Tool for getting to hose clamps deep within the engine bay?

bmwpower · Feb 17, 2008

Putting back together my car today and wondered if there was a tool with the long thin shaft (12"+) and handle like a screwdriver, but with a 1/4" socket end at the tip. Most of my hose clamps are slotted 6mm hex heads. Using a screwdriver works, but it's not as quick as the screwdriver constantly slips off the head.

Does anyone make anything like this?

eschoendorff · Feb 17, 2008

Why not just use a 1/4" spinner with a 12" extension and a 1/4" socket? Surely, you have that lying around, right?

Oh, and of course, it has to be Snap On, otherwise none of this will work. :lol:

Da Bull · Feb 17, 2008

Look here: :canada2:

http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/s1018.html

Merkava_4 · Feb 17, 2008

It's good thing I read the post because I was getting ready to post a huge Mayhew image. :eek2:

If you have just simple worm clamps, you can go with a 12"L - 1/4"drive extension with a swivel socket and spin handle; much like Mr. Schoendorff was mentioning.

Danglerb · Feb 17, 2008

Hex drive extensions are on the shelf at HF. A couple kinds of long hex drive extensions are on my list of stuff to buy.

SteveU · Feb 17, 2008

1/4" socket on an extension powered by an air ratchet is what I'd use.

IDASHO · Feb 17, 2008

Im addicted to my 1/4 drive set, complete with flex joints and extensions, coupled with my Bosch Lithium Ion driver for things like that. :beer:

PanelDeland · Feb 17, 2008

I refuse to use a screwdriver to loosen or tighten a fastener of any kind with any other type of additional drive head.The 1/4 drive is my friend.I f the QOV did not thrash in her sleep I would take it to bed with me.I wouldn't want her to hurt it.

eschoendorff · Feb 17, 2008

PanelDeland said:
I refuse to use a screwdriver to loosen or tighten a fastener of any kind with any other type of additional drive head.The 1/4 drive is my friend.I f the QOV did not thrash in her sleep I would take it to bed with me.I wouldn't want her to hurt it.

HUH????

cambell · Feb 17, 2008

I have fallen in love with my gear wrench screw driver set. It is what i use for the exact same thing your talking about. This is the set I have http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...se&sName=Screwdrivers&filter=Brand|GearWrench They have better more complete sets but I picked this one up for $25 when it was on sale and I used one of the $5 coupons

jimmycrackcorn · Feb 17, 2008

For those type of situations i always go with my locking 1/4" extensions and my ratchet, and depending on the angle i use a socket or a universal. But if is easy to get to i use a nut drive, it's real easy to over torque clamps with a ratchet..

Merkava_4 · Feb 17, 2008

jimmycrackcorn said:
it's real easy to over torque clamps with a ratchet..

Yes it is but if you have a short little quarter drive ratchet it's not too brutal. I like to use nut drivers for worm clamps; and if it's in a tight spot, I'll use a quarter drive swivel socket with an extension and a quarter drive spin handle.

Uncle Buck · Feb 17, 2008

bmwpower said:
Putting back together my car today and wondered if there was a tool with the long thin shaft (12"+) and handle like a screwdriver, but with a 1/4" socket end at the tip. Most of my hose clamps are slotted 6mm hex heads. Using a screwdriver works, but it's not as quick as the screwdriver constantly slips off the head.

Does anyone make anything like this?

The specific answer to your question is yes, there is a special 1/4" socket made that has a combination of a female hex socket and a screwdriver, at least I think I have seen them and you bet Snap-on is the company that handles that one. Perhaps Lisle these days too.

bmwpower · Feb 18, 2008

Da Bull said:
Look here:

http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/s1018.html

Close, but no metric. I definitely need metric.

eschoendorff said:
Why not just use a 1/4" spinner with a 12" extension and a 1/4" socket? Surely, you have that lying around, right?

Oh, and of course, it has to be Snap On, otherwise none of this will work.

Let's assume there is no room to swing a ratchet, even a 1/4" ratchet.

bmwpower · Feb 18, 2008

cambell said:
I have fallen in love with my gear wrench screw driver set. It is what i use for the exact same thing your talking about. This is the set I have http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...se&sName=Screwdrivers&filter=Brand|GearWrench They have better more complete sets but I picked this one up for $25 when it was on sale and I used one of the $5 coupons

Ratcheting would be a definite plus!

That might just work.

nissan_crawler · Feb 18, 2008

IDASHO said:
Im addicted to my 1/4 drive set, complete with flex joints and extensions, coupled with my Bosch Lithium Ion driver for things like that.

x eleventy billion on the bosch. everybody should own one.

eschoendorff · Feb 18, 2008

cambell said:
I have fallen in love with my gear wrench screw driver set. It is what i use for the exact same thing your talking about. This is the set I have http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...se&sName=Screwdrivers&filter=Brand|GearWrench They have better more complete sets but I picked this one up for $25 when it was on sale and I used one of the $5 coupons

I have that same setup and you are right, it is ideal. Especially considering what we paid for it! Note: The ratcheting drivers are not as nice as Snap On, but they do the job nicely anyway....

grillmasterp · Feb 18, 2008

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00943351000P?keyword=handle+spinner

RAYJAY · Feb 18, 2008

i use this its a mini ratchet made by a small company W.F.M.C. INC. ROCKFALL CT 06481 1-860-3463644 I ordered it directly from them i got the 52 part set (set 4 ) UNDER $80.00
[U

Uncle Buck · Feb 18, 2008

LOOK! READ! LOOK! READ!

Perhaps this, open the link and look at stock numbers TM83a, TM84 ,TM85 and driver TM65 . Will these work? http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?Group_ID=1441

l_bilyk · Feb 18, 2008

Long flex driver + whatever socket you need

Jononon · Feb 18, 2008

eschoendorff said:
Why not just use a 1/4" spinner with a 12" extension and a 1/4" socket? Surely, you have that lying around, right?

bmwpower said:
Let's assume there is no room to swing a ratchet, even a 1/4" ratchet.

I don't think a ratchet is being suggested, just a spinner handle like grillmasterp linked to. I would use a locking extension in that application, since you don't want a socket going wandering around the engine bay.

eschoendorff said:
I have that same setup and you are right, it is ideal. Especially considering what we paid for it!

Seconded. Providing the 10" shaft is long enough (ooh, matron !), that should do the job nicely.

eschoendorff said:
Note: The ratcheting drivers are not as nice as Snap On, but they do the job nicely anyway....

There might be eventual differences in durability - I know which one has the smoother action, though, and it ain't the Snap-on :headscrat

/me hides from Merkava

russlaferrera · Feb 18, 2008

eschoendorff said:
HUH????

I thought it was me! HUH.... HUH

TNToy · Feb 18, 2008

I use a long (24"-36" if needed) 1/4" extension, a chrome universal, and whatever size socket I need, along with a small 1/4" ratchet.

Why won't that work?

Uncle Buck · Feb 18, 2008

TNToy said:
I use a long (24"-36" if needed) 1/4" extension, a chrome universal, and whatever size socket I need, along with a small 1/4" ratchet.

Why won't that work?

Actually that combination is my weapon of choice as well and I was wondering exactly the same thing! :headscrat

Tool for getting to hose clamps deep within the engine bay?

Super Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Banned

Super Moderator

Super Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned