Does anyone use these metric wrench sizes?

[atikovi]

Just looking at my combination wrench set to see the sizes between 6 and 32 mm I don't have if I should have. 6,20,23,25,26,29,31. Anybody ever use those?

 

[bigdav160]

I might have handled a 6mm once or twice. 9mm? no

25mm is really close to 1 inch

 

[Fedwrench]

20mm was found on GM fuel filters and some AC fittings. Haven't used it lately.
I've used 23 mm for attaching Prevost push button air coupling to hoses.
I haven't used any of the other sizes listed even though i have some of them.

 

[Lisamelting]

I use the 6 and 20 pretty often in industrial maintenance. I don't think I've ever used the other sizes.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I started out with European cars in the '60s, the 9mm was often used.

 

[richfinn]

9mm is used on some European brake bleed fittings

 

[Yarpo]

I've used 20 once on something odd, and I've used 23 a few times. VW suspension parts I think?

 

[cliftonbros89]

If anyone makes a 31 it’s a rare find. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a 31 wrench. It’s just not made for anything. So I would t worry about it. I use 30 and 32 often though.

 

[yrly]

I’ve used a 20mm a few times but don’t remember what for. 6mm I ran across while disassembling a washing machine.

 

[plinker]

9mm & 23mm on some Kesla loaders, I found a 20mm p/s fitting on a newer Dodge ('12-'15 IIRC), Moog outer tie rod end nuts for a similar vintage truck were 25mm. I have used a 26mm before, may have been on a hydraulic line.

A 20mm socket can be handy with swelled lug nut removal.

 

[mreisner]

I have used all the larger ones on a John Deere combine.

 

[plinker]

How do you guys remember what you've used a wrench on? The only way I'd have a clue if mine have been used is to go look for grease and dirt on the box end of them.

Odd situation(s) where only a specific uncommon size works/worked. For common sizes, doing enough of the same repairs all the time.

 

[PelicanPines]

I've used 20 once on something odd, and I've used 23 a few times. VW suspension parts I think?

I definitely got something 20mm... and 23mm for sure but I don't own a VW... for the life of me... I can't think of where the 23 is used. The 20 is on a hose fitting somewhere.

Never used a 6mm 9mm... can't think of any other sizes I never used.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Only time I ever used a 6mm was for hex style jets on on some older Mikuni carburetors. Only reason I remember is from having to make a longish drive to Sears to get it. This would have been about 1972 or 73.

 

[bob15]

How do you guys remember what you've used a wrench on? The only way I'd have a clue if mine have been used is to go look for grease and dirt on the box end of them.

If you work on something enough, you remember the sizes.

A couple quick examples:

Spark plugs are: 5/8 or 13/16, with the oddball 7/8 (antique farm tractors)
SBC intake bolts: 9/16 (3/8 bolt)
SBC head bolts: 5/8 (7/16 bolt)
SBC thermostat bolts: 9/16 (3/8 bolt)
McCulloch chain saw bar nuts: 1/2 or 9/16 depending on the class-size of saw

 

[ex-x-fire]

Yeah, I've used those sizes. Especially if the size larger bolt was rounded off.

 

[PelicanPines]

How do you guys remember what you've used a wrench on? The only way I'd have a clue if mine have been used is to go look for grease and dirt on the box end of them.

I like to pull the tools into a tray when I'm doing something. It makes me remember the next time I do something.

For example... to fix a Clothes Dryer… it's always 8mm, 10mm, 14mm, medium flat screwdriver, #2 Phillips, spring pliers, wire harness pliers, sharp stiff putty knife.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Between Japanese bikes, European (and some Japanese) cars, and now with the new stuff coming out of Asia, I've used most of the ones you mentioned. The 6mm is for various covers and IIRC under the dash, the 20, 25, and 26 on a Kia (or was it a Hyundai) and/or a Nissan we worked on a couple weeks back, the 29 and 31 on the old 220 D Mercedes.

 

[atikovi]

Sears has this set on sale https://www.sears.com/kd-tools-carbide-coated-cutter-file/p-00999914000P for $45 which has the 20 and 21 I'm missing plus almost a dozen midget wrenches I don't have. Guess I'll dump the duplicates on Ebay. There is also a $5 coupon code if you add more stuff to total $50, but you have to call customer service for a courtesy adjustment because the set is already discounted and it won't work.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

As fred wrench said 20mm for th fuel filters. My 5/8 line wrench is all beat up from using the 20mm wrench to hammer it on the fitting 5/8 line fitting�� .

 

[Gurp]

20MM for Jap car line fittings and 23mm on front suspension. the rest never used them.

 

[rijndael]

I had to order a 26mm this week, it's for the arbor nut on the 8" bench grinder.

 

[TJKamp]

I have two 20mm combo wrenches, and use them all the time on my Jeep.

