Your largest SAE wrench (home, auto shop)

[TireTracks]

I saw a a few 24" adjustable wrenches today, they were baseball bat sized. mabey i should get one to put in a gunrack in my truck.

 

[Goinlow]

I just don't see the needs for 2" plus wrenches. Are they common on caterpillers and other big diesels?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

1 1/4''

Same here. I think I had an 1 1/2" in one of my stolen kits. (used once)

.I dont think Ive ever used either,easier to get the big adjustable.

Kinda the reason I asked.

Actually you see a fair amount of big sizes in hydraulics as well.

For me 1-3/8 is the biggest combo and when they get real big I break out my 36" pipe wrench.

Good to know. I turned down a pipe wrench that size (first come first serve), when a farmer came in and needed it. But I also have a 24" Crescent wrench that I gave around $30 for. Debating if I need larger (metric up to 32mm currently), or can wait, until I find bargains.

Keep them coming guys, and THANKS

 

[Indy_500]

7/8" combo wrench and a 1" SK socket

 

[beelsr]

They're from Israel. I haven't broken one yet...

How do you like those Ozats? Saw some in a pawn shop last week, first time I'd seen them, ever.

 

[autoace]

2 inch SAE combo wrench!

 

[Indy_500]

2 inch SAE combo wrench!

it's from harbor freight too right?

 

[MOPARHOUND!]

Same here. If bigger than 1-5/8, I'm out of the game.

The largest box end I believe is this arguably NOS Plomb 1164, 1-11/16" x 1-5/8".

Have some 2-1/4" Armstrong combos somewhere..........

Will dig in the 1 inch drive sockets while I'm looking for the Armstrongs..........

 

[Bolster]

The largest box end I believe is this arguably NOS Plomb 1164, 1-11/16" x 1-5/8".

Wow, NOS, way cool! What a find!

 

[jsackin]

I had to post this. This socket has been with us a long time.
3 1/2" Drive - 9 1/8" - 90 lb Wright Socket.
Retails for $5,175.00.

Jori
HJE
http://www.harryepstein.com

 

[carder69]

Check this monster out on ebay:JH WILLIAMS 3" COMBINATION (not my listing)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400131318415&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

 

[Bolster]

I had to post this. This socket has been with us a long time.
3 1/2" Drive - 9 1/8" - 90 lb Wright Socket.
Retails for $5,175.00.

You have no idea how many times I've needed that socket. If I sell my car I think I could swing that price.

 

[Teken]

I had to post this. This socket has been with us a long time.
3 1/2" Drive - 9 1/8" - 90 lb Wright Socket.
Retails for $5,175.00.

Jori
HJE
http://www.harryepstein.com

 

[moronmountain]

1 1/4" is the largest wrench I have in my box. I have a 3/4" drive 2 1/8" socket that I got just because it was super cheap. The largest thing I've ever had to use was 1 1/2" and I had to borrow a socket from a friend that had it.

 

[jsackin]

You have no idea how many times I've needed that socket. If I sell my car I think I could swing that price.

The story behind the socket...

Wright would manufacture two of these a year, i think for working on oil rigs. Anyway, the paper work got smudged one year and instead of making the normal 2, they made 20. The Wright rep stopped by one day and dropped it off and it's been here ever since. I suppose we should either plant something in it or make it the worlds heaviest ash tray.

Jori
HJE

 

[mrholeshot]

Ok lets get those spokes on you bike tightened up (Not me)

 

[mrholeshot]

I had to post this. This socket has been with us a long time.
3 1/2" Drive - 9 1/8" - 90 lb Wright Socket.
Retails for $5,175.00.

Jori

OK lets see the ratchet, lol

 

[jsackin]

OK lets see the ratchet, lol

Sorry. I don't even think they make a ratchet that big. I think this thing must have run off of a machine.

Here's a 36" adjustable wrench though.

 

[mrholeshot]

The biggest socket I have is 4 inches (its made for spindle lock nuts on some big trucks). It's 3/4 drive but isn't like a regular socket. It's like a hexed up pipe with a ******** the back

 

[mrholeshot]

Sorry. I don't even think they make a ratchet that big. I think this thing must have run off of a machine.

Here's a 36" adjustable wrench though.

yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[caper]

Caper,

What the frack do you use that for?

Usually for hydraulic lines.Sometimes for threatening my co workers.

I have a 48" pipe wrench for the really big stuff and the really annoying co workers.

 

[RustFarmer]

I just don't see the needs for 2" plus wrenches. Are they common on caterpillers and other big diesels?

Following is a quote from http://www.vannattabros.com/saw51.html

"The usefulness of the wrenches actually diminishes fairly quickly above 1 1/8". The problem is that the torque capability of the bolt increases dramatically as the diameter of the bolt is increased, and though longer the length of the wrenches doesn't follow. For example if you assume a strong mechanic can pull 200 lbs, it would take a 5 foot long wrench to generate 1000 lbs of torque---a figure that you might well need to achieve even with bolt heads under 2 inches. Wrenches are usually less than 3 feet long which is one of the reasons we have sockets."

