Speeder Wrench

[Ratchet Guy]

Does anyone use any of the speeder wrench you have in your set?

 

[Hephaestus29]

I have a speed wrench, I rarely use it though.

 

[four.cycle]

I've had a 62J Thorsen 3/8" drive speeder in my box since the mid-1980's and I've never used it.

You can find them all over Ebay for anywhere from $5-$30. Only those at the bottom end of the price range seem to be selling.
This was recently discussed in another thread. It seems air-powered (or cordless battery-powered) tools have taken the place of the venerable and once ubiquitous "speeder".

 

[Kent_B]

Rust-pitted 3/8 drive Snappy in my box still gets occasional use. Old ain't necessarily obsolete.

 

[dlcwent]

I haven't used mine in so long, I don't even know where it is or what I did with it. But my father used to use his all the time when he was rebuilding transmissions.

 

[espyking83]

I have all kinds of speed handles. 3/8" Koken, 39" 3/8 Snap On, 1/4" and 3/8" Plomb, 3/8" Craftsman, 1/4" SK. I use them all the time for aircraft panels.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have a 3/" and a 1/2" drive, i use them occasionally. Usually when I do axle service to install the cover, I'm glad I bought them. I have a pair of them at home too, but I don't think I used them yet. I just picked them up this past summer at the flea market. They can usually be had for cheap, so why not have a set even if you only use them once in a great while.

 

[michael murder]

They come in pretty handy for engine assembly.

 

[Monkey Milk]

They come in pretty handy for engine assembly.

air tools for disassembly, speeder wrench for assembly- critical parts

 

[jn50308401]

I bought a 50's 3/8 Craftsman for 2 bucks at a flea market/thrift store. It's neat but I've not used it. I think it will be handy for small engine stuff where clearence isn't such a big deal. On the other hand I've spent 16 years without one...

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[TNToy]

As others have said, they come in handy for trans pans, diff covers, things like that where you want to feel if you've cross-threaded something or the threads were marred as you go back together...


But like hat other thread pointed out? I always seem to start everything 4+ turns by hand and then run them all in with electric or pneumatic power.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

I think I used mine about 5 times in the last 35 years. Air and Li-Ion tools make life a lot easier.

 

[BK13]

I have Snap On in 1/4" and 3/8". I used to run my lug nuts down with the bigger one, but that is now done by Milwaukee impacts. I may have used one when I dropped the pan on my GF's Expedition's trans....


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[egnorant]

On a whim, I pulled my 3/8th speeder out for a head gasket job. Theory being that, while I am not so Neaderthal to use a ratchet for a hammer, I may bull on through convincing myself that the time spent to get the perfect tool is about equal to just using the adequate tool.

I tried to use it as much as possible and was impressed! Sure I was not breaking loose head bolts or exhaust stuff but I did use it once loose.

Try it a few times.

Bruce

 

[Packard V8]

I have all three drive sizes and use them often. Sometimes one just wants to listen to the music and not the racket of an impact wrench and/or air compressor.

jack vines

 

[senlow]

I prefer to use a speed handle for engine and transmission assembly work. I also like to use them with a tap socket for chasing threads. Plus, as Jack mentioned, they are quiet.

 

[wvrailroader]

I have a nice 3/8 Armstrong one that came in a lot of tools I bought at an auction. The only time I ever use it is when I raise and lower the spare tire down on my Explorer to clean it and check the pressure. It works great for that.

 

[Karl_B]

I like to use mine for bolts in rocker covers, oil pans, and the like. I use my 3/8" speeder a lot for plastic lug nut covers. I also hand speeders to family wanting to learn to do something rather than giving them power tools. Much harder to destroy things with a speeder.

 

[Dave455]

You bet!

Use 'em all the time, but primarily for screws!

Most used is my 3/8, together with magnetic adaptor to take 1/4 inch hex bits! Better for driving screws than any screwdrivers!

 

[PelicanPines]

Almost always grab a speeder first... Then put it back for something T or ratchet. I love my T handles.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

I used them a lot when I was building motors at my machine shop. Never liked running do bolts to torque them with an impact. Speed handle them all down the torque.

 

[2mJps]

I have several and use them alot when i have mutiable bolts to run down.

 

[rmsg0040]

Bought one a long time ago, rarely used it, so I sold it, do I miss it? NO

 

[Frank-D-Tank]

Almost always grab a speeder first... Then put it back for something T or ratchet. I love my T handles.

Same here, I usually go for a T Handle for that type of stuff.

 

[66354dream]

I use mine as much as I can, I dont have a compressor so I take advantage of my tools as much as I can.

 

[McFarmer]

A speed wrench with a swivel end works good for a breaker bar, then use the speed part.

 

[yhprum]

Really handy to free up stuck phillips head screws. Lean on the end and work it back and forth, and they will usually break free. Especially aircraft panel screws and those cheesy Honda motorcycle engine cover screws.

 

[short4stuff]

nope, they make those in electric versions now (cordless drills)

And that is what I use to assembly trans, just turn the chuck down onto a lower torque setting and go.

 

[JBradley500]

When doing something like taking out a valve body they're handy so you don't soak your electric impact in fluid. Also like said before, valve covers seem to be a natural place for one too.

 

[shanny19]

My collecting journey has let me to think they are/were NOT primarily mechanics tools.

Because these were manufactured by all the major hardline mechanics tool companies, and because they were packaged with mechanics tool sets back in the day, people struggle to imagine what a mechanic did with them back in the day, and we seem to always resort to "valve covers".

The reality is that speeders were used on lag screws. Much more than machine screws or hex head cap screws, and very seldom if ever around an engine compartment. They were used to drive lag screws: around the farm, around the factory, by highway department sign crews, by sign makers, fixture installers, and the like.

And yes, all of those users have long ago gone to cordless electric tools.

 

[dodge610]

I have a 1/4,3/8,1/2 in. I got from my secret santa a few years ago. All of them are proto or plomb sorry blonde moment there. Any way i use the daylights out of all three. Do not know what i did without them also have a 3/8 craftaman. Had that since i was in high school.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

You bet!

Use 'em all the time, but primarily for screws!

Most used is my 3/8, together with magnetic adaptor to take 1/4 inch hex bits! Better for driving screws than any screwdrivers!

I picked up a "brace" ala Brace and Bit for this purpose. I actually forgot I had it and used a 1/4" speeder with a 1/4 hex socket to drive a screw yesterday.

I want to keep the brace and some hex driver bits in the shed so I can move things around in an impromptu manner without running into the house for screwdrivers et al. I tossed my battery power cordless tools a while ago.

Thanks for reminding me.

Jim

 

[RedneckWelder]

Buried in the bottom of my box and have never used it. It is rare that I have the clearance to use one anyway.

I did repurpose a craftsman one to replace the ****** broken handle on the depth adjustment for my ancient craftsman table saw. I welded an old socket onto the shaft and the speeder handle is quick and easy to use.

 

[Farleyfan]

I use my 1/4 & 3/8 a lot on small engines a lot.
I bought the 1/4 craftsman last year when it came up in the
hot deals thread.

 

[slip knot]

I use the speeder for putting things back together. impacts to remove speeder to re-install. I have much more control with the speeder. The speeder was a go to tool in the old days. I have an old friend who started at the ford tractor garage in 1942 at 14yrs old. He can plain tear up a speeder. laughs at my impacts and drivers.

 

[langss]

I use a 1/2 drive speed handle to r&r lugnuts after I break them loose. I also use one for pulling the pan to change my transmission filter. When I was in the service we looped the handle through our tool bag. The speed handle and an apex tip holder was a must have item when removing panels.

 

[redwrench60]

I still use one for that fine "feel" while tightening certain bolts. Oil and trans pan bolts, trans valvebody bolts, pulling down an intake in sequence for final torque with a torque wrench. Certain jobs I always reach for it but it's becoming a lost art tool.

 

[ssdave]

I almost never use mine, but have all 3 sizes. For mechanic work, I bend my flex ratchets 90 degrees, and spin bolts on or off with that, or use a breaker bar the same way, or spin a ratchet around with one finger while holding the extension with the other hand.

Where I have used speeders is on metal buildings, for lag screws attaching metal sheathing to wood, or for self tapping screws on the lap joints. Great for that use. Of course, as said before, electric screw guns and impact guns have taken over those tasks.

 

[Outlawmws]

My collecting journey has let me to think they are/were NOT primarily mechanics tools.

Because these were manufactured by all the major hardline mechanics tool companies, and because they were packaged with mechanics tool sets back in the day, people struggle to imagine what a mechanic did with them back in the day, and we seem to always resort to "valve covers".

The reality is that speeders were used on lag screws. Much more than machine screws or hex head cap screws, and very seldom if ever around an engine compartment. They were used to drive lag screws: around the farm, around the factory, by highway department sign crews, by sign makers, fixture installers, and the like.

And yes, all of those users have long ago gone to cordless electric tools.

You have a source for that info? Have you ever tried to crank a lag bolt in with a speeder?

I grew up using them for automotive use, and still do at times. For small jobs its often not worth dragging out the air or electric impacts=, and hoses/cords (no, I don't have a cordless Impact...), and waiting for the compressor to get to pressure, and... Wait, I'm already done with the job with a speeder...

Yes I have many; some I like better than others. Full handle with bearings is much better than a version with a knob, and much much better then no handle... I think I have one that has spinning handles for both hands. On the next Box replacement/reorg (soon I hope) I'l select the faves and store the seconds..

 

[ClineWrench]

Auto trans rebuilds. Taking them apart it's 3/8 and 1/4 impact. Putting them together; Always use a speeder and a 1/4 drive torque wrench. Keeps me out of trouble. Especially with valve bodies.