The suspension on my 2013 Jeep Wrangler takes a mix or 18, 20, and 21mm. I’m pretty sure there is a 22mm in there somewhere, but I could be mistaken.
Now that I’ve been adding aftermarket parts, I have to have SAE wrenches on hand also including 3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-5/16s.

 

[californiaHank]

I used to use 6mm a bit on small hex nuts (M3.5) on older electronic equipment, but don't see a lot of small hex nuts anymore, and M3.5 is not too common. When I do see small hex nuts, they're usually on M3 hardware which needs a 5.5mm wrench, or M4, which needs a 7mm wrench.

If I lost all my 6mm sockets and wrenches, it wouldn't be a big deal, because on those small, very low torque fasteners, an old school 1/4" wrench or socket is close enough.

My automotive work is all DIY, and not on rust belt cars. I've never used any of 20,23,25,26,29, or 31mm. They're all non-standard sizes. I did buy a 20 and 23 'just in case' a few years ago, but have never actually used them. I use all the standard sizes 19/21/22/24 regularly.

 

[Beerman]

Not to hijack your thread, but 16mm is the one size I’ve NEVER come across. 90% of my work has been done on Jap vehicles, 10% American. 0% Europe.

 

[Hagatronics]

I've used a 26mm on some aftermarket suspension components.

 

[californiaHank]

Not to hijack your thread, but 16mm is the one size I’ve NEVER come across. 90% of my work has been done on Jap vehicles, 10% American. 0% Europe.

16mm is the ANSI/ISO standard size for 10mm bolts.
A bunch of American cars use it.

In theory, German cars are going from the old DIN standard of 17mm for a 10mm bolt to the newer 16mm standard, and Japanese cars are moving from the old JIS standard of 14mm for a 10mm bolt to the newer 16mm standard. As to how long this will take is anybody's guess - the ISO standard has been around for a long time, but some German manufacturers are really stuck on the old DIN sizes and don't seem to be in a hurry to change.

 

[atikovi]

In theory, German cars are going from the old DIN standard of 17mm for a 10mm bolt to the newer 16mm standard,

I see more triple square and e-torx head bolts lately so who knows.

 

[seber]

6 and 8 fairly often on motorcycle carbs. 6 on electronics but those are generally nut drivers or sockets.

 

[Dakkyz]

Working on european trucks, 6mm was pretty much every hose clamp I came across in the fleet, some dash stuff as well.

8-9mm were for the adjuster on the air bakes, also found these on european made nissan and other cars made in the UK.

Never come across 20mm

come across 31mm nut's they were holding the air bag to the frames.

 

[engineer2]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61471&showall=1

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

The DIN standard is 17mm whereas ISO is 16 and SAE is 15mm all for that 10mm bolt ! I guess I can look forward to using my 16mm someday.

 

[lbhsbz]

Anything over 22mm typically gets a crescent wrench

 

[GJSS]

Not to hijack your thread, but 16mm is the one size I’ve NEVER come across. 90% of my work has been done on Jap vehicles, 10% American. 0% Europe.

Off Topic - Beerman please clear some space in your PM's!

 

[John in OH]

A few years ago I was also interested in what the actual, commonly, used metric wrenches were. So, found this table of metric fastener sizes to use as a reference and added wrench info. I won't guarantee it is complete and it includes only standard metric fasteners ... doesn't include tube fittings, special applications, etc.

I'd be interested in any information that others may be able to provide to help improve the scope of the summary!

 

[jgromada]

Seems like i have seen dozens of threads like this on here. This one at least has this chart on the post above this one so I'm posting here so i will be able to find it again.


But it just seems wrong to have a SET that doesn't have each & every size imaginable even if you will NEVER use it. Its just not the Garage Journal Way.

 

[ThePostman]

23mm, mazda rear differential and manual trans check/fill plugs

 

[Batscat]

26mm for some tie rod ends. Can’t remember the vehicles but I use it about once a week when doing alignments.

 

[ChrisLS8]

If you work on something enough, you remember the sizes.

A couple quick examples:

Spark plugs are: 5/8 or 13/16, with the oddball 7/8 (antique farm tractors)
SBC intake bolts: 9/16 (3/8 bolt)
SBC head bolts: 5/8 (7/16 bolt)
SBC thermostat bolts: 9/16 (3/8 bolt)
McCulloch chain saw bar nuts: 1/2 or 9/16 depending on the class-size of saw

Same, I can name off almost every bolt on my nissan

 

[BigBoreFan]

I use 6mm all the time, KTM motorcycles, but a nut driver, not a wrench. It's a very low torque application. Seems I needed a 20 once. Other sizes I have never needed.

I do use 22, 24, 27, 30 and 36 in larger sizes, mostly sockets, but I do own these wrench sizes as well. I use 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 19 in the smaller sizes.