half decent SAE Wrenches.

[rhys99]

Im a motorcycle mechanic apprentice in the UK and im after some good-ish imperial spanners to work on Harley davidsons. I've looked in to Tekton ones on amazon which seem OK? open to other suggestions around the $70 mark.

 

[sberry]

Most bolts vibrate loose, no big deal,,, ha

 

[Wamsutta]

Can't you guys get Toptul in the UK ? They make extra long spanners.

Some of the Tekton spanners are the same length even though the sizes are different. That's goofy as heck. They're too cheap to make a forging die for each size.

 

[drtyler]

Facom 440 are available for decent prices in UK. That would be my choice.

 

[Samuel D]

How about classic King **** for the inch sizes?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Tekton makes decent wrenches, rather short though. I like Sunex too; they're a bit longer. I usually don't see as much crusty-ness on bikes, so I feel the quality of tool required doesn't have to be as high as something that sees salt/winter. Hex keys/sockets will also be required. Ball hex can save you some disassembly, as can 1/2 hex keys with the shorter working end.

 

[Mr_B]

For UK, Stahlwille, Facom, Draper Expert .
Is a used like new facom set on ebay .
Stahlwille real nice and 10pc set around £99

 

[Wamsutta]

Tekton makes decent wrenches, rather short though.

That part there never made any sense to me. It takes more effort to pull a shorter wrench. Basically, you're paying money to work harder.

 

[Mr_B]

Britool Expert E113242 another option, 12pc set around 60gbp

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That part there never made any sense to me. It takes more effort to pull a shorter wrench. Basically, you're paying money to work harder.

Unless that's all that fits. You can always double wrench if need be.

 

[Rabid Badger]

You aren't going to beat Tekton for the money. Every wrench you'll need, well made, $50.

 

[johninct]

Buy used Snap-On on Ebay.

 

[Matt XYZ]

I agree with Tekton, great wrenches for the money. I also bought a set of like new Proto Professional SAE wrenches on eBay for $75 if you want top quality. I doubt you'll find used Snap-Ons for less than double. Of course shipping to the UK will add cost. There are a ton of decent used Hazet, Stahwille, Gedore, Heyco and Rahosol, etc SAE wrenches around in Germany also.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

How about classic King **** for the inch sizes?

But how many inches does King Dicks go?

 

[Tonyuk]

Tekton,

Apart from American vehicles you'll never use SAE sizes over here.

One day they'll leave the stone age completely.

I have a draper expert set. Haven't used any of them in about 10 odd years.

 

[Toold_up]

Get a 36mm wrench for rear sprockets if you don't already have one!

 

[MrDeerHunter]

Tekton,

Apart from American vehicles you'll never use SAE sizes over here.

One day they'll leave the stone age completely.

I have a draper expert set. Haven't used any of them in about 10 odd years.

I am sure we will use freedom units for a very long time. Our vehicles might not but most industrial work is still SAE.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[16again]

Buy used Snap-On on Ebay.

This is exactly what I did. Took a while for a deal to come up, BUT I was patient until it finally did.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[visionguru]

Not sure if you guys have Dewalt across the pond. They are very high quality, superior to the plain Jane Tekton stuff. I got both sae and metric from Sears for $25 each a while ago. Regular price was about $50 each.

 

[rhys99]

Used snap on SAE wrenches are not common over here, and when they are for sale they are overpriced. Decided to go for the 11 piece tekton set for £33.99 off amazon, seem unbeatable for the price!

 

[Mr_B]

Tekton okay at the price but they nothing special besides half decent budget tool and no life warranty in UK like would have in USA .
The britool expert 12pc been my choice and lowest price/quality I want work with .
Best in quality/value been Stahlwille but you only realize the value after struggling with lesser wrenches .

 

[Rabid Badger]

Tekton okay at the price but they nothing special besides half decent budget tool and no life warranty in UK like would have in USA .
The britool expert 12pc been my choice and lowest price/quality I want work with .
Best in quality/value been Stahlwille but you only realize the value after struggling with lesser wrenches .

