"Y' wrench Three way bit/socket holders?

[AceofSpad3s]

I've been working on bikes often recently and can see the appeal of those 3 in one tools with 3 hex blades or sockets 120 degrees apart, but didn't bother buying one. Then after looking at them again, I was wondering if anyone made a version that is the same Y format, but three 1/4 bit adapters or 1/4 male square?
I saw one that takes double ended bits, but it looked poor quality, and I've seen ones with two fixed sockets and a 1/4 square, or two fixed hex blades and a 1/4 hex adapter, but nothing what I'm looking for. I think the design would be useful in many situations you could swap in any bit or socket and had the clearance, but unfortunately it seems like the design is relegated to specialty tool for a niche market than actually being made by a legitimate tool company. Or maybe I don't know the magic search term to find it since "Y" wrench is too general.
If anyone makes something like it I'd imagine it'd have to be a japanese company as it seems they are the only ones that make oddball and innovative drive tools these days. Picture as example of the format.

 

[Tools4Me]

Here's a company (ASV) that makes one in the USA with all three tips either 1/4" square or 3/8" square drive. You can even choose how long you want all the legs, 2", 3", or 4".

ASV Y-Handle Socket Tool

Unbreakable Motorcycle clutch and brake levers for off-road, street, and racing use

asvinventions.com

 

[JradM]

A little different, but there's lots of companies making T-handles with either hex or 1/4" square ends. E.g.:


I use one in my race tool kit for dirt biking. I load it up with an 8mm, 10mm and 13mm and then I can quickly go over 90% of the fasteners on my bike before the race, to make sure nothing worked its way loose.

 

[4xdog]

I have an old Park Y-wrench that has (1) crosshead-Phillips, (2) slotted, and (3) 1/4" drive on the three legs. I've not seen one with a 1/4" hex opening on a leg.

 

[BMoscato]

Here's a company (ASV) that makes one in the USA with all three tips either 1/4" square or 3/8" square drive. You can even choose how long you want all the legs, 2", 3", or 4".

ASV Y-Handle Socket Tool

Unbreakable Motorcycle clutch and brake levers for off-road, street, and racing use

asvinventions.com

Take my money... this is actually very cool. I didn't know that something like this existed.

 

[ptgarcia]

Here's a company (ASV) that makes one in the USA with all three tips either 1/4" square or 3/8" square drive. You can even choose how long you want all the legs, 2", 3", or 4".

ASV Y-Handle Socket Tool

Unbreakable Motorcycle clutch and brake levers for off-road, street, and racing use

asvinventions.com

Take my money... this is actually very cool. I didn't know that something like this existed.

I've had that set in 1/4" drive for about 15 years now and it's pretty cool. ASV makes top quality parts and tools for motorcycles, and the Y handle tools work well for that application.

 

[4xdog]

The Y-wrenches I've accumulated in my bike toolbox over the years, from Park and Shimano (PRO).

 

[Meursault74]

I have the Park 4-5-6 Y-Hex wrench. It's my first go-to for bike adjustments. I bought it because I wanted it. I sure didn't need it as I have many, many, many metric hex wrenches in L-shapes.

This thread reminded me of the holster for that tool. I saw a bike shop mechanic had one where he kept the 4-5-6 y tool. He kept it on him all the time I suppose, that's how handy that tool is.

Amazon.com : Park Tool YBH-1 Three-Way Wrench Belt Holster : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Park Tool YBH-1 Three-Way Wrench Belt Holster : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[merkyworks]

Been a bike mechanic on/off for +15 years. A 3-way (4-5-6mm) is without question a tool you have in your apron or on you all the time.

Torx screws are becoming more prevalent, the vast majority of bike fasteners are still 4-5-6mm Allen screws.

edit: Also the 120 degree/Y-shape is incredibly comfortable in the hand when applying high torque to break a screw loose. One downside though is 3-ways can be bulky/cumbersome when trying to work in tight places, that’s when L-wrenchEd come in handy.

 

[Pexto]

I was on the same hunt last year - below is what I found:

Silca makes a Y-wrench with 4mm and 5mm hex, and a 1/4" hex drive on the third side. I got one on sale last winter and it is OK but not great, not quite as nice as their other tools IMO. I believe it is probably made in Taiwan like the rest of the Silca tools. It doesn't seem to be listed on the Silca website anymore but REI lists it: https://www.rei.com/product/169800/silca-ypsilon-y-wrench.

Prestacycle makes two Y-wrenches that have 1/4" sockets on each leg (https://www.prestacycle.com/product-category/hand-tools/). They were on sale dirt-cheap last winter so I bought one of each. The "Professional" version has a little sliding magnet that supposedly holds the bit better. In my experience using e.g. Wera, PB, and Felo bits it doesn't hold the bits any better than the standard version. IMO the standard version without the sliding gadget is less fiddly, simpler, cheaper, and still holds bits quite well. It's the one I end up picking up and using in preference to all my others (including a couple of older Parks). I'm not sure where Prestacycle tools are made, but their Y-wrench has a solid aluminum hub and nicely finished bit holders. It's a good quality lifetime tool.

Let me know if you find any others!

 

[p00p]

i should have bought the "T" style when I came across it a long time ago. The feature it had that I have not came across others to yet have is that the "T" could fold in and made it very slim to easily stow.

 

[bonneyman]

Several nice options, guys. Thanks for sharing the links!

 

[designer485]

How about the Abbey Bike Tools 4 Way wrench? They let you pick the configuration you want. You could swap out one of the bits for a 1/4 hex to 1/4 square if needed.

https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools/products/4-way?variant=3439001600030