What size wrenches most necessary for tool bag in a 2019 Ranger

[rpeterson53]

Hi Phil

I too have multiple sets of SAE and Metric tools in both 6 and 12 point. I even have spline sockets that often will work on SAE and Metric. Seems we needed them on certail aircraft I worked on early in my career. I started out in the aircraft world back in 1966 and we typically used 12 point SAE tooling. Heck, I even owned British Whitworth tooling for my Triumph motorcycle.

Here's a wrench you probably don't own in your collection. Its a "palnut" wrench. Radial engines often used nuts that were not self locking due to thermal issues as I recall. Cylinder hold down nuts were just a plain nut thread. A palnut is a thin stamped steel nut that threaded on top of the cylinder hold down nut as the locking mechanism, i.e. jam nut. The nuts were thin and it was very difficult to use a regular wrench to torque the palnut and the wrench would slip off and then grap the hold down nut. The palnut wrench as shown in the photograph has a feature that prevents the wrench from slipping down. The short length came in handy as the hold down nuts were in tight locations and often you installed and tightened the palnut by feel.

When I migrated into the engineering world supporting commercial jets, I kept these special wrenches. They came in multiple sizes to fit the palnut. I would show them to the AME's who had never worked on a radial engine and bet them they didn't know what the wrench was called or used for. Never lost a wager........

I realize this has nothing to do with the original posting. Reading your posting reply inspired me -

Cheers

Roy Peterson
Retired

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[outdoorphotog]

Hi Phil

I too have multiple sets of SAE and Metric tools in both 6 and 12 point. I even have spline sockets that often will work on SAE and Metric. Seems we needed them on certail aircraft I worked on early in my career. I started out in the aircraft world back in 1966 and we typically used 12 point SAE tooling. Heck, I even owned British Whitworth tooling for my Triumph motorcycle.

Here's a wrench you probably don't own in your collection. Its a "palnut" wrench. Radial engines often used nuts that were not self locking due to thermal issues as I recall. Cylinder hold down nuts were just a plain nut thread. A palnut is a thin stamped steel nut that threaded on top of the cylinder hold down nut as the locking mechanism, i.e. jam nut. The nuts were thin and it was very difficult to use a regular wrench to torque the palnut and the wrench would slip off and then grap the hold down nut. The palnut wrench as shown in the photograph has a feature that prevents the wrench from slipping down. The short length came in handy as the hold down nuts were in tight locations and often you installed and tightened the palnut by feel.

When I migrated into the engineering world supporting commercial jets, I kept these special wrenches. They came in multiple sizes to fit the palnut. I would show them to the AME's who had never worked on a radial engine and bet them they didn't know what the wrench was called or used for. Never lost a wager........

I realize this has nothing to do with the original posting. Reading your posting reply inspired me -

Cheers

Roy Peterson
Retired

I appreciate seeing specialty tools... very neat.

 

[painter1]

Years ago the USA decided to go metric but they didnt know the extent of what that would be like. Tool companies made out like bandits as mechanics now have to have twice the tools and double the tool boxes to hold them. And still the conversion is far from being complele. ?

Know what you mean. My country had an incomplete conversion to metric decades ago. Leaving bit of a dogs breakfast now. ?

As for tools, about 10 years ago, while on a road trip, I needed a 30mm socket. Stopped in at small town auto parts store and was trying to do the imperial conversion (because their metric selection didn't go that high). Anyway the store manager comes along and asks me what kind of car it was for. I said a 2010 Ford. He says, "well why did you want metric ? Domestic is SAE, Foreign is metric".
Well , yah, if it was 1970 again ?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi Phil

I too have multiple sets of SAE and Metric tools in both 6 and 12 point. I even have spline sockets that often will work on SAE and Metric. Seems we needed them on certail aircraft I worked on early in my career. I started out in the aircraft world back in 1966 and we typically used 12 point SAE tooling. Heck, I even owned British Whitworth tooling for my Triumph motorcycle.

Here's a wrench you probably don't own in your collection. Its a "palnut" wrench. Radial engines often used nuts that were not self locking due to thermal issues as I recall. Cylinder hold down nuts were just a plain nut thread. A palnut is a thin stamped steel nut that threaded on top of the cylinder hold down nut as the locking mechanism, i.e. jam nut. The nuts were thin and it was very difficult to use a regular wrench to torque the palnut and the wrench would slip off and then grap the hold down nut. The palnut wrench as shown in the photograph has a feature that prevents the wrench from slipping down. The short length came in handy as the hold down nuts were in tight locations and often you installed and tightened the palnut by feel.

