tight spot today, need help finding a specific wrench....

[Jersey Drew]

so today i had to change out a crank position sensor on one of our grand caravans. the brainless engineers at dodge decided to make a single bolt sensor very difficult to get to. anyway to the tool. i got the damn thing out with what i have but i feel like this would have been a cake walk with a super long high tooth count ratcheting box wrench. i tried my flex head ratchet and it was no good cause the damn thing would not hold at the angle i needed. it was too loose. i looked at the gear wrench 120 xp long ones and they look like they would have the better reach but i feel like they would have had the same problem with the flex head. is there a super long beam with looking flex head or even a selectable ratcheting head? i cannot seem to find one.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I’ve wrapped flex heads with electrical tape to hold them at a desired angle

 

[bwringer]

Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DDO1DPG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

"Mountain" is one good brand of these, but there are several others. I'm not at all a fan of the spline, so some other brand might be better.



Also, this long double-ended flex ratchet, 1/4" on one end and 3/8" drive on the other end is magic when combined with a selection of low-profile sockets. I don't know if anyone else sells such a thing, but it's super-handy.
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

 

[Jersey Drew]

I’ve wrapped flex heads with electrical tape to hold them at a desired angle

gotta try that...

Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DDO1DPG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

"Mountain" is one good brand of these, but there are several others. I'm not at all a fan of the spline, so some other brand might be better.



Also, this long double-ended flex ratchet, 1/4" on one end and 3/8" drive on the other end is magic when combined with a selection of low-profile sockets. I don't know if anyone else sells such a thing, but it's super-handy.
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

yes.. sort of. the flex head is similar to the ones i have. unless they have a serious detent i would prefer something more like gear wrench 85698 with a locking flex head or if 85988 had a selector and 15º offset.

 

[Jersey Drew]

thought about it a bit and thought to myself if i had a super long handle 1/4 ratchet it might have been easier. i found a 9 inch long 120xp ratchet so for under $30 i just ordered it. i started to think that this is a rare job and i may not NEED to spend a couple of hundred on a special set of wrenches for this.

 

[Mr_B]

saltus wrench been any use !
sometime a slim 3/8 breaker bar and a shallow 12 point great getting into an awkward bolt

 

[qqzj]

GearWrench serpentine belt tool. All your wishes satisfied

gotta try that...



yes.. sort of. the flex head is similar to the ones i have. unless they have a serious detent i would prefer something more like gear wrench 85698 with a locking flex head or if 85988 had a selector and 15º offset.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[sberry]

I am with the tape. If I had another one to do or did it regular would have been glad to get it out and been on the way. If you are a guy under the hood a lot then get all the advantage to make it easier. I lost my 3/8 breaker bar and havnt replaced it,,, lost 25 yrs ago and should get one as someday I might need it,,, but, they are simple and can work on a lot with the 12 pt socket. Only got 2 flex, 3/8 and 1/2 and seem to manage with not a lot more than would have been in a larger Sears socket set.

 

[sberry]

I gotta watch it about buying new lately cause while some of it seems like a good idea when I get something to do something I have done often I never need it again or fall back to the way I did it before.

 

[Ign]

thought about it a bit and thought to myself if i had a super long handle 1/4 ratchet it might have been easier. i found a 9 inch long 120xp ratchet so for under $30 i just ordered it. i started to think that this is a rare job and i may not NEED to spend a couple of hundred on a special set of wrenches for this.

So granted they're only 72T but if you don't have one of these HF long ratchets, they're stupid handy. The head is quite slim, too and they fit A LOT of places
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

Steelman also offered (past tense) these 90T units in their Cobra line. Advantage here is 12" length and a unique locking flex (in predetermined positions) or open flex options. Downsides? Handle shape is kinda dumb, head and flex joint are kinda thick, and cost of $58 for this auction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steelman-Pro-78629-1-4-Drive-Cobra-Locking-Flex-Head-Ratchet-/274343679835

 

[Jersey Drew]

So granted they're only 72T but if you don't have one of these HF long ratchets, they're stupid handy. The head is quite slim, too and they fit A LOT of places
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

Steelman also offered (past tense) these 90T units in their Cobra line. Advantage here is 12" length and a unique locking flex (in predetermined positions) or open flex options. Downsides? Handle shape is kinda dumb, head and flex joint are kinda thick, and cost of $58 for this auction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Steelman-Pro-78629-1-4-Drive-Cobra-Locking-Flex-Head-Ratchet-/274343679835

That HF one looks like something to throw in the tool box!

 

[wkndwarrior29]

It's hard to visualize your situation, have you considered something like this? VIM also makes closed end ones. https://shopdynamictools.com/products/3-8-drive-7-piece-sae-flare-nut-socket-set-d010029

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[BFHtime]

I think this may be what you are after. I got these for those times you want to keep the angle you are on by locking the angle. These are also reversible, which I like. The tooth count is very good. They do come in a wrench roll that is not bad.

Here is the link.
http://www.snapon-bluepoint.com.sg/...tcheting-Wrench-Set,-Locking-Flex-Head,-12pcs

Good luck

 

[Jersey Drew]

I did finally find a set of wrenches that are exactly what I was looking for, even though I will not be purchasing them right now. In case someone else is searching there are a set of long pattern selectable ratcheting wrenches made by Capri.


https://capritools.com/shop/reversi...t-6-point-wavedrive-plus-long-pattern-metric/

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Wrap it in electrical tape. Works every time.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[jonesg]

So granted they're only 72T but if you don't have one of these HF long ratchets, they're stupid handy. The head is quite slim, too and they fit A LOT of places
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

that HF low profile ratchet gets in places regular ratchets wont.
Rather sharp edges on the shaft but its only for occasional use.