9mm Wrench

[hancock1701]

Hi guys,

I see most metric combination wrench sets from everywhere (HF, Craftsman, etc.) skip the 9mm size. The other day I was bleeding the brakes on a 2009 BMW 328i, took the 10mm to undo the bleeder valve, too big, then tried 8mm, too small. I was like "Damn, I need a 9mm", but I don't have it from my HF set as well as my GearWrench ratcheting set. Most wrench sets under $100 start from 10mm up.

So, how common is 9mm? And what do you guys do when you only need that one size on a car you own, but if bought separately, will not match any of your current sets, hence no where to put it in your included wrench rack or roll pouch?

Edit: By the way, I used an SAE wrench (forgot what size, because I'm not familiar) to get the job done, but I kinda had to force it onto the bleeder valve, the fit was horrible.

 

[Airframer]

And what do you guys do when you only need that one size on a car you own, but if bought separately, will not match any of your current sets, hence no where to put it in your included wrench rack or roll pouch?

Stick it in some guy's tire for safe keeping
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282964

 

[PJNJ]

If you have a Sears or Sears Hardware near by - go take a look. They have been closing out the full polish USA combo wrenches for awhile. A couple of weeks ago, I got a 9mm for $3 and change ($3.47 I think). Otherwise you can look on Ebay for the Snap On, Wright, etc. single wrenches that show up for sale and auction.

As for not matching what is in my box already, it doesn't matter to me. I have Cman raised panel and full polish along with Armstrong, Allen, Husky, Wright (only one for now - a 9mm - go figure), KD, SK, Facom, Williams, Proto, Fuller, Gearwrench (ratcheting and stubby), Indestro, Snap On (miniature box ends - found at garage sale) and maybe some others all mixed in there. Except for the Facom (Italy), Gearwrench (Taiwan and China) and Fuller (Japan), they are all USA. Some bought new, some used, some NOS. They all work just fine.

 

[blackwire]

And what do you guys do when you only need that one size on a car you own, but if bought separately, will not match any of your current sets, hence no where to put it in your included wrench rack or roll pouch?

I put my odd wrenches in pouches like these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-12-1-2-in-Canvas-Zipper-Bag-5139/100630675

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OQSS6S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[gungatim]

I don't get the "9mm is a useless wrench" mentality. I'm tempted to trade the guy who got one stuck in his tire for a 10mm....I have a dozen 10mm, but 9mm are hard to find, especially in an 8/9 open end combo. I must work on some weird stuff (German, French, bikes and such) but I use 9mm all the time...

 

[chris142]

9mm is rare where I work. My 9mm has never been used

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

9mm is pretty uncommon though I have bought sets that did include it. I've bought more sets that don't.

Pick up a Williams. They are inexpensive. Should run you around $5-7 from Amazon if you have Prime. (Though maybe you just prefer to go to the store if you needed to use the tool right then.)

You should probably consider replacing the bleeder valve with a new one after using the wrong wrench on it.

I assume you used a 3/8". It's about 0.02" bigger than 9mm. Doesn't sound like much but it doesn't take much to screw up a bleeder valve, especially if it was corroded at all.

 

[franzdom]

9mm is pretty uncommon though I have bought sets that did include it. I've bought more sets that don't.

Pick up a Williams. They are inexpensive. Should run you around $5-7 from Amazon if you have Prime. (Though maybe you just prefer to go to the store if you needed to use the tool right then.)

You should probably consider replacing the bleeder valve with a new one after using the wrong wrench on it.

I assume you used a 3/8". It's about 0.02" bigger than 9mm. Doesn't sound like much but it doesn't take much to screw up a bleeder valve, especially if it was corroded at all.

No, IIRC 3/8" is 9.525" which would not have been tight. The only I could think it was would be 11/32" which is approximately 8.73".

 

[monkeyspanners]

Got a 9mm Roebuck combination spanner on ebay as it was cheap, only place i have seen 9mm used was to hold the terminal block in place in Hanning milk pump motors. Have yet to use it!

