Dumb question

[Terranova]

What specific purposes does a set of wrenches bent like this serve? View media item 87488

 

[lakelandcat]

gets you into tight places you can't get with a straight wrench

 

[Slackerzinc]

Distributor etc, nice for awkward bolts/nuts

 

[Barnabas]

They are also good to fill that empty space in the tool box.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Those are for a reach around.

 

[casmurbax]

Those are for a reach around.

spit out my drink......laughing

 

[Dragfluid]

Those of us that are ancient know those as "manifold/starter" wrenches.

 

[Lwel9226]

Those of us that are ancient know those as "manifold/starter" wrenches.

"Starter wrench" was the first thing I thought of too....
Guess that means I am ancient as well....


LynnW

 

[RPH]

I was taught that those are obstruction wrenches. Allows you to get around things, the starter example is perfect.

 

[csaws]

Those are definitely not distributor wrenches


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bobcatdan]

Half moon wrenches. Personally I find them a good idea on paper, close to useless in real world. Everytime I find a spot they would be perfect for, not enough leverage to break the bolt loose that I end using another tool.

 

[jd_1138]

Half moon wrenches. Personally I find them a good idea on paper, close to useless in real world. Everytime I find a spot they would be perfect for, not enough leverage to break the bolt loose that I end using another tool.

Yeah might not be a wise investment in a tool truck brand, but maybe grab some Craftsman/HF ones for $30 or something. Not even sure HF makes them.

 

[Caleb Swartz]

I have used a few of them for starters and distributer type injection pumps

 

[Arkansas COB]

My go to wrench when doing the head bolts on my Shovelhead engines. Allows me to move the wrench 1/4 to 1/2 inch or more at a time instead of 1/8 inch at a time with a straight box end wrench.

COB

 

[RustyJunk]

I think I have a few of them somewhere but don't remember ever using them, they were my dads from when he was a mechanic in the 50's when they used to fix stuff.

 

[Al Borland]

Used by Dr. Who to adjust the multidimensional areas of the Tardis.
"For those places a Sonic Screwdriver won't fit."

 

[plinker]

I could have used one on a '65 jeep starter this spring.

I have used the Gearwrench indexable DBE's I have though. Not daily but when nothing else works effectively they are great.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Getting the generator off a ford, adjusting the rear distributor on a mopar, pulling the starter off that chevy, pulling the water towers off a Detroit Diesel, or tightening up that damned kickstand bolt... I forgot what it was on, but I needed it for that, too.

 

[protegeV]

They are also good to fill that empty space in the tool box.

Pretty much this.
Been a mechanic a long time and never have I ever felt I needed a curved wrench.

 

[JBradley500]

Diesel injection pump wrenches

 

[MikeF2316]

Pretty much this.
Been a mechanic a long time and never have I ever felt I needed a curved wrench.

While I only pretend to be a mechanic, I buy tools after the fact, ones that would have helped me out on a previous job, in case I ever do it again. I've never thought that style of wrench would ever have helped me. But then, I've never done any of those jobs listed by Lassen Forge!

 

[WittHay]

A Mac air compressor wrench and a Snap-on fuel pump/air compressor wrench. On old diesel trucks especially cabovers with Cummins motors. Bunch of bolts in a circle, tight up against the motor and blocked so you cant get extensions in. Also had to work around steering shafts and transmission shift towers.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

Used by Dr. Who to adjust the multidimensional areas of the Tardis.
"For those places a Sonic Screwdriver won't fit."

best answer in the thread

 

[Dragfluid]

I have a complete set of metrics that I bought off the truck many moons ago. Have used them a fair amount over the years.

 

[Kwikasfaki]

Fuel pump and water pump on 2 stroke Detroit Diesel.
Air compressor on an inline Cummins diesel

 

[Moose Legs]

I believe they are mostly used by diesel technicians these days. I’ve worked on industrial stuff where they could have made the work easier but weren’t entirely necessary. If I could spare the space on the service truck I might have picked up a couple.

 

[DonglordActual]

They're in the same boat as a pass-through ratchet or twist-handle ratchet. They're incredibly niche but some specific job basically requires them if you're getting paid by the book hour rate. I can say that I've never had a use for them but I'm not a mechanic working on diesels.

 

[5ktq]

Don't think I've ever needed one. usually get around things with extensions, u joint, crowfoot, etc.

Probably useful once in a while (and from an era before that stuff existed).

 

[WWheeler]

A set of them looks cool and stand out because they take up a lot of room in your box, and since you never use them they stay nice and shiny.