The "Special Tool" thread

DoubleChevron

Real cars have hydraulics
Moderator
VIP Paid Subscriber
Fellow Frogger
Joined
May 8, 2000
Messages
22,213
Location
Ballarat,Vic,Aust.
Hi Guys,

if you have drawings to create a "special" tool as required for working on our cars.... Post it here!! Even better, if you own any "special tools" if you can measure them up we will request vince does some technical drawings for them so anyone can make one. If you have found a tool that will work in place of a required special tool. Let everyone know! (eg: spanner to adjust later DS brakes, tool to back off clockwork DS pads, tool to extract CX driveshaft over it's snap ring). photos and diagrams of factory tools to aid creation or identification of the tools is always welcome.

seeya,
Shane L.
 
Here is the CX lower arm tool kindly drawn up by Vince:

http://www.shanescitshed.com/arm_tool/ASSEMBLY.PDF

http://www.shanescitshed.com/arm_tool/EXPANDER.PDF

http://www.shanescitshed.com/arm_tool/KEY.PDF

http://www.shanescitshed.com/arm_tool/SPINDLE.PDF

http://www.shanescitshed.com/arm_tool/TAPER.PDF

He has offered to draw up any tool we give him the dimensions for.

Has anyone tried this on a CX left hand driveshaft ??

http://cgi.ebay.com/INNER-CV-JOINT-...Accessories&hash=item2c5b7314c2#ht_799wt_1141

It would be great if someone has the CX driveshaft puller and rollbar balljoint tall they could take measurements of :)

seeya,
Shane L.
 
XM/Xantia/BX/406/etc lower balljoint tool

No drawings required for this one. It's cheaply available here in Austraila:


http://www.toolworks.com.au/j7215-lower-ball-joint-socket.html

J7215_lower_ball_joint_Socket.jpg



seeya,
Shane L.
 
Square drive sump plug tool (BX). These are available on ebay UK, or David Cavanagh at french connection has them for about $10.00. See sticky for his contact details. There not worth trying to make when they are this cheap.
 
Those flare nut spanners look fairly good, Shane.

I am still looking for a flare nut spanner in 9x10. I can find 8x9, 8x10, 9x11 and 10x12. If I could find a 9x10 I could add a 12x14 and I would have every hydraulic fitting on my DS19 covered, and all in 2 spanners.

Roger
 
They appear nicely made. The bit that appeals is I've never seen a set with all the sizes we need to cover earlyDS/late/DS/CX/BX/GS/etc.... this set does. They would be better if they were single hex (gripped the nuts but the sides, not the corners).

I clicked "buy it now" and received an email 2hours later saying they had already posted them... so they appear to be quite a prompt ebay shop.

403434942_o.jpg


picture link to spanners:
http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...434915,403434942&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

seeya,
Shane L.
 
Hi Guys,

I found a cheap flare spanner set today with all the sizes we need (8,9,.10,11,12) on ebay. $36.00 delivered to your door

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140522129246

seeya,
Shane L.

Thanks Shane, I've always wanted a set, I ordered a set last night, no email from seller but I guess with the weekend and time difference I should hear from them this evening :wink2:

They would have to be better than using open ended spanners that I'm currently working with...

Cheers
Chris
 
They appear nicely made. The bit that appeals is I've never seen a set with all the sizes we need to cover earlyDS/late/DS/CX/BX/GS/etc.... this set does. They would be better if they were single hex (gripped the nuts but the sides, not the corners).

I clicked "buy it now" and received an email 2hours later saying they had already posted them... so they appear to be quite a prompt ebay shop.
picture link to spanners:
http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...434915,403434942&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

seeya,
Shane L.

I do agree that single hex would be better. It is so easy to round off the corners of flare nuts particularly the small sizes. I purchased a cheap single hex set years ago from an 'el-cheapo' tool purveyor. They of course did not have the 9-11 or 8-10. I was able to purchase those from Ryans in Elizabeth Street in Stahwille brand. These have satisfied my every demand.
Cheers Gerry:cheers:
 
Last edited:
Hey Shane, hope you get a good commission. :wink2: Just ordered a set myself.

I've got an excellent Dowidat 9/11 spanner I keep in the garage, and a modified 9mm one in the car kit.

Been after a set like this for a while.

Thanks for spotting it.

