When do you use a wrench over a socket/ratchet.

[Michal]

Might be a noob question, but when do you use a wrench vs a socket/ratchet. Only when there's no room to fit the socket/ratchet or are there other times?

Thanks,
Michal

 

[737mechanic]

Other than what you mentioned one other time would be if you need to make a fine adjustment like when adjusted the lifter clearance on a car or the cracking pressure of the fuel control on the APU of a 737 aircraft.

 

[Michal]

Not to hijack my own thread, but how do you like being a B737 mechanic? I love working on cars and love airplanes so to me it sounds like a fun job.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Experience, location of the fastener, obstructions around the fastener, most of the time it is based on what you see, or in a strange way, a feeling of what would work best in that situation.

 

[APEowner]

The other time I might use a wrench over a ratchet and socket is on a nut and bolt/screw combination. It's more convenient to have a wrench on one side and a ratchet/screwdriver/impact gun on the other.

 

[Indy_500]

The other time I might use a wrench over a ratchet and socket is on a nut and bolt/screw combination. It's more convenient to have a wrench on one side and a ratchet/screwdriver/impact gun on the other.

what he said, a lot of things on snowmobiles require a wrench on one side and a socket/ratchet on the other. you could use a socket/ratchet on each side but i prefer a wrench on one side.

 

[BWright]

Also comes down to personal preference. More often than not I grab a wrench even where I could use a ratchet because they are more comfortable to me.

 

[comedyman809]

Now, why would one use a regular combination wrench over a ratcheting wrench???

 

[Michal]

Again clearance. At least with my ratcheting wrenches the head? is bigger and also you have to have clearance otherwise the head won't "click".

 

[loj]

Wrenches are sometimes easier to deal with than ratchets when the task is very simple. For example, removing/replacing an oil drain plug feels like a wrench task more than a ratchet task.

When you're turning the fastener maybe 1/4 inch with the wrench and the rest is by hand, a ratchet is overkill.

 

[Packard V8]

Sometimes, it's a wrench job, sometimes a speeder, sometimes a ratchet, sometimes an air ratchet, sometimes an impact. Ya' gotta turn a lot of bolts and nuts to instinctively know which is the best tool.
Sometimes, there's a lot of them and you're on flat rate and you want air tool speed. Sometimes, you're feeling smooth and contemplative and a combination wrench is the peaceful, quiet way to go with a few fasteners.
Sometimes, the specialty wrenches come out for tappets, starters, injector lines.
After a few years, ya' just know which to reach for.
And once in a great while, you throw every tool in the box at it, including the BFH, and the fastener thinks it has won. That's when the hot wrench comes out.

jack vines

 

[737mechanic]

Not to hijack my own thread, but how do you like being a B737 mechanic? I love working on cars and love airplanes so to me it sounds like a fun job.

It is a fun job but that is mainly cause I work for an awesome employer who believes in keeping there employees happy. I was a ASE master auto mechanic for 10 years before starting my career in aviation and I still work on my friends and families cars and I still miss the satisfaction of troubleshooting and fixing drivability problems for customers.

 

[Michal]

It is a fun job but that is mainly cause I work for an awesome employer who believes in keeping there employees happy. I was a ASE master auto mechanic for 10 years before starting my career in aviation and I still work on my friends and families cars and I still miss the satisfaction of troubleshooting and fixing drivability problems for customers.

Now you have the satisfaction of keeping people alive and in the air.
Do you work for Southwest?

 

[caper]

My rule of thumb for working professionally is to never use a wrench where you can use a ratchet,never use a ratchet when you can use an air ratchet and never use an air ratchet when you can use an air gun.Time is money for most mechanics.

 

[sberry]

I use a ton of common combo wrenches but i mainly work on my own stuff where the bolts are well maintained. I definitely use air where possible especially in shop, even have 2 battery impacts but still lean on wrenches for common stuff, so simple, easy to carry and cheap if lost or to have multiples or multitudes. Have them in most everything that moves.

 

[Indy_500]

Now, why would one use a regular combination wrench over a ratcheting wrench???

You can put more torque on a regular wrench than a ratcheting wrench also

 

[Coach James]

I use a wrench when I'm trying to break a fastener loose.

Coach

 

[Michal]

Really? I find it much easier to use a breaker bar or just a regular ratchet.

 

[737mechanic]

My rule of thumb for working professionally is to never use a wrench where you can use a ratchet,never use a ratchet when you can use an air ratchet and never use an air ratchet when you can use an air gun.Time is money for most mechanics.

Good rule of thumb.

Now you have the satisfaction of keeping people alive and in the air.
Do you work for Southwest?
Today 12:54 PM

Good guess.

 

[Michal]

Good rule of thumb.



Good guess.

Was it a correct guess ?

 

[Stogies]

I worked for Piedmont then later ugh. Aircraft mechanics have a tough job. Most repairs other that regular scheduled stuff is outside where/when needed. That means middle of the night in Scranton (the last place I worked) I spent many a night sleeping in the cabin while the mechanics where getting brutalized by the weather. A&P guys make good money , but what I have seen you earn it.

 

[Stogies]

OH and the airline guess, if you work for a major and have less than 30 years seniority. I must be southwest.

 

[737mechanic]

Was it a correct guess ?

Yes it was.

OH and the airline guess, if you work for a major and have less than 30 years seniority. I must be southwest.

Your right about that. I would hate to work for any other airline right now. I have been with Southwest for 11 years and I have been on dayshift for 9 of those 11 years and life couldn't be any better.