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

No, IIRC 3/8" is 9.525" which would not have been tight. The only I could think it was would be 11/32" which is approximately 8.73".

I doubt he'd have had any */32" wrenches though.

3/8" is 0.375"
9mm is ~0.354" (9/25.4)
11/32 is ~0.344" and most likely wouldn't fit

It definitely wouldn't be a very tight fit and that's why I suggested he consider a new bleeder.

 

[hancock1701]

I used a wrench from my 20 pc SAE and Metric GearWrench ratcheting. Just checked, and it has a 11/32, so probably that's the one. Thanks for all the suggestions, and I'll make sure to remember to replace those bleeder valves next time. It's kinda odd for that BMW to have 9mm valves in the back but not the front.

 

[Dave.R]

Technically according ANSI, DIN, and JIS standards there shouldn't be a bolt with a 9 mm head. Just because of how the thread sizes work out. I do like to have every size just because sometimes you have a worn or buggered up fastener. We offer them in sets and individually for people after the whole range.



Dave

[email protected]

 

[n8n]

I doubt he'd have had any */32" wrenches though.

3/8" is 0.375"
9mm is ~0.354" (9/25.4)
11/32 is ~0.344" and most likely wouldn't fit

It definitely wouldn't be a very tight fit and that's why I suggested he consider a new bleeder.

Any good SAE wrench set should include 11/32 and I like to have 9/32 as well (I'm looking at you, Wright, why no 11/32"?)

But you may not have one for the same reason that the OP didn't have a 9mm...

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

But you may not have one for the same reason that the OP didn't have a 9mm...

Many of you barely have any metric, but I barely have any SAE. I rarely use it. I don't think I have ever owned a wrench that goes down to thirty-seconds. (Well, I've probably had junky Chinese ones at some point, but they probably never got used if so.)

 

[n8n]

Many of you barely have any metric, but I barely have any SAE. I rarely use it. I don't think I have ever owned a wrench that goes down to thirty-seconds. (Well, I've probably had junky Chinese ones at some point, but they probably never got used if so.)

There's not much call for them in any sizes BUT 11/32" and 9/32" unless you're working on really old stuff - but those two are definitely used even today. A full set from 1/4" to 1" would go by sixteenths and also include 9/32" and 11/32".

I just used my 11/32" combo wrench not long ago to disassemble a table fan. It's a standard size for a #8 nut.

http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/nuts.htm

Leaving that out of a set makes no sense to me. 9/32" is less used but my OCD won't let me leave that one out (of course I have one in my set. SK makes it even if they don't generally include it in their sets.)

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I think I do have the sizes in sockets, just not wrenches. I typically use a socket + ratchet when possible rather than a wrench, anyway.

I'm still building up my collection and actually do intend to buy a nice SAE set of wrenches - probably Wright - soon. I'm working from a partial set of a ~$100-125 Craftsman tool set (one of the kind that came in its own case that was something like 18"x12"x5" when closed) and some Harbor Freight and a few various other things. I've gotten some decent metric stuff lately. SAE is just so low priority for me.

(Sorry if this seems like hijacking the thread, though I figure there is nothing important to be said in here that I might be obscuring)

 

[gigamel]

The old French standard used 9 mm heads for M5.5 bolts - had to buy a 9 mm Italian USAG combination wrench to fix my French racing bike way back in 1978 - never used it since until last week when my new fridge turns out to have M6 bolts with 9 mm heads holding the doors.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

M6 with 9mm head? Seems a little odd

 

[thaghost87]

I bought a small 6 point combination craftsman 9mm a while back. I get a lot of brake bleeder screws that are 9mm. (8-10)

 

[franzdom]

M6 with 9mm head? Seems a little odd

It's odd because it has the brake fluid valve included.

 

[kjdhawkhill]

Uh, just checking in here, having scoured my avatar box, my bike tool box, and the general junk drawers...
And this happened to be the first google response: I realized that I don't have the proper wrench to loosen the cable-clamp bolt on my kid's rear derailleur... All through the SAE (small sets not comprehensive), nothing close in metric... Because its a 9mm bolt head. Measured 9.3mm with calipers, but not carefully... At least I had a 9mm socket from the "You're going to college away from our toolset, set" mom gave me 20 years ago, and an adapter from that set to that drive size to the only ratchet I could find - the Parktool ratchet with dial-in-torque specs... Which project required the original ratchet? Where did I leave it?

