To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Thin wrenches?

neuralsnafu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
172
Location
Tulsa Ok
Who makes a good set of thin wrenches?

When I say thin I mean like 1/16th to 3/32nd thick. I have a CHEAP set that likes to spread at even the though of touching a nut.

I've attached a picture of one of the current ones so you can get an idea...

:rocker:
 

Attachments

  • thin wrench.jpg
    thin wrench.jpg
    130.9 KB · Views: 222
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

franzdom

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
3,136
Location
NC
Facom makes a nice metric set, I also have Campagnolo, Park, Shimano, ATD...
 
OP
N

neuralsnafu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
172
Location
Tulsa Ok
Maybe some cone wrenches? They're used to adjust bicycle hub bearings. Keep in mind that no thin wrench is meant for high torque.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H3T8U1M/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I know they won't be high torque, I just have to have them for doing the timing belt on my car, and the cheap China wrench pictured tries to spread just moving the tensioner to the tight position (no real torque as its tightened via a different bolt)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 

fuddinator

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2015
Messages
25
Harbor Freight pittsburgh wrenches and a bench grinder or some files solve that. Then you can customize the length shorter and make them as thin as you need. I have a hand full of them grinded down and chopped really short for gear sensors and shrader valves on airplanes.
 

JonDick13926

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
326
Location
Sidney, Ohio
I know for a fact that Snap On makes thin double open end wrenches because I've seen them, but don't know the part number. And Armstrong either makes or used to make thin double open end wrenches as well. Also, I'm 99% sure I saw some thin service wrenches on the William's site recently that boast about a thin profile that allows you to reach fasteners in confined spaces. They're the type with just one single open end and nothing on the other end. I can't remember what they call those, but William's had them listed under "service wrenches" I believe. There's three places to look.
 

Shadowdog500

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
9,826
Location
Down the shore
I own the craftsman tappet wrenches and they are nowhere as thin as you need. But I can tell you they are great for their intended purpose which is adjusting valve tappets on a flat head.

Not sure what wrench you need, but it isn't a tappet wrench.

Chris
 

bobcatdan

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Messages
9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
I have SO tappet wrenches, super thin. They are a low torque wrench so I use them with care and have never broken one. I do believe V8 tools and maybe sunnex makes some too. Depending on the application, I don't know if going cheap is fine or its worth to spend the big money.
 

kstools

Active member
Joined
Jan 4, 2012
Messages
25
thinwrench.com I bought one to hold a chuck on a drill that needed to be removed. Have not tried to use it in a high torque situation but it worked well for the rusted chuck.

Just wanted to give another source/option.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

sberry

Banned
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
At the price I paid the old set of cman tappet wrenches have earned their keep on occasion as problem solvers. I think one of them is an obsolete size and we finished the end for some job and a couple of them are used on small grinders instead of keeping all that **** around.
These are the perfect Sears tools. The set was good and a guy could shop used or fleas for some and wouldn't have to tie up a lot of money, worth having in the long run for the serious mechanic.
Take care of and with them, set them off with tubing and other specialty wrenches so they are there when you need to solve a problem.
 

SteveCh

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
1,051
I have the Craftsman tappet wrenches. US made, don't know whether they still are as I bought mine maybe five yr. ago. But they are good and work well. Don't use them a lot but when needed, they do great.
 

Shadowdog500

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
9,826
Location
Down the shore
I just measured the thickness of my craftsman tappet wrenches. They were 0.220" thick.

Don't know what flat head engine has tappets that require a 27mm wrench, so it may be difficult to find a tappet wrench that big.

Chris
 
Last edited:

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
I just measured the thickness of my craftsman tappet wrenches. They were 0.220" thick.

Don't know what flat head engine has tappets that require a 27mm wrench, so it may be difficult to find a tappet wrench that big.

Chris

Can be also used on jam nuts and in tight clearance locations.
 

jim faston

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
257
I've got Metric and SAE sets of the Grip wrenches the OP posted about. My 24/27 as in the picture is .147 thick. I've used a few of mine in light duty service, e.g., Volvo end links, without issue. The wrenches in those sets do graduate in thickness.
 
OP
N

neuralsnafu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
172
Location
Tulsa Ok
Not doing anything with tappets. Its for adjusting a tension pulley on an old dodge aries... I originally bought the set for working on my bmw suspension and fan clutch few years ago. They work but I've punched a few components thanks to the wrenches spreading...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
136
Location
Australia
Take a look at this (2 page) catalogue snippet for Kyoto Tool Co's 'Profit' wrenches.
They are specially designed for accessing tight or hard to reach places.
http://en.ktc.co.jp/products/catalog/pdf_cat/ProfitTools.pdf
It lists the dimensions including thickness, length etc.

Here is a sample.
TMS305-KC_02_LRG.jpg
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom