Offset Extension Wrench: The Secret to DIY RV Repairs in Tight Spaces

[8Muddypaws]

I have several ratcheting box wrenches, including some with heads that swivel. They probably accomplish the same thing. Even though I carry about 80 pounds of tools with me they normally aren’t in the kit.

I worry the most about the serpentine belt. A real bear on Cat diesels.

 

[TonyL]

For those even tighter areas where no socket will fit and there is not enough swing area for open or box end wrenches to work, I find these rachet box end wrenches will.
View attachment 2420310

That's ratchet ring spanners over here

 

[DonTom]

I find these rachet box end wrenches will.

I own a bunch of those too. But somebody still needs to invent an open-end wrench like those.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

I worry the most about the serpentine belt. A real bear on Cat diesels.

Can't use one of these?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Isaac-1]

A lot of time this issue is no room to swing a wrench, I ran into this replacing my Hydrobooster a couple of years ago, I had a situation where even with a variety of wrenches, including ratcheting box wrenches, where I it took half an hour to undo one bolt, due to the very limited wrench swing. With this tool in some situations you may move that wrench swing over a foot or so.

 

[PancakeBill]

Not sure if a good or bad sign, but Harbor Freight does not seem to carry this tool.

 

[John From Detroit]

Not sure if a good or bad sign, but Harbor Freight does not seem to carry this tool.

Harboor freight is a "high turnover" store. they carry items that they never have to dust off cause they move out the door. or at least they try to.

This tool is an "if you need it you need it, tool. Those don't move as fast.

 

[DonTom]

Harboor freight is a "high turnover" store. they carry items that they never have to dust off cause they move out the door. or at least they try to.

This tool is an "if you need it you need it, tool. Those don't move as fast.

All true, IMO. It seems I am often looking for the tool HFT doesn't stock. For that, I use Amazon and eBay.

But HFT has gotten a lot better over the last few years. I have spent thousands at HFT over the years. I find with most of their stuff, the quality is well within reason for the home mechanic.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[John From Detroit]

But HFT has gotten a lot better over the last few years. I have spent thousands at HFT over the years. I find with most of their stuff, the quality is well within reason for the home mechanic.

Yes I should have mentioned that High Turnover does not mean "use once and toss" it means a lot of folks need what they sell.

I have met professionals who use most all HF tools... In fact some tire guys use the exact same jack I got at HF. Comes with a good guarantee and works very well.

I've never had any complaints about any HF stuff I've bought.

 

[bigbAZ]

I've never had any complaints about any HF stuff I've bought.

I bought zip ties that didn't latch, you could cinch them up then just pull them back apart. Another time I bought welding gloves and when I got home and opened them up it was two left hand gloves. They got a good laugh out of that one.

 

[bigbAZ]

Mine arrived yesterday and I had high hopes for a bolt that I've been trying to remove. It's way back against the firewall holding a bracket that supports the turbo heat shield. Alas, it was too big to get in there. A small version might have worked.

I tried making a custom wrench by heating with the torch and bending to no avail, it did fit but with the bends I couldn't get leverage before it would slip off the head. It's such an awkward reach I was tying recovery strings on my wrenches because I kept dropping them.

The problem was I needed to torque the fuel rail pressure sensor screwed in the back of the fuel rail right next to that bracket but it faces the firewall with no way to get a torque wrench in there so I bought a 27mm crows foot that I could put a long extension on and torque it backwards, that is from the front of the engine. There wasn't enough room to fit the crows foot with the bracket in the way and a flare nut 27mm crows foot is big money and several days wait time. I ended up grinding the $8 crows foot I bought on one side so it would clear the bracket. I was worried that by grinding it I would make it too thin and it would bend or break but I lucked out and it held to 70NM. My working space opening is only 8" and the firewall is more than an arm's length away, even for a long armed ape like me. No way to get both arms in there and working blind on some of it.

I probably could have got it by removing the turbo actuator but didn't really want to do that, would probably lose the hairpin clip anyway.

 

[gwinger]

I get the fake website notice every time I click on it.

I will now do a search in my Brave Browser:

"
Based on the available information, WildBearTools.com is not a legitimate business and appears to be associated with scams.

Multiple sources confirm this:

• The website wildbeartools.com has been flagged as potentially scam or unsafe by scam-checking services like ScamAdviser.
• There are numerous reports on Reddit (r/Teddybears) of customers being scammed by a company named Bear R Us, which uses a similar name and fake branding (e.g., copying "Barbie Signature Diwali Collector Doll" design).
• The "Bear R Us" scam involves sending fake or non-existent items, providing fake tracking information, and refusing refunds unless the customer pays expensive return shipping to China.
• The company's Buffalo, NY address is a known warehouse, not a real business location, and their customer service is unresponsive.
• The Better Business Bureau (BB has listed the company as a scam, and complaints are widespread.

My AV flagged and blocked the site.

 

[mevman]

I purchased one from WildBearTools. It was the only one that provided specs on torque limitations. Yeah..I paid more than the others.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I purchased one from WildBearTools. It was the only one that provided specs on torque limitations. Yeah..I paid more than the others.

I guess your successful means the WildBear Tools site is legit...

 

[TheBar]

I purchased one from WildBearTools. It was the only one that provided specs on torque limitations. Yeah..I paid more than the others.

But have you got it yet?

 

[Crisscross]

I guess your successful means the WildBear Tools site is legit...

I wouldn’t assume that.

 

[Isaac-1]

Legit, and good value can be 2 different things

 

[whiteva]

He that has the most tools will be very very popular at his funeral.

Son-in-law almost drools as he looks around my shop.

I have collected tools for over 65 years, mostly borrowed (from former friends) but a few specialty types were purchased.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Well, moral of the thread is we learned of a tool that can be helpful that most of us weren't aware of. And, to add to the success of the thread in the "tech tips" category is additional posts with mention of more mainstream tools we should consider for our tool boxes.

Now, if I can find a website that will rewire my brain to repair more difficult tasks using these great tool suggestions, I'm all in!

 

[bigbAZ]

I own a bunch of those too. But somebody still needs to invent an open-end wrench like those.

-Don- Reno, NV

These have been around for many years: Crescent CX6RWS7 - 7 Piece X6™ Black Oxide Spline Open End Ratcheting

And now I see these are available: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wra-05020022001