What do you call this wrench?

[nutsnbolts]

I have always wondered what this U-shaped wrench is called, and what is it used for?

 

[bobcatdan]

Half moon wrench. Some may call it a starter or a manifold wrench.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Thanks Dan.

 

[SteveCh]

Got a couple Craftsmans in a package deal Sears had going and they referred to them as "alternator wrenches" on the invoice.

 

[iajonesy]

I've always called them obstruction wrenches.

Mike

 

[Fedwrench]

I've always called them obstruction wrenches.

Mike

Me too

The half moon wrenches are rounder.

 

[southalabama]

We've called then obstruction wrenches.

Last year found a few nos craftsman USA and put a couple in the tool box. Don't use them often but when you need one you need one.

 

[AL`]

I have one which came as part of the Craftsman 540 pc mechanic tool set. It is referred to as an obstruction wrench in the parts list.

 

[don long]

In the body shop business in the 60s - 80s we used them for door hinge bolts on the a pillar

 

[Xxslyer1]

Called pre-bent!!!!!!! Quit using cheater bars on them

I'm joking

 

[four.cycle]

Half moon wrench. Some may call it a starter or a manifold wrench

any and all of the above. depends on what the manufacturer wants to call it in the catalog.

 

[bonneyman]

Called pre-bent!!!!!!! Quit using cheater bars on them

I'm joking

 

[BD1]

I thought the old days it was a distributor wrench.

 

[bwringer]

Another vote for "obstruction wrench".



That's sort of boring, though. Would "reacharound wrench" give people the wrong idea?

 

[lbgradwell]

All such wrenches are indisputably obstruction wrenches (as that's a generalization). More specifically, that model is intended for starters and manifolds...

 

[four.cycle]

^ correct.

"obstruction wrench", by definition (again, depending upon which manufacturer's catalog you're looking at), looks like:



correct nomenclature on the sample above would be "half-moon" or "starter/manifold" wrench (again, depending upon which catalog you're looking at.)

 

[Richard Cranium]

starter or manifold wrench is what I have always called them.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I think this is another one of those "regional dialect" things like "peevee / cant hook / timberjack" or "pop / soda".
As long as your assistant hands you the correct tool when you're under the car on your back, you can call it anything you want.

 

[bonneyman]

Agreed, four cycle. So long as your helper/apprentice knows your terminology, it's all good. Though, I still like throwing the helpers for a loop and ask for the water pump pliers.

Oh, I call the OP's wrenches starter or half moon.

 

[martin666]

Always called the OP's pictured wrench a starter/ manifold wrench. But it falls under the broad category of obstruction wrench. Pictured here are some other examples. Starter/ manifold, modified, and door hinge wrenches

 

[Bighead38]

I thought the old days it was a distributor wrench.

In my experience distributor wrenches are bent differently.

 

[rockinacummins]

Starter wrench

 

[leg17]

Craftsman calls them starter manifold wrenches in their catalogs.

 

[JBradley500]

Injection pump wrench!...well at least that's all i've ever used mine on.