Got my wrench stuck in a tight place... help me.

tjmonsen5 · Jun 10, 2010

I am building up a jetski engine, and i got my 1 way ratcheting craftsman pro wrench stuck in this tight little place on the intake manifold. I was having tons of trouble trying to get the nut on, because the space between the throat of the manifold, and the mounting flange is very small. I then put the bolt inside the box end of my wrench, and got it on that way. But then i realized i wasnt using my reversible wrench, it was my 1 way wrench!!!! What can I do!! There is not enough room obviously to remove the wrench now, i got it stuck!!

I have been trying to cut the stud, but the space is so small that I am cutting the manifold instead (not good, this manifold cost me 100 bucks!)
I also tried using a punch and hammer to turn the ratchet back, but its not budging.
This wrench just laughs at hacksaw blades, doesnt even scratch it.

What would you guys do?

autoace · Jun 10, 2010

Tighten the nut until the stud breaks, the wrench and nut will come out then with the end of the stud, then remove the manifold and remove the stud, replace stud, put manifold back on, and don't get it stuck again.

tjmonsen5 · Jun 10, 2010

I think the engine block would crack or strip before the stud breaks. Or crack the aluminum manifold.

autoace · Jun 10, 2010

tjmonsen5 said:
I think the engine block would crack or strip before the stud breaks. Or crack the aluminum manifold.

What grade is the hardware SAE grade 5 or metric 8.8 etc.................try it, otherwise you are going to have to get a cutting wheel, and cut between the manifold and wrench to get it off. If you are careful you won't ruin the manifold, just the wrench. I would NEVER use a ratcheting wrench in such tight quarters, looks like it barelty fit in there.

fatboy99 · Jun 10, 2010

Torch the wrench out it's probly cheaper than dammaginh the intake or block
Just my 2 cents

autoace · Jun 10, 2010

What I don't understand is, as you tighten the nut, you will affectively have more room to get the wrench out.....................how did you get clearance to get it in there in the first place??????????????????Since the least clearance is when you start it, and had to fit it in there. :headscrat

autoace · Jun 10, 2010

autoace said:
What I don't understand is, as you tighten the nut, you will affectively have more room to get the wrench out.....................how did you get clearance to get it in there in the first place??????????????????Since the least clearance is when you start it, and had to fit it in there.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I just looked at the photo again, I think you are B.S.ing us. The nut in the head of the wrench would not fit period! The nut would just, then an open wrench would tighten it. I also noticed the wrench is at an angle and the picture is blurry, but there is no nut in the head of the wrench. The shouldered nuts you are using, that can be seen on the lower stud would show in the bottom picture. I am an engineer............the wrench with the nut would not fit, and if it did, since you got it started, there would be more clearance to remove the wrench. The only way it could get stuck, if it fit in the first place, would be if the nut wouldn't tighten at least flush with the end of the stud, and that does not look like the case.

tonydanzah · Jun 10, 2010

I also noticed the wrench is cocked and you can't see the nut.

walrus · Jun 10, 2010

, Can have many turns on that nut with the clearance you've got there. Pull the manifold back off, pull your wrench out

BMPGTI · Jun 10, 2010

I had this problem when working with my brother on his jeep, he was using one of those ratcheting combination wrenches...anyways he wasnt paying attention and backed out the upper control arm mount bolt up to the catalytic converter...we had a hell of a time getting it out of there. We were able to bend the exhaust a bit (more than a bit haha) and get it off, massive PITA.

This looks a little more difficult.

Rickster · Jun 10, 2010

Yup, as said above, cut the stud & nut off between the manifold and the wrench and replace the stud (cover that intake with some tape first).

hedjhawg · Jun 10, 2010

autoace said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I just looked at the photo again, I think you are B.S.ing us. The nut in the head of the wrench would not fit period! The nut would just, then an open wrench would tighten it. I also noticed the wrench is at an angle and the picture is blurry, but there is no nut in the head of the wrench. The shouldered nuts you are using, that can be seen on the lower stud would show in the bottom picture. I am an engineer............the wrench with the nut would not fit, and if it did, since you got it started, there would be more clearance to remove the wrench. The only way it could get stuck, if it fit in the first place, would be if the nut wouldn't tighten at least flush with the end of the stud, and that does not look like the case.

He started the nut by pulling the manifold away from the block and with the nut already recessed inside his wrench, started threading it on. As it tightened, the clearance between the end of thestud and the back side of the manifold closed. Now he can't back the nut off, because it it not a reversible ratchet.

hedjhawg · Jun 10, 2010

walrus said:
, Can have many turns on that nut with the clearance you've got there. Pull the manifold back off, pull your wrench out

If he could... he would...

AustinRoepke · Jun 10, 2010

Get a good-sized mallet and hit it until something gives.

hedjhawg · Jun 10, 2010

Pry the wrench toward the right (away from the block) until it contacts the back side of the intake plenum. Stuff a rag into the intake to make sure no poopoo gets ingested. CAREFULLY use a dremmel with a cutoff wheel to sever the nut and the stud between the wrench and the block-side of the manifold. Work slowly and be sure to have several cutoff wheels on hand (as the wheel gets "consumed", it shrinks in diameter, and reduces the "reach" of your cut. You may need to pull the carb stud as it will probably be in your way. Replace the stud. Never repeat.

Shadowdog500 · Jun 10, 2010

Drill a hole in the wrench where the ratchet paw would be and stick something in there to hold it back, so you can rotate the nut backwards. If that dont work you probably need a dremel, saw, or a torch.

Chris

737mechanic · Jun 10, 2010

2 or 3 in. cutoff wheel and you are done in 30 sec.

GT89mustang · Jun 10, 2010

Is the nut tight? Leave it and buy a new wrench.

Demian · Jun 10, 2010

Use a hacksaw blade and partially cut the stud then turn it till it breaks as somebody else suggested.

TheGrooveking · Jun 10, 2010

Ohhhh, the old proverbial monkey grabbing the ball in the vase connundrum. First off call all of your friends over and let them laugh at you.....seriously do as recommended and loosen the nut back off and take the wrench off and then use the correct tool and this time pay attention.

TheGrooveking

Blacknwhitepit · Jun 10, 2010

Demian said:
Use a hacksaw blade and partially cut the stud then turn it till it breaks as somebody else suggested.

+1

That is what I would try.

-BWP

Davefr · Jun 10, 2010

737mechanic said:
2 or 3 in. cutoff wheel and you are done in 30 sec.

^^^ what he said. You won't save the wrench but you will save the manifold and stud.

Plan B would be a cobalt drill bit strategiclly placed at the ratchet mechanism of the wrench. Once the wrench free wheels you can cut it off from both sides. (Dremel, cutoff wheel, or drill holes and a small chisel.)

Bruce Lancaster · Jun 10, 2010

And in the future...what a perfect place for an open-end!

Bruce Lancaster · Jun 10, 2010

Also, once the problem is fixed, use lots of anti-sieze on the thing so you can count on removing it with the open end.

eborcim · Jun 10, 2010

Sacrifice the wrench, and put it on the altar of gifts to the gods of speed.

warmpancakes · Jun 10, 2010

Just remove the other nuts and slide the manifold back to gain access to the nut,

scott37300 · Jun 10, 2010

I use to have a couple skis and built the motors up. And this also happened to me, only difference was I wasn't using a ratcheting wrench so I just loosened the nut back up. And for the guys that don't believe him I can tell you that he probably isn't making this up.

On jet skis there is a very specific order things need to be done and a specific way to do them. I was 16 when I started working on them and learned real quick. I would get a part in and then realise there wasn't room to tighten the next bolt. Lots of doing things twice!

(Ike mentioned sacrafice the wrench. Cheap price for the lesson learned

lipadj46 · Jun 10, 2010

Since you already got some sage advice:

Got my wrench stuck in a tight place... help me

That's what she said...

leftyz · Jun 10, 2010

How about using a cutting wheel, sacrificing the gaskets and cutting the stud between the block and manifold?

filtered · Jun 10, 2010

You can try depending on how tight you made it is go buy a cheap chinese made wrench the same size. Grind the open end till it's skinny enough to fit between the wrench and manifold.

yogitech · Jun 10, 2010

leftyz said:
How about using a cutting wheel, sacrificing the gaskets and cutting the stud between the block and manifold?

You don't want to do that, then, you have to extract the stud thats now flush with the block. Also, its not a good thing to damage the machined matting surface of the block and manifold.

leftyz · Jun 10, 2010

yogitech said:
You don't want to do that, then, you have to extract the stud thats now flush with the block. Also, its not a good thing to damage the machined matting surface of the block and manifold.

you see how thick that copper lookin gasket is though? with a steady hand, it looks like an option.. then just use a bolt extractor (EZ out) to remove the stud from the block

1320stang · Jun 10, 2010

Liquid nitrogen, freeze the wrench, shatter with a hammer, then warrenty it.

Davefr · Jun 10, 2010

warmpancakes said:
Just remove the other nuts and slide the manifold back to gain access to the nut,

He obviously can't. The nut he tightened can't be reversed because the wrench ratchets in the reverse direction. (he turned onto a dead end street with no reverse)

However he should be able to slice, grind, drill or chisel the head of the wrench off.

tonydanzah · Jun 10, 2010

1320stang said:
Liquid nitrogen, freeze the wrench, shatter with a hammer, then warrenty it.

best answer so far.

Professur · Jun 10, 2010

There looks to be enough room to get a hack saw blade in under the wrench with a bit of a wiggle. Slice the nut and stud out from underneath the wrench.

Stick Figure · Jun 10, 2010

If you can remove the remaining bolts and studs, then you should be able to rotate the intake itself which will loosen the nut that is stuck. Gasket may be damaged, but thats going to be the only casualty. Just can't tell from the pics if you have enough room to spin the manifold or not.

slicktoptt · Jun 10, 2010

I would try and dremel the flange enough to get the wrench out. Looks thick enough to take some material off in the area where I put the red line pointing to.

expatriated · Jun 10, 2010

GT89mustang said:
Is the nut tight? Leave it and buy a new wrench.

I like this one :lol_hitti

Davefr · Jun 10, 2010

There's no way I would risk the stud, gasket or manifold. He said it's a Jetski engine so that means parts are expensive and maybe even hard to get. I bet ordering an OEM stud would exceed the cost to replace the wrench.

The wrench has got to be the sacrificial offering here.

Got my wrench stuck in a tight place... help me.

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