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?

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

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

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

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

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

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

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

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.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

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.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

I second that.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

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.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

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.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

Turn your socket on a lathe.

...and also the 10mm 12point lower front shock mounting bolts.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/295515-w123-front-shock-replacement-diy.html

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

You got me there.
Thanks for the reminder about that piece of krap bolt. So far as I can tell, it is a rare example of bad design on my W123 M-B using a 12-point bolt in that spot. Why?
That location is prime territory for water and dirt. If there is anywhere on the vehicle where a 6-point bolt would be best, I consider that a good spot. As part of a front end rebuild a few years ago and after a highly unpleasant experience removing the old 12-point bolt, I replaced it. Good riddance.

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