton1911]

I took some better shots for comparison.






You will notice there are examples from Indestro, Thorsen, PowrKraft, S-K, all have a hole through the handle.
The Plomb, is the only one that has a second hole from the **** of the handle to the other hole.
So far the “cheater” bar seems likely to me.
Thanks
alton1911

 

[r_olson_06]

Is that for storage of the cross bars?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is the diameter of the hole in the end the same diameter as the cross-bard hole? And does the hole bottom out where the cross-bar hole is drilled or go deeper into the handle? I've never noticed that before, and I don't have a WF-7 (edit) or even a 4766 on hand to check it.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

The cross bar? Or in Plomb terms pin handle?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

Yes, there is a spring loaded ball in there, presumably it indexes in a groove or notch on the bar. Some of the bigger extensions have it too.

I like my Duro 3/8 bar with the square broach in back more than the pins which I never seem to find.

 

[alton1911]

Is the diameter of the hole in the end the same diameter as the cross-bard hole? And does the hole bottom out where the cross-bar hole is drilled or go deeper into the handle? I've never noticed that before, and I don't have a WF-7 (you realize that's 9/32" drive, right, Alton?) or even a 4766 on hand to check it.

Thanks again for all the replies. The hole in the end only goes through to the cross hole. The cross hole has a detention ball that faces towards the end of the handle.
The holes are not the same size. The one in the end is larger. By about .02
Thanks again
alton1911

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Cheater

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I doubt Plomb would intentionally do that. The hole is very shallow and the steel is already compromised there by the cross bar hole. But I can't think of a good reason.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I don't think there's any need for a cheater, an average guy can most likely ruin a WF-7 without any mechanical aid.

I had trouble getting my phone to focus, but here's the crossbar retainer ball in my WF-7 and a wartime extension that has a biger hole, so is easier to see. the crossbar isn't labeled, but came with Plomb stuff. The detent in the 3/8 extension will hold the bar vertically even with aggressive shaking.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think everyone understands the crossbar hole (very common), Slew, and the detent ball (although far less common) to squeeze the cross bar in place. It's the hole in the **** end that has people befuddled. Otg thinks it's for a cheater, perhaps the cross bar itself, on end. I'm not convinced.

 

[d42jeep]

The hole is just to install the spring and retaining ball for the crossbar with room to knurl the ball in place. If it wasn’t drilled it would be very difficult to install those pieces.
-Don

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

That's what I was trying to say.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The hole is just to install the spring and retaining ball for the crossbar with room to knurl the ball in place. If it wasn’t drilled it would be very difficult to install those pieces.
-Don

That could be

 

[Provincial]

I suspect that the ball was staked in place by a special punch that was inserted through the end hole in the handle. The punch would have been shaped to position the ball the correct depth into the recess (that holds the spring and the ball) and pressing or hammering it would have swedged the area around the ball smaller to retain it against the spring pressure. The hole in the end of the handle would had been a larger diameter to guide the punch, and also drill the recess for the ball and spring to the smaller diameter. The depth of the larger hole may have limited the depth that the punch could make the swedge, thus controlling the final position of the ball.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The hole is just to install the spring and retaining ball for the crossbar with room to knurl the ball in place. If it wasn’t drilled it would be very difficult to install those pieces.

Ah. Okay. I though they would install through one of the drill holes, but if not possible, that makes sense!

That's what I was trying to say.

I missed that, Slew. Sorry.

 

[alton1911]

Thank you all again. The installation of the detention ball. The others don’t have such a hole because they don’t have the detention ball. Sorry, I’m not usually so slow on the uptake of new ideas... or old ideas. Seems obvious now.
Thanks again
alton1911

 

[d42jeep]

I was curious so I checked out my ‘39 3/8” set. The construction details are the same on the flex handle and both of the extensions have retaining balls as well. You can actually see the stake marks retaining the ball. The 18” flex handle also has the same retaining ball with the square hole so it can be used as an extension as well.
-Don
-

 

[alton1911]

I love finding plomb tools. It's not common around here, but there is enough to keep me going.
Thanks so much
alton1911