Cheers, Pottsy
 
Tool for difficult pipe unions

Hi. The pipe nuts are often problematic to loosen, they tend to be weak from rust and bonded with whatever aluminium part they are fastened to. I have a tool that somebody made in limited numbers some years back, but images for this exists, for others to give it a go. The point is, the opening is a bit tighter at one end of the hex grip, since the union nuts tend to have less material on them now than when they were new. This way the grip is very tight, and the the union easier to unfasten. I have used it on a lot of rusty pipes, and it is excellent. For 3,5mm and 4,5mm pipe.

ncomb.jpg


ncomb0001.sized.jpg
 
that's brilliant!!! Once you have loosened it the first half a turn, you could then unscrew with a normal flare spanner. Do you know if these are still for sale anywhere?

We don't have the "frozen line" nut issue as much in Australia. However I have two cars imported from the salty soggy UK here..... Some hydraulic fittings I've had to cut off as they can't be unscrewed :(

seeya,
Shane L.
 
Great tool. I love it, for its creativeness and effective potential use.

I still find the Stahlwille #14 series does the job for me, as well as a couple of small 9mm Snap-On open enders of vintage heritage.
Rarely do I use flare nut specific tools, as single hex they can prove inconvenient. Like Gerry, I too have Stahlwille flare nut wrenches.
There are ways of persuading these nuts to let go, even in the toughest situations.
Of course there is no substitute for having a flaring tool and new nuts to replace a piece of line which has corroded.
29zpj4w.jpg


fbdvl5.jpg
 
Great tool. I love it, for its creativeness and effective potential use.

I still find the Stahlwille #14 series does the job for me, as well as a couple of small 9mm Snap-On open enders of vintage heritage.
Rarely do I use flare nut specific tools, as single hex they can prove inconvenient. Like Gerry, I too have Stahlwille flare nut wrenches.
There are ways of persuading these nuts to let go, even in the toughest situations.
Of course there is no substitute for having a flaring tool and new nuts to replace a piece of line which has corroded.
29zpj4w.jpg


fbdvl5.jpg

I have one of the 3.5mm flaring tools too. They appear less than ideal working with original "hard" metal lines (that rusted away 30years in the UK). The soft pipe we use these days it is very effective on though. I must buy in some of cupro-nickel pipe and end pieces someday :)

seeya,
Shane L.
 
My experience has been the opposite.
I prefer to replace with the original lines, cut down as required from other prts of the car. No problems or difficulties to date.
Colour of the cupro nickel lines does my anorak head in.

Now setting up plating equipment, should be interesting and keep me amused for ages.
Tired of platers promises and failure to deliver.
 
I was able to purchase those from Ryans in Elizabeth Street in Stahwille brand. These have satisfied my every demand.

Like Gerry, I too have Stahlwille flare nut wrenches.

You braggards! I make do with Snap-on, which feel nowhere near as good in one's hands. One day I might find some Stahlwilles at a good price.

Rarely do I use flare nut specific tools, as single hex they can prove inconvenient.

I still find the Stahlwille #14 series does the job for me, as well as a couple of small 9mm Snap-On open enders of vintage heritage.

True, once you have a tight nut loosened, and if you then keep everything in good order, a good open end spanner can do the job. But I often find the nuts are already butchered, so it is as well to do the initial loosening with a flare nut spanner anyway. This is where Sturla's tapering tool would be good.

For access to tight spots I have contemplated buying a set of crowfoot wrenches, basically flare nut sockets, but rarely does one find a 9mm one in a set. Instead, I bought a cheapish set of Blackhawk flexi-head flare nut spanners that included 9mm.

Stahlwille 14s are good, but the now discontinued 15s were better. They had the same ring end as the 14s, but their open end flared out slightly so they slip more easily onto the nut.

Roger
 
I think Roger has a milling machine ??? Lets all place our orders for one of those spanners :p :poke: :)

seeya,
Shane L.
 
I think Roger has a milling machine ??? Lets all place our orders for one of those spanners :p :poke: :)

seeya,
Shane L.

actually you could probably make those spanners with a lathe by mounting the spanner on the toolpost and putting a milling cutter into the chuck... How to cut the taper though ... hmm.... you see you'll only be able to mount it on the toolpost horizontally.

seeya,
Shane L.
 
Top