10 mm wrench too fat for fan clutch bolts.....

[HuskyMan]

1984 300DT. photos below. The box end of my 10 mm wrench is too fat to slip onto the fat clutch bolts. Can I take a grinder and grind it down? Do car parts stores carry thin wall 10mm box end wrenches?

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

Can I take a grinder and grind it down?

That would be my recommendation. Ordinarily, I would also recommend grinding a cheap wrench, but I see that is exactly what you have.

[Father Of Giants]

Buy a Tekton and grind it, also Tekton wrenchs are pretty slim.

[HuskyMan]

I just read a wiki presented by pelican parts. It recommends using a line wrench. So....I just happen to have a flex head 10 mm line wrench. I managed to get it on the fan bolt so all is well. Thank you to everyone for weighing in, your advice is appreciated.

Now both cars are down, the 560 is awaiting some brake work while I am trying to figure out how to deal with the 1984 300DT. Big fun in the ole town tonight!!!

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Mercedes-W123/14-ENGINE-Fan_and_Shroud_Removal/14-ENGINE-Fan_and_Shroud_Removal.htm

[okyoureabeast]

Can't you just use the regular non boxed end?

[vstech]

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

Can't you just use the regular non boxed end?

If it is a 4 sided mac, or other QUALITY brand wrench, it can work, but on these old bolts, slipping off is very easy.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

Can't you just use the regular non boxed end?

The probability of rounding off a bolt head is very high if you use an open-ended wrench. Then you will be wishing you had spent a few minutes with a grinder.

[Alec300SD]

The boxed end of my 10mm ignition wrench is what I use.

Avoid the temptation to use an open end wrench, you will round the bolt head.

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

The probability of rounding off a bolt head is very high if you use an open-ended wrench. Then you will be wishing you had spent a few minutes with a grinder.

I second that.

[okyoureabeast]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

The probability of rounding off a bolt head is very high if you use an open-ended wrench. Then you will be wishing you had spent a few minutes with a grinder.

I've rounded more nuts using the box end than I care to count.



Partly the reason I invested in flare nut wrenches, the better tool in this case.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

Can't you just use the regular non boxed end?

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

I've rounded more nuts using the box end than I care to count.

In that case, the potential consequences of using an open-end wrench should be crystal clear to you.

[INSIDIOUS]

Turn your socket on a lathe.

[okyoureabeast]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

In that case, the potential consequences of using an open-end wrench should be crystal clear to you.

Nah, when that happened I flipped it to the open ended side and finished the job. I hate the multi point end of box wrenches. They never hold onto anything.



Replaced the bolts after that with better ones.

[if6was9]

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

Nah, when that happened I flipped it to the open ended side and finished the job. I hate the multi point end of box wrenches. They never hold onto anything.

Replaced the bolts after that with better ones.

A good quality straight forward six-point box wrench should be superior to any other wrench design when it comes to avoiding the rounding of any hex head fastener.

Virtually every other design is inferior when it comes to applying force to a fastener's contact surfaces.

[dogguy]

Originally Posted by if6was9

A good quality straight forward six-point box wrench should be superior to any other wrench design when it comes to avoiding the rounding of any hex head fastener.

Finally, if6was9 stated the obvious solution.

Over about 25 years, I have yet to require a 12-point box end wrench ("spanner" for British folk) for my W123s but by gosh, most DIYers ignorantly buy them, use them, and regret both.