Help! Wrench stuck

[TomC750]

A good stout 2x4 is your friend. And the sawzall suggestion is practical as well. And by the way, it is visegrip, not vicegrip.

 

[jsaw]

I bet if yo get a big screwdriver or prybar between the rachet and the core support it will move far enough for you to get something small in there to reverse it.

This is what I would do

 

[SteveCh]

We are changing the alternator in my Chrysler 200 2012. We tried to unscrew a bolt with a 2 way ratchet but didn’t realize it was too close to a wall. So now the lever to tighten the bolt back is stuck against the wall and we have been trying to use other tools to tighten the bolt back but the ratchet won’t move. Can anyone help.

How do you get the tools near a wall anyway? Drywall or cinder block or stud wall, no way to have any close to an engine still in the car.

 

[charbar]

We've all been there.

It's already been said....either use a small screwdriver and a hammer to try to reverse the ratchet or else take the nuts off the top of the motor mount and hope there is enough give to pry the engine away and reverse or wiggle the whole thing out of there.

Last call is to just waste the socket and cut er up. Or leave it

 

[bubinga]

If you remove the motor mount bolts, I think the motor should jack up enough to clear that inner fender.

 

[Bill T]

Come on guys, play nice. It takes bigger cajones to admit a blunder than to poke fun at him. I had a friend (best mechanic I knew growing up) that called the guys on the side lines "fender monkeys".

 

[ChefRex]

Which way does the egine turn? Could you tap the starter over and spin in the direction to tighten?

 

[goldtang]

Do you have a small pipe wrench or chain pipe wrench that will fit you only need a couple of turn and like said small screwdriver an tap the reverse tab

 

[CraigStu]

I bet if you get a big screwdriver or prybar between the rachet and the core support it will move far enough for you to get something small in there to reverse it.

WINNER WINNER. There was enough room to get it on there so there is enough room to get it back off. To get to the direction selector on the ratchet you only need to gain about 1/8 inch. If you don't have a prybar then grab a slot type screwdriver and drive it down in there to use the wedge shape to gain clearance.

 

[inphx]

Perhaps a pipe wrench on the socket would bite in and let you tighten the bolt back in.

 

[FredWanaker]

Haven't heard back from the OP. Wonder how it went.

 

[RonnieC]

Haven't heard back from the OP. Wonder how it went.

OP got hand stuck between wall and the 37 2x4’s recommended in thread. Starved to death in garage. RIP.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I'd cut the wrench off with a dremel and then maybe try using an open end wrench.

 

[jonesg]

I see the socket is all scarred up, but I'm shocked a set of vicegrips on it wouldn't force it to turn the other way. Today is a really good day. You're learning a valuable lesson, while also being given a reason to buy more tools.

Vice grips slip on round objects, but a pipe wrench grips tighter as its pulled.
It needs a big pry bar at the same time to relieve pressure as you try to turn the socket.

I did the same thing with a milwaukee elec ratchet, duh.

 

[jonesg]

I'd cut the wrench off with a dremel and then maybe try using an open end wrench.

sawzall, same idea but minutes instead of hours.
buy more tools.

 

[Daedalus]

Vice grips slip on round objects

Not when the teeth are dug into the material..then it's no longer exactly round. Just need to put some muscle into it.

 

[TomC750]

Too many vices here. I gave up most of mine, smoking, drinking, wild women, etc.

 

[firebirdparts]

Reminds me of a joke. A older guy goes to the doctor, and his blood work is mediocre, blood pressure not too good, but the doctor says it’s just how it is when you get older, not much you can do, don’t want to overmedicate. The guy says “do you think I’ll live 10 more years?”

Doctor says:
Do you eat a lot of preserved meat? Bacon? No
Lot of red meat? No
Drink much? No
Go to a lot of parties, concerts, other crowded places? No
Dating a lot of women? No

What do you want to live 10 more years for?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

This!

Throw everything in that picture away and start over.

 

[Kuma601]

And how did it go?

 

[MarineScott]

Last resort, 3 in. cut off wheel to cut the socket

 

[Jim greengo]

Sawzall the socket in half down the middle

That was going to be my suggestion.

 

[p00p]

Can you slip in vice grips to tighten the bolt enough to remove the wrench?

 

[cruzer75]

Don't leave us hanging! What did you do to get it out?

 

[andys]

I was more asking how do you get it in so tight that that you're unable to get a pick or something similar to reverse the ratchet without thinking "I'm running out of room"?

It doesn't take much. I've done it with hand and power tools and I'll do it again, I'm sure. A long ory bar and a hammer always get it back out.

 

[drmarkr]

From now on, anyone that posts a problem like this and then disappears without telling us how he solved it, gets a 30 day ban!

Who agrees with me here, lol???

 

[bubinga]

From now on, anyone that posts a problem like this and then disappears without telling us how he solved it, gets a 30 day ban!

Who agrees with me here, lol???

Garage Journal Jail!

 

[MR2FC]

From now on, anyone that posts a problem like this and then disappears without telling us how he solved it, gets a 30 day ban!

Who agrees with me here, lol???

I feel a ban is a bit harsh, but maybe a string of email reminders and an automatic redirect every time you visit GJ?

 

[BigGarage]

From now on, anyone that posts a problem like this and then disappears without telling us how he solved it, gets a 30 day ban!

Who agrees with me here, lol???

And anyone who cannot smell a prank thread and replies to it instead should also go. Read post #2 in this thread.

Dennis

 

[Uncle murph]

We are changing the alternator in my Chrysler 200 2012. We tried to unscrew a bolt with a 2 way ratchet but didn’t realize it was too close to a wall. So now the lever to tighten the bolt back is stuck against the wall and we have been trying to use other tools to tighten the bolt back but the ratchet won’t move. Can anyone help.

For starters there’s seven dirty words.

 

[drmarkr]

And anyone who cannot smell a prank thread and replies to it instead should also go. Read post #2 in this thread.

Dennis

Sadly, that wasn't a prank....

 

[CraigStu]

And anyone who cannot smell a prank thread and replies to it instead should also go. Read post #2 in this thread.

Dennis

Sure wish I could be so smart to figure that out. Sadly I just tried to help. Since this is a family friendly forum I will stop typing.

 

[Uncle murph]

I feel a ban is a bit harsh, but maybe a string of email reminders and an automatic redirect every time you visit GJ?

Perhaps his wife could help settle his debt?

 

[bubinga]

Sadly, that wasn't a prank....

I never thought it was

 

[bubinga]

I think people have better things to do than write fake posts to a forum asking for help?

 

[dchawk81]

I think people have better things to do than write fake posts to a forum asking for help?

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I think people have better things to do than write fake posts to a forum asking for help?

Most people do.

 

[Snapped-off]

This never would've happened with a $150 snappy ratchet with a $20 socket.

 

[Spud McGee]

Don't leave us hanging! What did you do to get it out?

Legend has it OP is still out in the driveway trying to get his wrench unstuck.

 

[goldtang]

Time for the oxy acetylene , anything that is liquid is not tight or stuck