Modified tools

[crewchief888]

maybe this kinda thread has been done before, my opology if it has

i know we all do it, cut, bend, weld, and general mangled perfectly good tool for a specific purpose
i have several deep sockets that have been cut, and entended with a bushing or piece of pipe to get to a nearly inaccesable spot, or to speed up disassemby

here's one of my best
Matco 9/16x1/2 half moon wrench
bent in the middle and on the end to remove the bottom HLR manifold bolt on deere 350 dozers.

i'm just thinking we might solve someone else's PITA "problem" for them.

 

[1stwarrior95]

maybe this kinda thread has been done before, my opology if it has

I've wondered the same thing. Just to lazy to search for one...LOL

i know we all do it, cut, bend, weld, and general mangled perfectly good tool for a specific purpose

I agree. I know I've done it several times. I keep a drawer full of odds and ends sockets, wrenches, etc just for this purpose.
Right now I've probably got more completely home built tools than modifies ones, but I'll dig around and see what I've got and post some pics.

Interesting job on the wrench. gotta ask though, what's a HLR manifold?

 

[JayL]

Nothing much here. I just shortened the ends of one of my xcelite long nose pliers to convert it to a snub nose.

 

[slacktide]

I'll bite...

I had to take the 15º offset out of my 17mm Craftsman Pro wrench to get at the driveshaft-to-diff bolts on a BMW 325 (aka Germany's Hyundai)

Figured I could just buy a new one at Sears... WRONG, I had the early version of the C-man pros that were made by S-K. Much nicer than the current version. It took me months of watching fleabay to score a replacement. Original top, current middle, modified bottom.

Later I needed a super thin 17mm wrench to hold a jam nut, so I ground and eighth or so off one side of the open end.

Wrench for a deeply recesssed 17mm allen socket bolt.

My boat's alternator has no convenient way to tension the alternator... no room to pry between the alt and the block. Made this out of a turnbuckle.

Had some rotten wood on the boat, 1/4 inch ply with a bullnose edge, wrapped in fiberglass. Wanted to preserve the original glass, by excavating the old wood and epoxying in new. made this tool by welding a section of rat-tail file to a piece of steel bent to provide good access.

Not my mod but I bought this at a swap shop for fifty cents. A Snap-On 1/4" offset box wrench with the opposite end cut off and the handle extended.

Not sure what it was originally modified for, but it works great as a right angle screwdriver for really tight corners.

 

[mkdive]

Some good mods slacktide!

 

[tonydanzah]

well played sir

 

[Mickey O]

I'll bite...

I had to take the 15º offset out of my 17mm Craftsman Pro wrench to get at the driveshaft-to-diff bolts on a BMW 325 (aka Germany's Hyundai)



Figured I could just buy a new one at Sears... WRONG, I had the early version of the C-man pros that were made by S-K. Much nicer than the current version. It took me months of watching fleabay to score a replacement. Original top, current middle, modified bottom.



Later I needed a super thin 17mm wrench to hold a jam nut, so I ground and eighth or so off one side of the open end.


Wrench for a deeply recesssed 17mm allen socket bolt.



My boat's alternator has no convenient way to tension the alternator... no room to pry between the alt and the block. Made this out of a turnbuckle.


Had some rotten wood on the boat, 1/4 inch ply with a bullnose edge, wrapped in fiberglass. Wanted to preserve the original glass, by excavating the old wood and epoxying in new. made this tool by welding a section of rat-tail file to a piece of steel bent to provide good access.



Not my mod but I bought this at a swap shop for fifty cents. A Snap-On 1/4" offset box wrench with the opposite end cut off and the handle extended.


Not sure what it was originally modified for, but it works great as a right angle screwdriver for really tight corners.

Excellent stuff.

 

[Mickey O]

maybe this kinda thread has been done before, my opology if it has

i know we all do it, cut, bend, weld, and general mangled perfectly good tool for a specific purpose
i have several deep sockets that have been cut, and entended with a bushing or piece of pipe to get to a nearly inaccesable spot, or to speed up disassemby

here's one of my best
Matco 9/16x1/2 half moon wrench
bent in the middle and on the end to remove the bottom HLR manifold bolt on deere 350 dozers.

i'm just thinking we might solve someone else's PITA "problem" for them.

Very nice, I have a factory made version of that wrench.

 

[mrshaun]

you can get the super thin 17 from snap on LTAM1719 not meant for high torque applications though...

 

[1stwarrior95]

I'll bite...



Figured I could just buy a new one at Sears... WRONG, I had the early version of the C-man pros that were made by S-K. Much nicer than the current version. It took me months of watching fleabay to score a replacement. Original top, current middle, modified bottom.