So yeah, I'll get a 9mm double ended wrench in my stocking next year.

 

[Cleary37]

Uh, just checking in here, having scoured my avatar box, my bike tool box, and the general junk drawers...
And this happened to be the first google response: I realized that I don't have the proper wrench to loosen the cable-clamp bolt on my kid's rear derailleur... All through the SAE (small sets not comprehensive), nothing close in metric... Because its a 9mm bolt head. Measured 9.3mm with calipers, but not carefully... At least I had a 9mm socket from the "You're going to college away from our toolset, set" mom gave me 20 years ago, and an adapter from that set to that drive size to the only ratchet I could find - the Parktool ratchet with dial-in-torque specs... Which project required the original ratchet? Where did I leave it?

So yeah, I'll get a 9mm double ended wrench in my stocking next year.

yes strangely derailleur cable pinch bolts are almost always 9mm when they’re a traditional nut type. Most newer ones now on non-department store bikes take a 5mm hex, but almost any old bike-boom “10 speed” out there requires a 9mm on the derailleurs.

I’ve always wondered why but never figured it out.

 

[bubinga]

Hi guys,

I see most metric combination wrench sets from everywhere (HF, Craftsman, etc.) skip the 9mm size. The other day I was bleeding the brakes on a 2009 BMW 328i, took the 10mm to undo the bleeder valve, too big, then tried 8mm, too small. I was like "Damn, I need a 9mm", but I don't have it from my HF set as well as my GearWrench ratcheting set. Most wrench sets under $100 start from 10mm up.

So, how common is 9mm? And what do you guys do when you only need that one size on a car you own, but if bought separately, will not match any of your current sets, hence no where to put it in your included wrench rack or roll pouch?

Edit: By the way, I used an SAE wrench (forgot what size, because I'm not familiar) to get the job done, but I kinda had to force it onto the bleeder valve, the fit was horrible.

11/32" maybe you used.
Just maybe get a 9mm Williams and put it next to the other wrenches.
Quit being so OCD
JK

 

[bubinga]

If you have a Sears or Sears Hardware near by - go take a look. They have been closing out the full polish USA combo wrenches for awhile. A couple of weeks ago, I got a 9mm for $3 and change ($3.47 I think). Otherwise you can look on Ebay for the Snap On, Wright, etc. single wrenches that show up for sale and auction.

As for not matching what is in my box already, it doesn't matter to me. I have Cman raised panel and full polish along with Armstrong, Allen, Husky, Wright (only one for now - a 9mm - go figure), KD, SK, Facom, Williams, Proto, Fuller, Gearwrench (ratcheting and stubby), Indestro, Snap On (miniature box ends - found at garage sale) and maybe some others all mixed in there. Except for the Facom (Italy), Gearwrench (Taiwan and China) and Fuller (Japan), they are all USA. Some bought new, some used, some NOS. They all work just fine.

What year cicra are the full polish craftsman wrench sets from?
~2000 NOS
or something made recently?

 

[bubinga]

I put my odd wrenches in pouches like these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-12-1-2-in-Canvas-Zipper-Bag-5139/100630675

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OQSS6S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's a good idea

 

[pbon]

I am a BMW guy just like the OP from 2015. Definitely need a full set of metric wrenches and sockets from 6mm to 25mm. I have them all, some in multiples. There are a few SAE that are close enough, but if you have a BMW you can probably afford to complete your metric sets.

 

[bubinga]

No, IIRC 3/8" is 9.525" which would not have been tight. The only I could think it was would be 11/32" which is approximately 8.73".

Almost had to be.

 

[bubinga]

Technically according ANSI, DIN, and JIS standards there shouldn't be a bolt with a 9 mm head. Just because of how the thread sizes work out. I do like to have every size just because sometimes you have a worn or buggered up fastener. We offer them in sets and individually for people after the whole range.