When I migrated into the engineering world supporting commercial jets, I kept these special wrenches. They came in multiple sizes to fit the palnut. I would show them to the AME's who had never worked on a radial engine and bet them they didn't know what the wrench was called or used for. Never lost a wager........

I realize this has nothing to do with the original posting. Reading your posting reply inspired me -

Cheers

Roy Peterson
Retired

Hi Roy,

I have a set of these Palnut wrenches too, bu are mostly unused. I also have wentworth wrenches but these have

fallen into disuse. Do use the BA2 to tighten up the bell on my 1680 bird case grandfather clock movement clock from Lewes England.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

I wrench on photocopiers for a living so I have one of these, as well as ratcheting metric wrenches. I've used the Wiha set more for truck projects than for work.

https://www.wihatools.com/screwdriv...angeable-blade-32-piece-set-in-folding-wallet

 

[Motorpsychology]

Hi Roy,

I have a set of these Palnut wrenches too, bu are mostly unused. I also have wentworth wrenches but these have

fallen into disuse. Do use the BA2 to tighten up the bell on my 1680 bird case grandfather clock movement clock from Lewes England.

Old saying:
"A man with one clock always knows what time it is. A man with two clocks never knows what time it is."
Very impressive collection, Phil!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Old saying:
"A man with one clock always knows what time it is. A man with two clocks never knows what time it is."
Very impressive collection, Phil!

Hi Chris,

This is about 1/5trh of my collection....I have over 200 clocks, mostly the large wall type. I was in the clock repair/restoration business for over 45 years now as a side business. All the clocks you see can run, but I only keep one tall clock running A 1900s Kenninger from Germany.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co Retired

 

[DHH]

Wife calls me a toolalcoholic...

Yours too. When it comes to tools, I always tell people, "If I don't have it......you don't need it".

Know what you mean. My country had an incomplete conversion to metric decades ago. Leaving bit of a dogs breakfast now. ?

I was in junior high when the switch happened, so I was taught both. If I remember correctly (which I usually don't), metric should have been the only system by time I graduated. Roughly 45yrs later and about the only things that aren't still advertised in both Imperial and Metric is our mileage signs and fuel.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Yours too. When it comes to tools, I always tell people, "If I don't have it......you don't need it".


I was in junior high when the switch happened, so I was taught both. If I remember correctly (which I usually don't), metric should have been the only system by time I graduated. Roughly 45yrs later and about the only things that aren't still advertised in both Imperial and Metric is our mileage signs and fuel.

Strange... we burn gallons of gasoline in our 2.3 liter engines, and buy 12 ounce cans of soda, but 1-& 2-liter bottles; they're in the cooler next to the pints, quarts, and gallons of milk!

 

[THLONE]

Az put Kilometer markers on I-19 coming out of Nogales Mexico to Tucson intending that all roads would be changed. But, it never happened. So, now they are thinking of spending money to change it back to miles. It is not that hard to make the conversion it is on your speedometer. I have an app on my phone that will make conversions easy. I always look at the tool sales and then I say to myself you old man you dont need any more tools. They have some real neet battery operated impact wrenches but I resist cause I am not in any hurry. ?

 

[gfitzge2]

Strange... we burn gallons of gasoline in our 2.3 liter engines, and buy 12 ounce cans of soda, but 1-& 2-liter bottles; they're in the cooler next to the pints, quarts, and gallons of milk!

That sounds like an old George Carlin routine. We park in the driveway but drive on the parkway.?

 

[Motorpsychology]

That sounds like an old George Carlin routine. We park in the driveway but drive on the parkway.?

Warning: Hijack ahead
One of my favorite Carlinisms; "If a man speaks his mind in the forest, and there is no woman around to correct him, is he still wrong?"

 

[painter1]

Warning: Hijack ahead
One of my favorite Carlinisms; "If a man speaks his mind in the forest, and there is no woman around to correct him, is he still wrong?"

Yes, if he is married...

A George Carlin routine is exactly what we need today. Can you imagine how he'd play up people vs Covid ?!

one Carlin line I remember:
Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.

 

[Motorpsychology]

I keep a small Kobalt socket set in the truck but IMO the best tool to carry is a breaking bar with a 3/4" socket on it in case of a flat. I rotate my own tires an hand torque the bolts but those factory lug wrenches usually suck.

Like OEM motorcycle tools, just enough to get you into trouble

 

[johnitahoe]

I haven't worked on my Ranger yet but figured I should put some tools under the rear seat.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
John

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