I'm no expert by any means , but those look like the later version of C-man Pros. Or at least compared to mine.
How many versions were there? Mine have bigger fatter "rounder" handles and were bought when the Pros first appeared IIRC. Is there a date code on C-man? Mine are SAE sizes and I'd sure like to have a metric set to compliment them.

 

[1stwarrior95]

you can get the super thin 17 from snap on LTAM1719 not meant for high torque applications though...

They call those tappet wrenches?

 

[A29]

Sometimes ya can't remember why ya did it but at the time ya just do. The long bar was needed to get to the belt tensioner on a front wheel drive car. Cut off a little of the 3/8" square handle on a punch and welded to a scrap piece of 1/8" flat bar. Don't remember why on the crows feet or the bent wrench.

 

[slacktide]

I'm no expert by any means , but those look like the later version of C-man Pros. Or at least compared to mine.
How many versions were there? Mine have bigger fatter "rounder" handles and were bought when the Pros first appeared IIRC. Is there a date code on C-man? Mine are SAE sizes and I'd sure like to have a metric set to compliment them.

Link to a bigger picture of the same wrenches...

Linky Linky

So far as I am aware there were three versions of the Craftsman Pro long patten wrenches. For the 17mm example shown here:

First Generation, P/N 42261, made by ???

Second Generation, P/N 44907, made by S-K (My modified wrench)

Third Generation, P/N 45996, made by Danaher. (current in-store version)

The 1'st gen ones are often called the "thick handles" or "Polished Raised Panel".... as seen in this thread. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=409313 I had always thought that the thick handled version came after the S-K made version, but they do have a lower part number....

Notice that the stamping is upside down on the Second Gen (the top and bottom wrench in my pic, and the 19mm in the other thread )compared to the others.

 

[crewchief888]

I've wondered the same thing. Just to lazy to search for one...LOL





I agree. I know I've done it several times. I keep a drawer full of odds and ends sockets, wrenches, etc just for this purpose.
Right now I've probably got more completely home built tools than modifies ones, but I'll dig around and see what I've got and post some pics.

Interesting job on the wrench. gotta ask though, what's a HLR manifold?

High Low Reverse
hydraulic reverser coupled in front of a 4 sp mechanical transmission
lets you run in any gear, and shift fwd to reverse at full throttle without using the engine clutch with just a throw of a lever

 

[crewchief888]

Slacktide,
ive got several wrenches that ive had to do this same thing to.
PITA manifold to turbo bolts on akubota engine, and inner nut on a injection pump on another kubota.

i 'spose if i had the "right" tool i wouldnt have to do some of the things i do, but sometimes theres no time to get the right tool and sacrifices have to be made

almost from the time i started working, i was always told "sacrifice the tool for the job" whatever it take to get it done

 

[M900]

Check out this thread also....

 

[Elroy]

Does this count as modified??

Do you mean something like this:

Also seen here among the population

 

[wreckercologist]

These are all for power-take-offs or winches. Sometimes these modified wrenches are the only thing that will work, sometimes they are for speed where other tools will work, but not as well. A few haven't been touched in years due to the constant changes made by vehical/equipment manufacturers and are probably obsolete.

The last pic is of the three I use most.

Don't worry about the Snap-on....I bought the set it's from for $15.00 on Ebay with the idea of using them for jobs that require a special tool. Cheaper than driving over to Sears and buying new!

Neat 1/2" ratchet, Elroy!

 

[Mickey O]

You guys should bring some of those back to Sears and see what they say, tell them it just bent.

 

[tonydanzah]

you going to be around tomorrow afternoon mickey?

 

[Mickey O]

you going to be around tomorrow afternoon mickey?

Yeah, probably after noon or so.

 

[1stwarrior95]

So far as I am aware there were three versions of the Craftsman Pro long patten wrenches. For the 17mm example shown here:

First Generation, P/N 42261, made by ???

Second Generation, P/N 44907, made by S-K (My modified wrench)

Third Generation, P/N 45996, made by Danaher. (current in-store version)

The 1'st gen ones are often called the "thick handles" or "Polished Raised Panel".... as seen in this thread.

Yea, those in that thread look like mine.
Here's mine; (Crappy pic. The rack is screwed to the wall and I didn't want to take 'em all down... They've been screwed to that wall for probably 5 years and never get used. LOL)

 

[tonydanzah]

Yeah, probably after noon or so.

alright you'll be hearing from me then

 

[1stwarrior95]

Here's some others I modified/built through the years. Warning, some are ugly...LOL

15mm for a belt tensioner on a 2.2 chevy;

Dizzy wrench modded for either a V8 S-10 or the big block in my 72. Can't remember which;

Crank turning socket for a small block chevy;

Wheel bearing spanner for a Corp 14 GM rearend; (Built a long time ago when I was just learning to weld and had a $20 Sears welder)

Another old one, (built with the same sears welder LOL),
3/4 dr 1-3/8" for the axle nut on 4x4 S-10 front axle;
Cracked it the first time I used it because it's actually to small. It's all I had at the time and it worked even with the crack.

