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Monday, December 12, 2016
What Type of Wrench is This?
I am doing tool chest archaeology and I need to know if I will ever need it. I bought a tool chest and many tools at Sears in Pasadena when I first moved to La Crescenta to,work for JPL.
Way back in the day when cars had distributors they were sometimes held in place by a single bolt located way down low where you couldn't reach it. That wrench will reach it. There were other situations that called for something like this but they escape me at the moment.
That looks like a tool for a special application - e.g. a nut that is deep in the middle of things and obscured by something - otherwise, a ratchet with a long extension would be handier. If you got by without it for this long, you can probably do without it.
My take would be that it is intended to loosen/tighten the distributor hold-down bolt on some American car, If you're a professional mechanic it's much quicker than trying to get down with a wrench, as US engine compartments are notoriously tight
Not sure of the name, but it's used to loosen/tighten the hold-down bolt on some automotive distributors. It's either 9/16" or 1/2" in size, I think they were/are available in both sizes. I have one someplace, but haven't had the need for a long time.
It is a distributor wrench — used to loosen/tighten the distributor clamp bolt to allow timing adjustment. If you don't work on last century autos, it is unlikely that you will ever need to use one.
It's an old(er) distributor wrench. You use it to loosen the nut holding it still, then turn the distributor till you got the timing right, then tighten it. The bends allow you to get to the nut that is located under the distributor and not have to put your hands in the (turning) belts and pulleys.
That is a distributor wrench. That offset is to reach the hold-down bolt for an ignition distributor, usually a V8. Ford and Chevy used different size heads on the hex bolt. Chevy was 1/2", and Ford 9/16", IIRC. The bolt is close to the shaft tower, but the head w/cap is much larger in diameter.
I've used mine for oddball situations over the years. Mine is a double ended tool, with a double ended square drive connector in the middle. This allows the driving end to be clocked to an advantageous angle for clearance, or to be driven with a ratchet.
I think I also used it to adjust the distributors of the various Moto Guzzi V-twin bikes I have owned or worked on. 1/2"-13mm and 9/16"-14mm is usually close enough to do the job.
Distributor wrench. Used when doing a tune up on vehicles to adjust timing of spark (retard/advance) by adjusting nut on distributor allowing the turning of the unit to make said spark timing adjustment. Especially helpful in the old days for GM vehicles that had the distributor in the rear near the firewall so the nut was hard to reach otherwise.
Now as all of my cars are over 20 years old I have to stop and think if this is used on a modern vehicle. Can't remember. In any case are you doing tune ups on older GM cars? If not, then you probably won't use this.
I have one in my tool box, but then I have 60's and 70's cars as well as 90's cars.
Way back in the day when cars had distributors they were sometimes held in place by a single bolt located way down low where you couldn't reach it. That wrench will reach it. There were other situations that called for something like this but they escape me at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a tool for a special application - e.g. a nut that is deep in the middle of things and obscured by something - otherwise, a ratchet with a long extension would be handier. If you got by without it for this long, you can probably do without it.
ReplyDeleteMy take would be that it is intended to loosen/tighten the distributor hold-down bolt on some American car, If you're a professional mechanic it's much quicker than trying to get down with a wrench, as US engine compartments are notoriously tight
ReplyDeleteNot sure of the name, but it's used to loosen/tighten the hold-down bolt on some automotive distributors. It's either 9/16" or 1/2" in size, I think they were/are available in both sizes. I have one someplace, but haven't had the need for a long time.
ReplyDeleteIt is a distributor wrench — used to loosen/tighten the distributor clamp bolt to allow timing adjustment. If you don't work on last century autos, it is unlikely that you will ever need to use one.
ReplyDeleteI've used a similar tool to open/close a below-ground main water valve for our home.
ReplyDeleteIt's an old(er) distributor wrench. You use it to loosen the nut holding it still, then turn the distributor till you got the timing right, then tighten it. The bends allow you to get to the nut that is located under the distributor and not have to put your hands in the (turning) belts and pulleys.
ReplyDeleteIt is for reaching the distributer locking nut.
ReplyDeleteThat is a distributor wrench. That offset is to reach the hold-down bolt for an ignition distributor, usually a V8. Ford and Chevy used different size heads on the hex bolt. Chevy was 1/2", and Ford 9/16", IIRC. The bolt is close to the shaft tower, but the head w/cap is much larger in diameter.
ReplyDeleteI've used mine for oddball situations over the years. Mine is a double ended tool, with a double ended square drive connector in the middle. This allows the driving end to be clocked to an advantageous angle for clearance, or to be driven with a ratchet.
I think I also used it to adjust the distributors of the various Moto Guzzi V-twin bikes I have owned or worked on. 1/2"-13mm and 9/16"-14mm is usually close enough to do the job.
distributor wrench, used when adjusting engine timing on older vehicles
ReplyDeleteLooks like a distributor wrench to me. Remember when you had to manually set your timing. Kind of went the way of points and such.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like it would be used to loosen/tighten the hold down bolt on a distributor when you were timing the engine.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wrench to loosen/tighten the hold down bolt of a distributor when timing an engine of old with a light.
ReplyDeleteHow big is it?
ReplyDeleteIt is an offset box end wrench...used to negotiate around large objects when bolting down a flange, for example...
ReplyDeleteDistributor wrench. Used when doing a tune up on vehicles to adjust timing of spark (retard/advance) by adjusting nut on distributor allowing the turning of the unit to make said spark timing adjustment. Especially helpful in the old days for GM vehicles that had the distributor in the rear near the firewall so the nut was hard to reach otherwise.
ReplyDeleteNow as all of my cars are over 20 years old I have to stop and think if this is used on a modern vehicle. Can't remember. In any case are you doing tune ups on older GM cars? If not, then you probably won't use this.
I have one in my tool box, but then I have 60's and 70's cars as well as 90's cars.
it looks like a distributor wrench
ReplyDeleteMore than likely a offset distributor wrench.
ReplyDeleteMaybe.