Chicken Drumstick Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 19j 2.5 Turbo Diesel 1989 Ninety. Oil return from the turbo. We've had the head off to replace a cracked piston and do the head gasket. Also took the opportunity to replace the 3 piece return hose (2 metal bits and a rubber joining hose) as it always leaked with a one piece item from a Tdi. Access is terrible and it still has a slight weep on this nut at the top, but you can't get a spanner in there and turn it. Thinking of cutting open a ring spanner and/or shaving down the sides of an open ended spanner. But thought I'd ask if there was any other options before doing this. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 49 minutes ago, Chicken Drumstick said: 19j 2.5 Turbo Diesel 1989 Ninety. Oil return from the turbo. We've had the head off to replace a cracked piston and do the head gasket. Also took the opportunity to replace the 3 piece return hose (2 metal bits and a rubber joining hose) as it always leaked with a one piece item from a Tdi. Access is terrible and it still has a slight weep on this nut at the top, but you can't get a spanner in there and turn it. Thinking of cutting open a ring spanner and/or shaving down the sides of an open ended spanner. But thought I'd ask if there was any other options before doing this. Thanks. Can you not get in with a crows foot spanner... Regards Stephen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason110 Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Have you got crows foot spanners? They might get in. If not bastardising a ring end of a combination spanner should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigi_H Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 (edited) 8 hours ago, jason110 said: If not bastardising a ring end of a combination spanner should work. In my experience they will be to soft and bend of but give it a try Edited October 26, 2023 by Sigi_H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I had to do the same thing on my 200, I chopped up a spanner to get it to fit as best I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigi_H Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 (edited) The best is a so called "Leitungsschlüssel" (german) these are open ring spanners (ie. for brake lines), but a lot stiffer than chopped ring spanners https://www.werkzeug-treichler.ch/contents/de-ch/p2930.html Edited October 26, 2023 by Sigi_H 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve200TDi Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 Yes, a cross foot might do it. I know the 'cheaper' versions normally look like brake pipe spanners, going around the extra corner. These ones seem to be quite chunky and don't fit into small areas. The more expensive ones, say Snap-On are a bit thinner and can get into smaller gaps but also have the 3/8th square offset at an angle to the spanner side, so that if you flip it over you get a different angle, must be like 30/60 degrees. I found this useful on injector pipes. This was the one I bought, see what I mean about the angles: https://shop.snapon.com/product/Flank-Drive-Flare-Nut%2C-6-Point%2C-mm/3-8"-Drive-6-Point-Metric-17-mm-Flank-Drive-Flare-Nut-Crowfoot-Wrench/FRHM17 You could try a lambda style socket as it has a slot down the side to get over the pipe/cable. Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 It is an absolute pain to tighten, a crows foot is best but still not straightforward in my experience. For next time... I found that the best way was to put the manifolds onto the head before refitting as tightening that nut up is far easier with the head off. I used an engine hoist to lower the head back down as it is a heavy lump with the manifolds inplace. You do of course then have the head ache of tightening the other end of the line to the block, but that one is easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I found a cut open ring spanner typically loses too much strength, so doesn't work if you really need to tighten something. The crow foots are a good suggestions, I've been thinking about getting a set for some time. Something like this would be perfect: Advertised as sockets for injectors and oil pipes. 😉 I'd go for a 6-point and not a 12-point to reduce the risk of rounding the nut. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted October 26, 2023 Author Share Posted October 26, 2023 Thanks for the tips. I did try and order an open ended ring spanner, but it turned out to be the wrong size and incorrectly listed. Order this last night, due for delivery today. Also had a rummage through the tools last night and found I have a large enough flare nut spanner, so I'll give them both a try after work tonight. Fingers crossed I can nip it up enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 2 hours ago, Escape said: I found a cut open ring spanner typically loses too much strength, so doesn't work if you really need to tighten something. The crow foots are a good suggestions, I've been thinking about getting a set for some time. Something like this would be perfect: Advertised as sockets for injectors and oil pipes. 😉 I'd go for a 6-point and not a 12-point to reduce the risk of rounding the nut. These look good, but I don't understand how they would fit in the tight space on a 19J engine oil return as per the OP's pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebus Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 8 hours ago, Escape said: I found a cut open ring spanner typically loses too much strength, so doesn't work if you really need to tighten something. The crow foots are a good suggestions, I've been thinking about getting a set for some time. Something like this would be perfect: Advertised as sockets for injectors and oil pipes. 😉 I'd go for a 6-point and not a 12-point to reduce the risk of rounding the nut. I like those, what a good idea, got to get me some of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 2 hours ago, stevebus said: I like those, what a good idea, got to get me some of them Got mine from Halfords Regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebus Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 Did you, I'm forever more surprised with the stuff from there, got a torque wrench from there a year or so ago now in a panic one Sunday morning after my replacement one from sealey collapsed again, I can't fault it, and an apparent lifetime guarantee, a far cry from puncture kits and BMX and Grifters I know, thanks Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 20 hours ago, monkie said: These look good, but I don't understand how they would fit in the tight space on a 19J engine oil return as per the OP's pictures? You're right, they wouldn't fit the return at the bottom, they're more aimed at fittings like the feed line on top. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 4 hours ago, Escape said: You're right, they wouldn't fit the return at the bottom, they're more aimed at fittings like the feed line on top. I see, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 If you took the feed pipe off the top would you not get at it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted October 27, 2023 Author Share Posted October 27, 2023 15 minutes ago, Anderzander said: If you took the feed pipe off the top would you not get at it ? Its not the feed pipe as such, more that there isn't physical room for a normal spanner head to turn in the space provided. You also end up with the spanner jammed up against the turbo outlet or something else that doesn't move. However I'm pleased to report that a flare nut spanner fitted perfectly and was the tool for the job, providing you have a 22mm one. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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