Some members have often questioned the use of or even the need for a Socket Speed Wrench…
These guys are certainly putting theirs to good use…
But back to Cars… I imagine that “Q” had to use a Speed Wench" to load James’ Aston Martin DB5…
Bought one when I watched my mechanic use one to remove a diesel injector. I think I paid $5. Still hanging on the wall. I’m not sorry though.
I have a couple but I have very seldom used them.
I think they are better suited for stuff like transmission tear down and builds as well as some engine tear down and builds… Also alternators etc… More for bench work… A lot of pneumatic tools could sometimes have to much torque and damage or warp parts, but now with clutched battery electric tools the speed wrench are all but dinosaurs now a days…
But if you ever saw someone use a speed handle wrench, or know how yourself, they can be very fast… holding the tip of the handle (grip portion) in the palm of your hand and moving in a small circle very fast, with the weight of the single offset crank handle (bent part) spinning around, it is pretty fast… I can not find a video of it being done… hard to explain…
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Not as useful now that powered wrenches are available.
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Teen-age me time-period, cars usually got repaired at the corner gas station’s service bay. Less likely at specialty repair shops. I recall watching the mechanics at one of those gas stations shops using those kinds of wrenches. They did seem to make the process of fitting and removing fasteners go much faster. The last & only time I used one of those corner gas station shops, the mechanic was replacing my truck’s rear differential fluid. I seem to recall he used a speed wrench to loosen then re-tighten the fasteners that hold the third member to the axle-pumpkin.
It’s good for removing aircraft panels when you don’t have air and can’t have electricity.
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There’s still a use for those, for reasons already stated above. Especially for transmission and internal engine work. I don’t care how well your cordless ratchet is clutched or torque limited, you still have no “feeling” of how things are going together. If I saw one of my techs installing a valve body or camshaft caps with an electric ratchet I’d pull it out of his hands.
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I had/have a 1/4 air rachet that I ran with no oil until I could stop an extension on it with my finger tips, it was perfect for doing transmission work and some engine work… It would not hurt a cork gasket, but man that thing was fast (compared) at running down VB and pan bolts etc…
But yeah, if you don’t know your tools and have the feel for it, much damage can be caused with any kind of power tool…
I may still have one that came with my dad’s Craftmans set from the 50s. Can remember ever using it. In racing movies, such as “To Please a Lady” there might be a scene using a speed wrench to change plugs during a pit stop.
Just a little off topic but you brought up the torque wrench issue. I went to use mine but the battery was dead and wouldn’t take a charge. It was my only dewalt battery and a new one was $99. So before I went to buy a new set, I tried jumping the old battery from a black and decker battery. Neg to neg, and positive to pos, just for a couple seconds. Worked like a charm and charged up again.
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