half moon wrenches

[Bran Diezel]

i always get the matco flyers a couple weeks before the general public and next week is buy one get one (mm & sae) on the half moon. i can't think of where i'd use these. tell me where

also there is a buy one get one (mm & sae) on the stubby hex 1/4 + 3/8 set which i am buying for sure

 

[Mickey O]

Manifold (intake and exhaust) and starter bolts, bell housing bolts and you can use them as a regular wrench as well.

 

[Bran Diezel]

was kind of figuring those locations

 

[Stick Figure]

I use mine pretty often, and they can be a great time saver on the right item. I don't really do normal auto repair to give you better ideas of when you can use them.

Now as far as the hex I would stay far away from the Matco ones. They wear out very quickly.

 

[Indy_500]

these are also known as obstruction wrenches right?

 

[bonneyman]

these are also known as obstruction wrenches right?

I always thought of obstruction wrenches as double open ends, and half moon wrenches as double box ends. But I don't think you can be dogmatic about that.

 

[jkeyser14]

The only time I've found one useful is on an exhaust bolt that's hard to reach. Even then a normal wrench probably would have done the job, the half moon was just more comfortable.

 

[toolmutt]

Not trying to hijack your thread but I have a question that seems to fit in here. Which would be more useful, halfmoons or s-shaped? Or are they two different animals with separate functions?

 

[BWright]

As Mickey O posted, excellent for starters.

Absolutely necessary on a 97 F150 with full length headers.

 

[Teken]

Not trying to hijack your thread but I have a question that seems to fit in here. Which would be more useful, halfmoons or s-shaped? Or are they two different animals with separate functions?

NO hard and fast rule . . . But, with anything over time you will acquire these tools in what ever form sooner or later . . .

I haven't needed a set of half moon, or S shaped wrenches ever! Having said that I have three projects coming up and I know for a fact this will make the access a lot more enjoyable, and reduce the amount of F bombs that I shout out!

 

[Zrexxer]

..........................

 

[Teken]

Does the Matco set come in 6 point as well?

 

[BWright]

Does the Matco set come in 6 point as well?

In most of the cases you would use these there will be a pretty tight turning radius, so 6 point would be less than ideal.

 

[crewchief888]

the only 1/2 moon wrench i have is a modified 1/2-9/16 matco.
only thing i used it on were clutch manifold bolts on JD crawlers

SO used to sell a version of JD's starter wrench, rather than buy 2 wrenches from JD, ( one for left side starters, one for right side starters), the SO model was double ended

 

[cowboy73]

I remember my dad having to use one on a diesel injector pump on an 83 GM diesel 350.

 

[Vinko]

S-wrenches and a moon came in really handy when I completely stripped a '51 Buick down. It has a straight 8.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Matco has a special offer in their "Taking It To The Street" flyer good from June 12th thru July 4th, where when you purchase their 5 piece SMH5T 5 piece half-moon set of SAE wrenches, you receive the SMHM5T set of metric half-moon wrenches free.

The price for both sets is $189.95

 

[Bran Diezel]

Matco has a special offer in their "Taking It To The Street" flyer good from June 12th thru July 4th, where when you purchase their 5 piece SMH5T 5 piece half-moon set of SAE wrenches, you receive the SMHM5T set of metric half-moon wrenches free.

The price for both sets is $189.95

that's the first thing i mentioned

 

[737mechanic]

CSD bolts on a JT8 turbine engine.

 

[cruiser808]

The 13mm comes in real handy in the removal and installation of Mercedes fuel injection pumps.

 

[jay50]

I've got a couple in the most common size metrics...and don't recall ever using them.

 

[Coach James]

I used them to remove the bolts on the starter of my '90 Dakota. They were so tight that when I pulled on the wrench, the bolts stayed in place and I pulled myself across the ground. The truck was on ramps and I was laying on the ground.

I don't need to use them often but I will on occassion so they don't feel unwanted.

Coach

 

[glenmore]

The 13mm comes in real handy in the removal and installation of Mercedes fuel injection pumps.

I did the water pump on my 1991 300CE the other weekend. A 13mm "S" or moon wrench would have been real handy. One of the bolts is under the intake manifold.

 

[X1 Mike]

I sure as heck don't use them much, but I'm just a sucker for the chrome curvaliciousness.

I've had mine for over a year and I still don't think I've used them, but they look so cool.

 

[bonneyman]

Nobody uses them because we've all gotten used to the tight spaces on the Jap cars. Remember when they first came over en masse? So freaking tight - only tiny Jap hands could get in alot of places!
Of course, wait till the Chinese and the Indians start selling cars here - it'll start all over again!

 

[radd16]

I bought this set and noticed they don't say USA on them. I guess thats why it's buy one set get a set free.

 

[Bran Diezel]

yeah i got them last week... no usa and the chrome quality is lacking big time. alot of raised imperfctions that got chromed.

 

[deathbound]

The head bolts on my 1962 HD Panhead.

 

[King Bojack]

These strike me as the type of tool that's best to have for those 3 times you HAVE to HAVE one to do the job. There are less expensive decent quality half moons and s-curves out there for the budget minded (or broke blokes like myself) that I'ma get just in case.

 

[radd16]

These strike me as the type of tool that's best to have for those 3 times you HAVE to HAVE one to do the job. There are less expensive decent quality half moons and s-curves out there for the budget minded (or broke blokes like myself) that I'ma get just in case.

Yeah, your correct King Bojack. Thats pretty much the reason I got them.