Rough Ford Wrench

[NateHiggins]

I got this little ford automotive wrench for something like $5 recently. The pin holding the thumb screw in place seems to be peened in, and I haven't quite figured out how to remove it, so I had to leave it together for the cleaning process.
Thing is, even after I cleaned it, the thing runs pretty stiff. The thumb screw tends to stick to the threads when loosening/tightening. I get that its a mass produced thing that probably isn't meant to be overly pleasant to use, but if anyone's found a way to make these things smoother, I'd love to hear!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Nate. It's made by Moore Drop Forge. I have a few of their auto wrenches in various types and sizes, to include the 12-incher they supplied to Ford for WWII Ford GPW jeeps, and for whatever reason (durability, physical integrity, fewer parts, etc), the dynamic jaws are all permanently pinned. Unlike every other auto wrench I own (e.g., Vlchek, Diamond,.etc), which use a set screw.

You could try soaking it (total immersion) in Simple Green, overnight, then in Evaporust, also overnight, to clear minuscule but hard stubborn gunk and rust. Even if it doesn't look gunky or rusty, it doesn't take much in a few teeth to immobilize them. Followed by excessive lubing. That has done wonders for mine in the past.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Look closely for burrs on the handle and/or thumbscrew, if there are any you may be able to smooth them out with careful use of a small file.

 

[ttpete]

The square *** on the handle is for axle and trans fill plugs.

 

[d42jeep]

My Moore Drop Forge made Ford marked auto wrench is a different design and doesn’t include the handle extension. It does have a removable screw. I don’t remember if I ever took it apart or not but it works smoothly.
-Don

 

[Lassen Forge]

That's a model A wrench - the "square" **** on it is to remove the plug on the differential to check the level, which started in the late model T era...

There were a LOT of makers for that wrench, INCLUDING Ford, as it was a way to repurpose scrap... a BIG money saver for the moco.

The EARLY oore's had their name on it as well as Fords, I have one of those, very cool wrench, but yeah, that square offed **** socket tells you if it was Model T or Model A....

BTW - if you can clean it without taking it apart (like electrolysis) that's how you want to do that. Taking it apart and keeping it as a collectable doesn't work too well...

 

[NateHiggins]

Oh I mean this ain't my first restoration, just figured Id ask around in case.

 

[Marvin Hagen]

I have a lot of Ford wrenches I have one with the Ford double stamped and a lot with the letters backwards and misspelled.

 

[toolmiser]

Look on You tube and you will find lots of restoration videos and some will tell you how to remove the pin.

 

[ttpete]

I have a lot of Ford wrenches I have one with the Ford double stamped and a lot with the letters backwards and misspelled.

The misspelled ones are knockoffs. They do that so Ford couldn't sue them. I've seen many model A hubcaps with things like "Bool" stamped in them.

 

[genog]

Found this Ford wrench/combo tool at the Flea Market today.
If you know the application, I am curious to know

 

[genog]

Pretty darn cool

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

Pretty darn cool

I got one almost identical today! Don’t know if says ford, but has the Moore forge mark. It’s in the soup…

 

[ttpete]

That hex is probably for the oil drain plug. What size is the open-end wrench?

 

[Ricky Joe]

Found this Ford wrench/combo tool at the Flea Market today.
If you know the application, I am curious to know

That is for trucks.

 

[ttpete]

That is for trucks.

The open end size looks like it's for 18 mm spark plugs.

 

[genog]

Open end is around 0.9625
Close to 15/16"

 

[ttpete]

Is there a part number on it?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have that FORD Monkey wrench in my collection. This Ford wrench and some of the others needed a little attention to improve their function. I have and use an ultrasonic parts cleaner for the freshening up of old tools. I like to use the hot setting and I often place the tool into a ZIP-LOC bag with some solvent, like Varsol. The Zip-Loc bag and contents is placed onto the ultrasonic tank, in the basket. It takes a very little time to get any of the monkey wrenches I have cleaned to move easily.
I have discovered the EVAPORUST performs many times faster with ultrasonic action.

 

[genog]

There's no part numbers anywhere that I can find
Or that I can see

This the only thing that I can find that resemble any kind of markings.
I doubt that they are forge codes..... probably just blemishes

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

As far as I know those were all made by Moore, but I’m nearly always wrong. I have several of their “Ford” car or tractor wrenches. Any other markings it has are not anything that I know about. The many variations I have seen pop up everywhere and are usually priced anywhere from fifty cents to twenty dollars.. almost forgot, mine is the same, does have the ford name on it.

 

[Farmer J.]

I have one like that, will get it out of storage and check for markings.