stuck Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Anyone tried spanners like this for those hard to get at bolts? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ratchet-Wrench-spanner-Set-8pc-SATA-Open-End-/281502613821?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item418add013d Any use or load of carp? Not expecting them to shift a tight bolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've used a couple over the years, bit of a gimmick really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertspark Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Got one or two think I used one for the bellhousing bolts on a 3.9 disco when changing the engine due to space restrictions. Did the job needed. Nothing against them but don't think they will stand up to a pole / bar on the end of one for leverage like my Gedore ring spanners have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Was under the bonnet trying to run up the brass nuts on the underside of tubular exhaust manifolds at the weekend, thought something like these would have saved me throwing spanners down the drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I have a set and use them a lot - I got the halfords professional ones on one of their deals. You're right in that they aren't the tool for brute force to crack a nut - but they definitely aren't a gimmick for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've got a set of Facom metric spanners like that (plus a couple of similar Stanley imperial ones). TBH I bought them because they were cheap (for Facom) and because I struggle to resist Facom tools like the last Rolo. When you find the situation where you need them, they are brilliant. Mostly for putting stuff together though, if the nuts at all second hand looking, or the thread isn't clean, they will struggle. Also, keep them in a separate drawer, otherwise you'll not notice you've got the wrong spanner out until you're on your back under the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks Chaps. Santa invariably brings a Halfrauds voucher or two for some reason so I'll pick up a set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertspark Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Need a mate with a halfords card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich broom Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 i find the flexi ratchet spanners most use. still won't like siezed nnuts. but very handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yalan Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Great tools. Use them almost as much as my 3/8 ratchet. Nothing gimmicky about them for me either. Halfords ones are made by gearwrench so are very good quality too. Get em bought.... Either on a special or on tradecard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 When I referred to them being a gimmick I meant only the "ratcheting" open ended spanners the OP was asking about. Not ratchet spanners in general. Allow me to qualify my earlier statement: During the 10years I spent as a professional mechanic I didn't use the open end ratchet spanners much, I bought a snap on set and then sold them on as I found them next to useless. In all cases where they could be of use I either had another tool which was better suited to the task, or the access was restricted and therefore did not allow them to swing far enough to "ratchet" around the flats of the fixing. I always thought of them as a nice idea of limited practical use, hence my description of them as a gimmick. If you have money to burn and already own every other tool known to man then sure, why not add them to your collection? But personally I think for the majority of forum members there are better/more useful things to spend money on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I bought a couple of sets of Chicago tools open ratchet spanners. One set for me and one for 'er brother - who is in the trade for 30 odd years. Neither of us use them Unlike the Facom multi size ring ratchets which are almost the first tool we both reach for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 My error - I thought it was just about normal ratchets. I looked on my phone and on that the picture looked to be a normal open end and a ratchet - not an open end ratchet ... Sorry !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 They're one of those things similar to the 'thisamazingdrillbitwilldrillanythinghonest' drill bits.... There are always stands selling them, but if they were really that good then they would be far more common. Even if they worked, where is the advantage over the normal-type ratchet ring spanners, you get 60 degrees between each flat, whereas the halfords ones are I think 5Deg between teeth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 http://tinyurl.com/o7n7fh9 Chicago brand - they do work but I just don't use them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 The application I can think of is lower shock absorber nuts on the front axle. Some shocks have long pins which means that if you do it up with a ratchet ring spanner you can't then get it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I don't think my set goes big enough for that, think 14mm maybe only 13 mm - see I told you I never used 'em :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 In the application I was talking about in my original post I couldn't get a ratcheting ring spanner in as the stud & nut were too close to the bend of the manifolds. I could get an open ended spanner on but it was a royal pain in the arse to take the spanner off after each part turn, relocate the spanner and start again. I'm going to buy a set & give them a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 The application I can think of is lower shock absorber nuts on the front axle. Some shocks have long pins which means that if you do it up with a ratchet ring spanner you can't then get it off. That's exactly what I use them for! Mine are Facom, given by a good friend, not used much but sometimes extremely handy as nothing else will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need4speed Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I've got a set of Facom metric spanners like that (plus a couple of similar Stanley imperial ones). TBH I bought them because they were cheap (for Facom) and because I struggle to resist Facom tools like the last Rolo. When you find the situation where you need them, they are brilliant. Mostly for putting stuff together though, if the nuts at all second hand looking, or the thread isn't clean, they will struggle. Also, keep them in a separate drawer, otherwise you'll not notice you've got the wrong spanner out until you're on your back under the car. My old employer kitted all the vans with Facom gear. Absolutely first class.To your op i reckon the ratcheting spanners would be handy. Even if a different tool is needed to initially crack offending nut etc. if the bolt is long, or the nut on a long thread, they could be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Ayes I have a set of snap-on open ended ratchet spanners and I love them. They are similar to the falcon ones posted above. If the fasteners are in good nick it's surprising how much torque you can apply with them. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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