What's in your toolbag?

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:08 pm

Einsteiger wrote: Tue Feb 02, 2021 1:13 pm It's the special order Harbor Freight AMBIDEXTROUS double-jointed long-handled ratchet. I call it the Nurse Ratchet. :)
I see what you did there. :lol:
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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sweet victory
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by sweet victory » Tue May 04, 2021 8:33 am

My dealer and I made this on the truck yesterday. A 1/2" drive 10mm stubby hex bit socket is not offered from SO, so I bought a regular length socket, and we punched out the long hex bit, and swapped in a stubby one from a 3/8" drive stubby. This conversion works just fine as the broach depth on the 1/2 and 3/8 drive socket is the same (net result is the hex bit sticks out the same amount). If you have tried to get a tight caliper bolt out, a stronger 1/2" drive ratchet makes it a much easier process than a 3/8" drive set up. With the stubby hex, you don't get the feeling the bit is going to snap off in the middle.

1/2" 10mm stubby next to a 3/8" drive version. With the right tools, working on the 996 is a very relaxing/satisfying process for me. (Except for coolant tank replacements)

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by FRUNKenstein » Wed May 19, 2021 9:24 am

Today's Topic for Discussion:

Flare Nut Wrenches, AKA Line Wrenches

Need 'em, or just another tool to spend money on and rarely actually use? Last night I replaced the master break cylinder on my E30 cabriolet. The online directions called for an 11 mm Flare Nut Wrench. I'm like "WTF is a Flare Nut Wrench?" Quick research learns me that it is those funny looking wrenches that wrap nearly all the way around a nut, but aren't quite a full box wrench. They look like this:

Flare nut wrench.jpg
Flare nut wrench.jpg (112.4 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

They are specifically designed for the fittings (flare nuts) on brake lines and hydraulic lines that have a flared end. Apparently, flare nuts are made from a softer material (like break bleeder screws), so a regular open end wrench risks rounding off the corners. The flare nut wrench grabs more of the nut, therefore making it less likely to round off the flare nut's edges.

Well, I didn't have any flare nut wrenches in my toolboxes, so I used a regular open end wrench, with no drama resulting. But, next time I go to the tool store, maybe I gets myself a set. I just wonder how often I would really use them. You don't need them for break bleeding as you can get a box wrench over the bleeder screws. It would seem to me to be a tool not often used. What say you?
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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32wildbilly
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by 32wildbilly » Wed May 19, 2021 11:16 am

Seen 'em, have known of 'em, don't have any, don't need any. Thanks for listening.
FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 9:24 am Today's Topic for Discussion:

Flare Nut Wrenches, AKA Line Wrenches

Need 'em, or just another tool to spend money on and rarely actually use? Last night I replaced the master break cylinder on my E30 cabriolet. The online directions called for an 11 mm Flare Nut Wrench. I'm like "WTF is a Flare Nut Wrench?" Quick research learns me that it is those funny looking wrenches that wrap nearly all the way around a nut, but aren't quite a full box wrench. They look like this:


Flare nut wrench.jpg


They are specifically designed for the fittings (flare nuts) on brake lines and hydraulic lines that have a flared end. Apparently, flare nuts are made from a softer material (like break bleeder screws), so a regular open end wrench risks rounding off the corners. The flare nut wrench grabs more of the nut, therefore making it less likely to round off the flare nut's edges.

Well, I didn't have any flare nut wrenches in my toolboxes, so I used a regular open end wrench, with no drama resulting. But, next time I go to the tool store, maybe I gets myself a set. I just wonder how often I would really use them. You don't need them for break bleeding as you can get a box wrench over the bleeder screws. It would seem to me to be a tool not often used. What say you?
Never gonna make you cry...

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by FRUNKenstein » Wed May 19, 2021 3:34 pm

32wildbilly wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 11:16 am Seen 'em, have known of 'em, don't have any, don't need any. Thanks for listening.
Kind of what I'm thinking.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

theprf
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by theprf » Wed May 19, 2021 4:37 pm

FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 9:24 am Today's Topic for Discussion:

Flare Nut Wrenches, AKA Line Wrenches
I have 10, 11, 12, 13mm and use them often as I always seem to be working on brake or clutch hydraulics.

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by FRUNKenstein » Wed May 19, 2021 7:07 pm

theprf wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 4:37 pm
FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 9:24 am Today's Topic for Discussion:

Flare Nut Wrenches, AKA Line Wrenches
I have 10, 11, 12, 13mm and use them often as I always seem to be working on brake or clutch hydraulics.
I needed an 11 mm stubby version last night. But, I guess I could have used the flare nut wrench for the first 1/2 turn, and then switched to an open ended stubby to finish the job. And it makes sense that you don’t need a full set of 5 mm to 19 mm wrenches - the four sizes you list would probably get the vast majority of flare nuts.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

theprf
NG (Second 100 Outposters!)
Posts: 343
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:33 am
Location: Central Mass

Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by theprf » Thu May 20, 2021 6:16 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 7:07 pm
I needed an 11 mm stubby version last night. But, I guess I could have used the flare nut wrench for the first 1/2 turn, and then switched to an open ended stubby to finish the job. And it makes sense that you don’t need a full set of 5 mm to 19 mm wrenches - the four sizes you list would probably get the vast majority of flare nuts.
Yes, that's the ticket - the flare nut wrench to start the process then your choice of weapons to keep it going.
My wrenches are 10mm/12mm and 11mm/13mm so I have only two. I think I have used the 11mm one more than any others.
The only other parts that can benefit from a flare nut wrench are the Voss disconnects on the power steering and clutch hydraulics on the 996, which take a 15mm (I think). I have never used a flare nut wrench on these and I have never had a problem, though I have heard of people damaging the expensive fittings with regular wrenches.

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sweet victory
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Re: What's in your toolbag?

Post by sweet victory » Thu May 20, 2021 8:06 am

I have a whole set of these I got for a fraction of MSRP. They have a flare nut on one, and an open end on the other. This allows you to crack loose whatever you're working on, and then use the open end to quickly remove. Given the high cost, I would buy only what you need and/or look for deals on ebay.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Open-En ... ch/RXSM11B

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