Speed Wrench

[redmed]

Anybody use these "Speed Wrenches" or "Open End" wrenches?
They have a portion of the claw cut out to allow fast wrenching.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-8...76406119?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item2a46cc1467

 

[Herod]

I owned a set a few years back. I liked them. They are longer than regular end wrenches and the open end kind of "ratchets" up the bolt head. You don't have to keep taking the wrench on and off for a new bite. Worked really well on fan pulley to water pump shaft bolts. No room for a socket, pain with a regular wrench.

I used them right up until some meth heads walked off with them.

 

[BFHtime]

I have tried these and they absolutely **** poo poo. This is phrasing it nicely. The amount of force necessary to ratchet the fasteners is much greater than what most fasteners friction. So they do not get any work done, just swing the fastener back and forth. If the spring was softer it might work. It could work on something that was thoroughly cross threaded, so there was a great amoun of friction on the fastener.

I would try a type that has a notch, without a sprung piece that has to move. I have tried to find somewhere these will work bu have yet to get a couple turns at best in any situation yet.

 

[1950mercury]

I would rather use a ratheting wrench

 

[BFHtime]

I believe the idea is for where you can only get an open end, on the fastener. ^ Agreed a ratcheting wrench would work much better, if you could get it on.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Anybody use these "Speed Wrenches" or "Open End" wrenches?
They have a portion of the claw cut out to allow fast wrenching.

Guys on here don't use the open ends on anything.

They got these ratcheting too (I think). Overkill in my opinion but the more tools the merrier.

 

[redmed]

I have a Craftsman set I got years ago and I rarely use them. I don't know why. I just got a couple GearWrench sets and as I was shuffling wrench placement in my drawers I tried these "Speed Wrenches" on a few bolts and they worked better than I remembered. Maybe it's because they only work in one direction and I did not have the patience to learn to use them. Seems if they are used correctly they will loosen a bolt or nut looser than a GearWrench will. Before banning them to my seldom used box I going to try to give them another chance.

 

[McFarmer]

I have a set, never used the open end. Most of the time when something tries to do two things, it doesn't do either very well.

 

[lakota]

Got a metric set years ago. Never used then but read it takes a while to become comfortable using them.

 

[Ign]

The mere fact that Craftsman embraced them made me think gimmick. However I have not used them, but they just LOOK likely to slip. I know that is not fact, but c'mon we all evaluate the validity of a tool or tool design in our own minds before we plop down cash.

And hey, I just discovered there are actually people on this board who like RoboGrips (I know, right?) which I have used and IMO set the early bar for Craftsman gimmick tools (I hate 'em), so whatever floats your boat. By the same token some will use and enjoy these wrenches, but I'm in no hurry to risk my $

 

[coleman10]

I bought a set of these a number of years back. I use them from time to time. They come in handy in tight places and saved time and effort. Never had one slip.

 

[G_P]

I have a set of those I got as a gift years ago. I never really liked them. They do have their uses, but I would not rely on them as my primary set of wrenches.
With how common and inexpensive ratcheting wrenches are these days it just makes more sense to me to buy a decent set of ratcheting wrenches instead of these.

 

[stratman977]

I have a set of the armstrong version of these. Instead of the cut out they have a shortened jaw on one side.

Like someone else said they work really well on a fan clutch or anywhere you have to spin something off thats close to an obstruction. I wouldn't use it to break a nut loose but it works well when you can't back the nut off by hand.

I don't use them often but when you need them it saves a little aggrivation. Definately not a must have tool but also not a gimmick either.

 

[durallymax]

Mine sit in a corner collecting dust. If you need open end ratcheting buy some knipex pliers wrenches.

 

[redmed]

The mere fact that Craftsman embraced them made me think gimmick. However I have not used them, but they just LOOK likely to slip. I know that is not fact, but c'mon we all evaluate the validity of a tool or tool design in our own minds before we plop down cash.

And hey, I just discovered there are actually people on this board who like RoboGrips (I know, right?) which I have used and IMO set the early bar for Craftsman gimmick tools (I hate 'em), so whatever floats your boat. By the same token some will use and enjoy these wrenches, but I'm in no hurry to risk my $

Not just Craftsman. Here is a Snap-On version
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-RS1...1147694318&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

[wild cowboy]

they work well in places a ratcheting wrench will not fit, such as tie rod adjusting etc.