OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Collectables Spanners Wenches and Manuals

Morning,
I was trying to identify a bunch of spanners I was given...... Might just put them in the VE Commodore tool box...
Came across this old mower manuals. Someone might just find one they want..... for a price of course. Maybe something for CyberJack...

cheers
speedy

Hi speedy,
of little use anywhere on a VE Commodore, they will only gather dust on the bottom of the toolbox

Hi Norm,

I'd say Speedy was "takin the piss", ...................just a little.

Cheers,
BB.

Hi speedy,Norm BB and all,

When I empty my trailer of scrap metal at the scrap yard I always see old spanners like in the image at the top
just lying on the ground but I don't pick them up ,unless it's a Victa spark plug tool ,last time I was emptying
the trailer there were these two pullers on the ground so I naturally took them home but I am guilty of throwing
out old spanners like the ones above when buying a toolbox from a swap meet .

Cheers
Max.

Basically those sort of spanners are worthless compared to genuine Australian made Sidchrome.

Cheers,
BB.

Every so often I need a thin spanner to get in somewhere, might even have to grind one to fit a certain nut, I wouldn't be throwing them out, I keep all those odd spanners in a drawer just for that unexpected problem situation. Often get difficult things working on old Brit bikes.
Max,
Good find, they look new compared to my poor old pullers that have worked so hard over the years

Norm so you are guilty too of tool mods. I got some pretty weird looking ones but they are time savers.

I got several cheap Chinese made tools that I modify when I need a service wrench to get in an extra tight place. I also design some my own tools at time. Just an electric PTO double D holding tool so torque the retainer screw. Currently done in aluminum but may need redo in steel. Currently set up for 1-3/8 and 1-1/2 double D's.

Here is another tool I had made as the machinist next door has access to the needed tools to do it. It is a chain brake reset tool for Husqvarna saws. Funny I was getting a lot these chain brakes where the customer would remove them without reset the brake but since I had the tool made I have only seen a couple. Sounds just like my luck.

AVB, over here husky now put a chain brake reset tool cut outs on the bar nut remover side of the supplied screw driver plug spanner (scrench)

Don't know how long they have done it for

Maybe they pickup on the ones I was making out the screnches here 5-7 yrs ago. They just weren't all that strong or provided enough torque with them only having 6" lever that could eat up your hand it you slipped off. They also want spread apart when loosing over tight bar nuts. Of course Husqvarna may have strength the area now.

The impact socket with a pull bar works with less effort on my part. Besides there is a lot metal to metal contact and safer to use especially on those worn chain brakes that are tough to reset off the saw.

AVB, I made this socket many years ago to fit the crank nut on the Enfield twin motors, it is the only one we have in the club and it is borrowed quite often. It is pretty rough but it does the job perfectly and that is all that matters

Hopefully you charge a deposit on it. Here I need to or the items never returns if ever loan one my custom tools but I don't like to as some are hard to remake.

As you I have made some various tools that are needed but not available tools as it just makes the work easier to do. I currently working on a new spring tool in my head just haven't started the physical making of it yet but of course there will probably changes as a working design is created.

Hi everyone,
years ago, I invested in these. They are a special design that grip by the sides and not the corners. Multihex ring spanners and sockets use this principal these days.
These single hex ones are designed to work on both metric and imperial fasteners which why they have the name Metrinch. Sometimes they can even fit the next size down.

Funny thing is I often just use my old regular sockets and spanners instead of getting these out.

These are Metrinch tools aren't they ? I've got a combination spanner set of these and are my go to's when everything Sidchrome I own fails.

Yep all Metrinch B_B.
I got my first one as a single 19mm/3/4 combo spanner when I needed one for a one off job and was immediately impressed with this innovation. I bought it in BBC Hardware days in the 1990s and still use it regularly to this day (see picture).

I bought a 1/4" dr, 3/8" dr, 1/2" dr sets as well as the premium polished finish combo spanner set on special order from Bunnings through the local distributor Tridon 15 years ago. The spanners and sockets are fine, but the ratchet handles, particularly the 3/8 one are not the best. I've actually replaced the 3/8 one with a Stanley I found on the road(!) and the 1/2" handle with a better one from Supatool premium I got on the cheap at Kmart on clearance. Supatooll Premium were actually made by the same company who make Kinchrome.

Oh that is the flank drive version as compare to the older corner drive wrenches.

But there are several variates of wrench design like the v and slip open end but I do like the ratchet design though I am a little afraid to do high torque applications with them.

Oh I do stop for those lost road tools too. Some are very nice to have.

A set of reversible ratchet spanners. I have encountered a situation where the one way almost became trapped!
A body repair shop left a 13mm ratchet spanner in my engine bay. I still have it.

There second pic shows my motley "treat it any old how" collection. I prefer using them!

Hi MF,

This is the set I've had for well over 20 years now.

Right beside the set of timing chains the Alloytec V6's are notorious for 😂😂

I ordered that set but some of the spanners had unacceptable imperfections in the forging so I returned then and ordered the premium polished set in a hard case and was very pleased with them. If not for the terrible quality of the ones I got, I would have kept those. My lone 19mm is faultless.

I like how well you've kept them.

[quote= I like how well you've kept them.[/quote]


Yep, I keep all my tools like that, I've spent lots over the years on buying Sidchrome Australian made units and am not in a position to replace any of them as the prices just keep on heading skyways and when I'm gone the kids have either got themselves some damm good tools or an investment to make some decent money by selling them all.

Cheers,
BB.

I clean my quality tools with a rag before I put them away. I have a tool cleaning spray I got from Bunnings years ago made by the WD40 company. It has an interesting smell.

I usually give my tools a clean every 10 years or so, but maybe that is stretching the truth a bit.

Doesn't the grit wear away the faces of the tool where it grips? That's my main reason I clean them after each use. There is supposed to be a thin layer of hard steel before it becomes prone to wear.

Never noticed MF and I guess it is a bit late for me to find out and if something I have wears out I know it has well and truly earned its keep because all my tools get a good workout. Not many tools I have bought over the years have not paid for themselves many times over. Some tools I have bought over the years for one particular job but I always figure the cost of the tool against what money I can save by having that tool.

You could sell those Metrinch metal tools for at least the nominal price you paid for them -they look new including the packaging. Do they get much use??
Where did you buy them?

Just makes sense to cleanup you tools instead having to reach into a tool box full dirty grease. Unless you like reaching to used oil pans noodling (hand fishing) for tools.

I agree AVB, I heave plenty of chances to get my hands dirty after grabbing the tools.

If my tools get dumped in oil they get cleaned but I try to avoid that happening

The set I have were bought for me by my brother-in-law when he worked for an Adelaide Distributorship called "A.E.Bakers", which no longer exist.

Yes they have had minimal use as they are a last port of call tool for when my Sidchrome, Metric, AF, BSW, BS, or W stuff didn't do the job.

These stay in the lower drawer of my Roller Cabinet, but mentioned all of my tools are looked after much the same, even my hammers lead a very sheltered life.

Cheers,
BB.

I bought mine as primary tools. Funny enough, when I went to undo some tiny nuts off a speaker, non of the Metrinch 14"dr sockets would do it. It took an AF from my el cheapo $8.00 1/4/3/8 combination set to do it.
Another time the Metrinch let me down again with a badly rounded 3/8 bolt on a Victa. It took one of my rarely used Super Wrench set to undo it successfully. You remember that topic don't you?