Short, straight, double-ended ring spanners (box wrenches)

[Samuel D]

What’s out there and what do you recommend?

I’m looking for these partly for bicycle use where zero offset allows a straight pull on easily accessed but delicate fasteners (e.g. old side-pull brake callipers).

Short because not much torque will be needed in most cases, and short length would add a useful secondary capability (access in restricted areas) to my existing tools.

While I’m wishing, I’d prefer the broached ends to have shallow chamfering to maximise engagement with shallow fasteners.

Thanks!

 

[egdede]

Look for those old 'select steel' short straight DBE's, manufactured under/for a wide variety of names/manufacturers like indestro, lectro-lite, western etc...

 

[General Geoff]

Not DBE, but KTC makes a few "Cherry Blossom" wrenches marketed specifically as bicycle service tools.

https://www.frankstools.com/ktcchblwr10m.html

The box end has zero offset and straight angle, and relatively thin broaching.

 

[bimmer630]

Hazet makes them.. I dont know if you can find a reasonable set, Heres a link to one single wrench on ebay though https://www.ebay.com/i/202486756532?chn=ps&var=502521061229

 

[mr.lemons]

 

[bimmer630]

112.00 doesnt seem bad https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C9VCX2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BigBoreFan]

these Gedoers may work also.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0009QX2QO/

 

[BigBoreFan]

go big and go Nepros.

https://www.nepros.net/?cat=3&grp=15

 

[derosa]

What’s out there and what do you recommend?

I’m looking for these partly for bicycle use where zero offset allows a straight pull on easily accessed but delicate fasteners (e.g. old side-pull brake callipers).

Short because not much torque will be needed in most cases, and short length would add a useful secondary capability (access in restricted areas) to my existing tools.

While I’m wishing, I’d prefer the broached ends to have shallow chamfering to maximise engagement with shallow fasteners.

Thanks!

A regular wrench is a better option in many cases for bicycle work. Some of those small nuts or bolts might only be accessible with an open ended wrench while the box end being bent has been more of a benefit then a hindrance. Only wrench I prefer to be straight is the one I use with the shimano cartridge bottom bracket removal tool. That always slips out of the splines if you don't use a flat wrench close to the BB shell.

 

[Samuel D]

Lots of nice suggestions there, though a couple are too rich for my blood (e.g. those lovely Nepros). Many thanks, all.

By the way, I came across the term “aviation wrench” (or spanner) a few times when looking for these tools. Is that just a long double-ended ring spanner or is there a difference?

A regular wrench is a better option in many cases for bicycle work. Some of those small nuts or bolts might only be accessible with an open ended wrench while the box end being bent has been more of a benefit then a hindrance.

I agree and often use regular combination spanners. But there are times with old bicycles that I’d prefer a perfectly straight pull with no tendency for the tool to cam off the irreplaceable fastener. I envisage other uses too.

Nice to see a bicycle guy here! De Rosa, no less. You might already know about it, but Pedro’s makes a nifty tool to retain a cartridge bottom bracket tool securely while you heave on it.

I have an older version without the spring that works well although you have to use a bit of sense with it (loosening it as you go so you don’t work against the retaining tool). Maybe that’s why they updated it with the stiff spring. Bicycles are worked on by their clueless owners more often than cars.

 

[Rico.]

What’s out there and what do you recommend?

From your location I would think you will find a good deal on Facom. They make
Zero offset spanners of most types, I have the Torx and the ratchet spanners. All
Of them are superb quality.

The ones you want are the Facom 59 series...

 

[shteii01]

Here is an interesting option. Knipex pliers wrench. The jaws are smooth to fit on the smooth sides of the nut. So you get open ended wrench that can be adjusted to fit variety of sizes. The jaws are made slimmer than the rest of the body. They make them from 5" (125 mm) to 16" (400 mm) long.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8N282O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[egdede]

Just noticed OP in france, My original advice useless. The DBE stahlwille's above are nice. Or, as noted by others about open end access; I might look at these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D2X9O8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[derosa]

You might already know about it, but Pedro’s makes a nifty tool to retain a cartridge bottom bracket tool securely while you heave on it.

I have an older version without the spring that works well although you have to use a bit of sense with it (loosening it as you go so you don’t work against the retaining tool). Maybe that’s why they updated it with the stiff spring. Bicycles are worked on by their clueless owners more often than cars.

I've had a hard time trusting Pedro's products, I have a couple of their headset wrenches but find them to be a little soft, had the same problem with their cone wrenches. I gave up on them when I had 4 of their spoke wrenches actually split, warrantied all of them but gave up after that. My favorite spoke wrench is a more obscure one that Trek put out in the 90s that was made by Snap-On.
A great cartridge bottom bracket tool that solves the slipping is made by tacx https://www.modernbike.com/product-...FYPPcXJHE7Dgvyf_oTLNr4rxCa0gbWchoCNVYQAvD_BwE
I've found them more available in your area then in the US but find them to be perfect. Come in shimano square, octilink, Isis, and Campy. Course now a days most of the BB repair is either more old style with kid's bikes or something pressed in and requires navigating all the new standards.