Fortunately for the OP stories about people "struggling" with Tekton combination wrenches are few and far between.

 

[rhys99]

Tekton okay at the price but they nothing special besides half decent budget tool and no life warranty in UK like would have in USA .
The britool expert 12pc been my choice and lowest price/quality I want work with .
Best in quality/value been Stahlwille but you only realize the value after struggling with lesser wrenches .

These aren't going to be an everyday use spanner, once a month at the most maybe. I 100% believe in buying good wrenches, hence why i use snap on for my metrics which are used day in day out.

 

[AustinChamp]

As you are in the UK , have a look on ebay and find a set of BRITOOL spanners ,
they will last you a lifetime and wont cost a lot

 

[Wamsutta]

These aren't going to be an everyday use spanner, once a month at the most maybe. I 100% believe in buying good wrenches, hence why i use snap on for my metrics which are used day in day out.

What about the guy who may use an SAE spanner once every 5 years, but still has to have the best; what do you say to him?

 

[rhys99]

What about the guy who may use an SAE spanner once every 5 years, but still has to have the best; what do you say to him?

If you can afford it why not! I'd obviously love to buy a brand new Snap on set, but thats just not viable at the moment.

 

[sberry]

Gotta wonder about how he comes up with it? Got a golden arm. Obviously nothing else will do.
Some of the best mechanics I know got tools that wouldn't bring 50$ at a good sale, the difference is they know wtf they are doing with them.
I have some good stuff,, probably wouldn't replace it if it was gone tomorrow. I really rarely use it, I use Sears and handful of flea wrenches worth about a buck a piece and ,,,, no one beats me up on busted stuck and rusted.

 

[sberry]

What about the guy who may use an SAE spanner once every 5 years, but still has to have the best; what do you say to him?

Is this a real scenario?

 

[Handyandy23]

That part there never made any sense to me. It takes more effort to pull a shorter wrench. Basically, you're paying money to work harder.

By that logic you must have way overpaid to work harder with your SO wrenches when these were available:

https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-Gearbox-Ratcheting-Wrench-Master/dp/B00BWVUURE/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?keywords=gearwrench+xl+ratcheting+wrench+set+sae&qid=1557445489&s=gateway&sprefix=gearwrench+xl+ratcheting+wrench+set+&sr=8-12

 

[Rabid Badger]

OP, don't let the Fap-off crowd hassle you. You may have noticed, despite their dire warnings, that none of them have provided a single instance of a Tekton wrench failing to do it's job.

 

[bonneyman]

Most bolts vibrate loose, no big deal,,, ha

Oh, that's bad!

 

[curtrnev]

Buy used Snap-On on Ebay.

 

[Mr_B]

These aren't going to be an everyday use spanner, once a month at the most maybe. I 100% believe in buying good wrenches, hence why i use snap on for my metrics which are used day in day out.

probably good enough .
used too many sloppy fit cheap wrenches that prefer up budget a little to try get much better without going to snapon prices .
Is lot of good wrenches in europe, stahlwille and facom both top class and not silly money, some of the taiwan efforts decent too, tekton surprisingly good at the price but little more money can gain bigger increase in quality and design than the small cost increase .
Hope you like them, they very similar to siegen wrench range .

 

[californiaHank]

The big money in wrench sets is in the bigger sizes.
Not too many large fasteners on a Harley.
Smaller sets of Stahlwille 13A and 14A are often available at 'near-Tekton' promo prices from European sites like 'misterworker.com'.
Facom promos happen pretty frequently in the UK, too, and it's usually the smaller sets that are offered at the biggest discount from list.

 

[mslim]

Stahlwille or Facom if you can afford them. Tekton or Sunex if you can't.

 

[swshawaii]

Used snap on SAE wrenches are not common over here, and when they are for sale they are overpriced. Decided to go for the 11 piece tekton set for £33.99 off amazon, seem unbeatable for the price!

^ Decision made. Done deal.

Stahlwille or Facom if you can afford them. Tekton or Sunex if you can't.