Sockets allow the mechanic to achieve larger torque levels with a pipe on a breaker bar, or a planetary geared torque multiplier

 

[gorilla]

2" box wrench, 2-15/16" snap-on socket that's used as a paper weight on my desk.

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

Just for kicks (I work on large equipment all day), I used a 3 1/8" socket yesterday.

 

[fordbroncodave]

auto mechanics use nothing bigger then 2" and that is usually for something like axle nuts or the pinion nut on a differential. maybe even the snug nut on the yoke of a transfercase.

i don't own a wrench larger then 1-1/4 and a socket bigger then 1-11/16. everything else is excessive and compulsive to own.

 

[walrus]

everything else is excessive and compulsive to own.

Not sure I understand this statement.

 

[Stogies]

I use some big wrenches on the high pressure lines on our automatic car wash. (1 3/16 and 1 3/8) and I have to use a cheater pipe often to break the fitting loose. There is a 2 in Bonney in my tool box I bought in a set that I don't think I will ever use.

 

[crewchief888]

2" comb wrench

biggest socket is 2 1/4"

i seldom use anything bigger than 1 5/8" wrench at my current job, or 1 13/16" socket.
at home usually nothing bigger than a 1" wrench, or 1 7/16 socket

 

[jwitt]

My Walbash Railroad Wrench (you have to say it like Elmer Fudd)

 

[wreckercologist]

Not sure I understand this statement.

Me neither.

Wrenches at Work = up to 2". Snappy
Wrenches at Home = up to 2". Crappy

Sockets at Work = 2 3/8" Snappy & Craftsman
Sockets at Home = 2" Crappy

 

[EVOLVO]

Hey guys,
This are the wrenches you need to turn that 9 1/2" socket. I used to use them quite a bit in the shipyards.

http://www.hytorctexas.com/Page_1x.html

 

[Mickey O]

Forgot about service wrenches, 2-1/2":

 

[jethro29]

2 1/2 inches.does't get a lot of use anymore,but keep it in the shop box just in case.

 

[larry_g]

I was at the swap meet today and was specifically looking for a combo 1 1/2" for adjusting the wheels on the tractor. Found a Proto at $1.50. I am happy as I was prepared to pay much more.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[toolfreak]

Biggest I have right now is 1 5/8" but I work on heavy equipment. I need to buy some bigger wrenches but I get by with an 18" crescent wrench. My biggest socket right now is 2 3/8" but will be ordering up to 3" next week.

 

[Stick]

I work on heavy equipment, so I guess I don't fall under the same usage patterns as most people.

Largest combination - 2 1/4" for Caterpillar grader spreader bar nuts. You need a wrench to get the inside nuts on the spreader bar for the circle. A pipe wrench would work, but I picked up the combination wrench cheap.

Largest wrench - 2 5/8" Service wrench that gets used for hydraulic fittings on equipment and fire trucks.

I've got sockets through 2 1/2", but I'm shopping around for a good used 1" drive set that goes through 4" or so.

 

[Coach James]

I just checked some of mine in the garage. One is a double box end, 6 pt, flat, 2" on one end and slightly bigger on the other. Looks like something that would be used on valves.

Another one is a double box end, deep offset, 1.5"/1.75". What's interesting is the steel bar joining them is 1" diameter.

I have several double open end wrenches that are in the 1.25" to 1.75" with bodies that are over an inch wide and close to half inch thick.

I need to learn how to post pics so I can put them up here.

Coach

 

[Arne73]

Plomb 1 7/16 pebble combo, close enough to 33mm for the rear axle nuts on my VW.

 

[beelsr]

Here are the pics....

First is a "family picture" of what I dragged out of the boxes.


12mm, 1" and 50mm wrenches. First two are Craftsman pro, last one is an insensitive Pittsburgh. The sockets are, from left: 1" for scale, 2" Williams, 2 5/16 Williams, 2-3/8 Proto Impact, 3-1/8 Apex Impact, 3-1/8 Blackhawk Impact,3-1/4 Apex Impact and 3-5/8 Proto Impact (1.5" drive).

The 95mm Ozat is on the Proto ratchet - with optional 1" drive kit.

Merk: stop reading here because these pics aren't pretty....

Apex 3-1/8. Yeah, it's been used - at both ends. This is the worst-looking socket in the garage. I call this my ***** socket...


The other Apex, a little rough from the factory. Works fine....


That's a 1" socket sitting in the 1.5" drive space on the big Proto. This is one I've never used but I bought these used as a set. I just use it now to shame Big Bertha (sorry, Heelsroll .


Here's the nameplate.



95mm = 3.74"


1" socket hanging out...

 

[tatra]

ozat...........