Just built this one a couple days ago;

Clutch holding tool so I can torque the clutch on a FL350 honda odyssey;

 

[slacktide]

You guys should bring some of those back to Sears and see what they say, tell them it just bent.

I actually took mine with me when I went to buy it's replacement.... the guy OFFERED to exchange it. It said no thanks, I might need it again.

 

[slacktide]

Yea, those in that thread look like mine.
Here's mine; (Crappy pic. The rack is screwed to the wall and I didn't want to take 'em all down... They've been screwed to that wall for probably 5 years and never get used. LOL)

Warrior... never thought I'd say this to a dude, but "nice rack" LOL.

 

[tonydanzah]

well done sir

 

[TireTracks]

Some of those a really cool, very creative.

If i ever need a tool to something like this with, i think i would pickup some super cheap ones to do it with, wouldent want to ruin my Craftsmans.

 

[wreckercologist]

Some of those a really cool, very creative.

If i ever need a tool to something like this with, i think i would pickup some super cheap ones to do it with, wouldent want to ruin my Craftsmans.

I picked up the Craftsman's because I didn't want to ruin my Snap-ons.

The nice thing about using Craftsmans for this is you have a pretty good idea what you are starting with.

 

[1stwarrior95]

Some of those a really cool, very creative.

If i ever need a tool to something like this with, i think i would pickup some super cheap ones to do it with, wouldent want to ruin my Craftsmans.

That's why I used the old rusty 15mm C-man.

I "lost" that wrench when I was building a roll pan for the rear of my 93 chevy truck. A couple years later I was removing the bed to replace the cab corners on the truck and found the wrench still on the bumper mounting bolt. I'd put it on the bolt and let it wedge up against the top of the frame to hold the bolt from turning and forgot to retreive it when I was done. It's probably got about 30,000 miles on it under there! Hahaha

Here's my "go to" drawer when I need to build somethin. I keep all kinds of broken, bent, odds, and ends.

 

[TireTracks]

That's why I used the old rusty 15mm C-man.

I "lost" that wrench when I was building a roll pan for the rear of my 93 chevy truck. A couple years later I was removing the bed to replace the cab corners on the truck and found the wrench still on the bumper mounting bolt. I'd put it on the bolt and let it wedge up against the top of the frame to hold the bolt from turning and forgot to retreive it when I was done. It's probably got about 30,000 miles on it under there! Hahaha

Here's my "go to" drawer when I need to build somethin. I keep all kinds of broken, bent, odds, and ends.

Whats the story on the flex head ratchet with the chunk brocken off?

 

[1stwarrior95]

Whats the story on the flex head ratchet with the chunk brocken off?

Taiwan junk I think. Couldn't even tell ya where it came from for sure. I know I didn't break it, I just picked it up somewhere along the way. Friend or junk yard somewhere I think. Figured the handle would be handy for somethin someday...LOL

 

[Shadowdog500]

Box extension for torquing the Heads on my old Ironhead Sporster.

Chris

 

[tonydanzah]

that is awesome

 

[1stwarrior95]

Box extension for torquing the Heads on my old Ironhead Sporster.

Chris

I like that one. That idea could come in handy in alot of circumstances.
I've need to build one right now to torque the jug nuts on my Odyssey! LOL
I was just gonna tighten 'em up and hope for the best.
How ya figure the torque difference with the extension on there? I know there's a formula out there somewhere for stuff like that.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I like that one. That idea could come in handy in alot of circumstances.
I've need to build one right now to torque the jug nuts on my Odyssey! LOL
I was just gonna tighten 'em up and hope for the best.
How ya figure the torque difference with the extension on there? I know there's a formula out there somewhere for stuff like that.

There is no torque difference if the extension is 90 degrees to the torque wrench(as shown in previous photo),so I usually use it that way. If you use it straight out you have to reduce the torque as a function of the box wrench offset and the torque wrench handle distance.

I have access to a torque wrench checker, so I actually adjust the wrench to whatever is required to get the needed torque at the head right before using it if I need to use an extension straight out.

Snap on make short offsets, If you only need an inch or two offset the Snap on will work fine.

Chris

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Bent Snap-on wrench for the turbocharger flange nuts on a Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 diesel.

To access the rear nut on the right (Flange from manifold to turbo)

And this is the view from where you stand to access it, in the transmission tunnel, behind the front subframe.

 

[tonydanzah]

it would be cool if they had turbo diesel minivans here

 

[Moose-LandTran]

it would be cool if they had turbo diesel minivans here

This one was also a 5-speed manual.

 

[tonydanzah]

we only had the older body style 5spd turbo 4cyl gas options and its super rare