Dave

[email protected]

Early 90's I worked in a foreign car garage, there was a Volkswagen like the Jetta square looking things when you took the transmission out to do a clutch there was one oddball 9 mm headed bolt n there.

 

[bubinga]

I doubt he'd have had any */32" wrenches though.

3/8" is 0.375"
9mm is ~0.354" (9/25.4)
11/32 is ~0.344" and most likely wouldn't fit

It definitely wouldn't be a very tight fit and that's why I suggested he consider a new bleeder.

Yes he did!

 

[bubinga]

I used a wrench from my 20 pc SAE and Metric GearWrench ratcheting. Just checked, and it has a 11/32, so probably that's the one. Thanks for all the suggestions, and I'll make sure to remember to replace those bleeder valves next time. It's kinda odd for that BMW to have 9mm valves in the back but not the front.

Nothing surprises me what you see on a car

 

[bubinga]

Technically according ANSI, DIN, and JIS standards there shouldn't be a bolt with a 9 mm head. Just because of how the thread sizes work out. I do like to have every size just because sometimes you have a worn or buggered up fastener. We offer them in sets and individually for people after the whole range.



Dave

[email protected]

So do you guys sell a 9 mm combination wrench?

 

[bubinga]

So do you guys sell a 9 mm combination wrench?

yes they make a 9 mm
I'd get it from the Tekton site though.
TEKTON 9 mm Combination Wrench | 18278 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q01O8OM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Walkers]

I have a virtually unused SO 9mm in both long and short as well as sockets. I don’t recall ever having used them, but just the thought of having a gap in my set makes my stomach acid start to boil.

 

[rancherbill]

Technically according ANSI, DIN, and JIS standards there shouldn't be a bolt with a 9 mm head.
[email protected]

Please send that memo to the fine folks at BMW. They did not get the original memo. They appear to be quite happy using that size for their brake bleeder valves.

Edit I just took a look at your chart there is no 15 mm. Send a copy to John Deere and a couple more companies.

 

[richfinn]

Brake Calipers on European cars can use odd Metric sizes, 9mm, 11mm for bleed screws and 7mm hex for the slide pins (the threads are also odd sizes) don't really know how this came about, maybe to do with the diameter of the hydraulic lines being based on older Imperial measurements (all brake lines are 3/16" but in Europe they convert it to 4.75mm and I suspect the odd metric sizes are due to this weird anachronism)

 

[bubinga]

$22 for a Snap-On on eBay if you want a Snap-On.

Snap-On OEXM90B 9mm..12pt. Combination Wrench | eBay

<p>Snap-On OEXM90B…12pt. Combination Wrench…prev. owner markings</p>

www.ebay.com

 

[cannuck]

Please send that memo to the fine folks at BMW. They did not get the original memo. They appear to be quite happy using that size for their brake bleeder valves.

Edit I just took a look at your chart there is no 15 mm. Send a copy to John Deere and a couple more companies.

I can't even imagine buying a set of wrenches or sockets that skips any size for any reason. VW guy and yes, I have used my 9mm tools more than a few times. Anyone/company that sells sets that skip 15 are not in the tool business, they are in the money making business. I use 15 almost daily.

 

[bubinga]

I can't even imagine buying a set of wrenches or sockets that skips any size for any reason. VW guy and yes, I have used my 9mm tools more than a few times. Anyone/company that sells sets that skip 15 are not in the tool business, they are in the money making business. I use 15 almost daily.

Yes 15 is a really stupid size to skip it's bad enough skipping 16 and 18.

 

[roofdweller49]

Isn't 15 common for non quick release bike wheel hub nuts?

I'd love to give TOPTUL sockets a try but they skip so many sizes (at least from what I see at cryer)

 

[bubinga]

Isn't 15 common for non quick release bike wheel hub nuts?

I'd love to give TOPTUL sockets a try but they skip so many sizes (at least from what I see at cryer)

Yeah, l like FULL sets.