The Ford Barn

JRHASZARD · 02-09-2013, 07:44 AM

I used an ignition wrench from a 30+ year old kit and a 1/4 inch box wrench broke. It was beautifully finished and was probably used very little,just a fluke that it broke. When I took it back for replacement, the new tools were made so crappy that I didn't want it. They gave me a number to call and of course it was a customer service person to the East of us. Absolutely no help at all, so now Sears' NEW tools are off the table for me.

Next,I needed a 13/32 wrench to remove the adjustment needle housing in a Zenith Carb as called for in Les Andrews' Book. As the brass part had been rounded off previously, and even Snap On didn't have one even at their prices, I used an 11MM deep 1/4 inch drive socket.

Does any one have a solution for finding installing this part? I don't want to round off this brass part like the last guy did.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-09-2013, 08:16 AM

Yes, I took a Snap On 3/8" six point box wrench and filed it to 13/32" and it works great for those GAV housings.

In the 70's I bought a Craftsman locking jaw plier (aka Vice Grips) and 10 years later a small corner chipped off. When I took it back to Sears the new one looks like half the quality, so I kept the old one. It's too bad Crafstman tools lowered their standards and are no longer all made in America.

I was just looking at ignition wrench sets yesterday, and even the China sets are expensive. I've always wondered why such a small wrench costs so much?

Joop · 02-09-2013, 08:25 AM

You need a 10x11 pipe socket and file the 10 mm side to fit the GAV
Works perfect.

Tom Cavallaro · 02-09-2013, 08:40 AM

IMO..since we no longer have steel manufactured in the us, everything is made overseas...and nobody can harden steel like the USA. So every tool we buy today is less than second quality.

lance leblanc · 02-09-2013, 09:31 AM

There are quaility hand and tools that are made in America. They are just not as easy to locate them. I now buy most of my tools (wheater I need them or not) at auctions. Plant turn-arounds produce a large surplus of both hand and power tools, some even unused.
But my new U.S. manufacturer of chioce is S-K Tools. Available new at Grainger Industrial supply.
I recently sacrificed one of their screwdrivers to fabricate a specialty tool.
"It like the shape it was in more than I wanted it to change, I eventually broke down and went to H.F. bought a $1 screwdriver that was easily manipulated."

Fordors · 02-09-2013, 09:59 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

[QUOTE=Tom Wesenberg;588465 It's too bad Crafstman tools lowered their standards and are no longer all made in America.

I worked with a Metallurgical Engr. back in the '80's and he had previously worked at Lindberg Heat Treat a large Illinois shop. It was already common practice that Sears sockets, wrenches, etc. were forged in India and shipped here to Lindberg for h/t.
With big business and even many small shop owners much more concerned with huge profits rather than US jobs at a decent, liveable wage and quality goods and services we're doomed. A strong middle class equals a strong economy; we are over the hump, it's all down hill now.

02-09-2013, 07:44 AM	#1
JRHASZARD Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ophelia,Va. Posts: 219	Tools I used an ignition wrench from a 30+ year old kit and a 1/4 inch box wrench broke. It was beautifully finished and was probably used very little,just a fluke that it broke. When I took it back for replacement, the new tools were made so crappy that I didn't want it. They gave me a number to call and of course it was a customer service person to the East of us. Absolutely no help at all, so now Sears' NEW tools are off the table for me. Next,I needed a 13/32 wrench to remove the adjustment needle housing in a Zenith Carb as called for in Les Andrews' Book. As the brass part had been rounded off previously, and even Snap On didn't have one even at their prices, I used an 11MM deep 1/4 inch drive socket. Does any one have a solution for finding installing this part? I don't want to round off this brass part like the last guy did.

02-09-2013, 08:16 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Tools Yes, I took a Snap On 3/8" six point box wrench and filed it to 13/32" and it works great for those GAV housings. In the 70's I bought a Craftsman locking jaw plier (aka Vice Grips) and 10 years later a small corner chipped off. When I took it back to Sears the new one looks like half the quality, so I kept the old one. It's too bad Crafstman tools lowered their standards and are no longer all made in America. I was just looking at ignition wrench sets yesterday, and even the China sets are expensive. I've always wondered why such a small wrench costs so much?

02-09-2013, 08:25 AM	#3
Joop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 2,953	Re: Tools You need a 10x11 pipe socket and file the 10 mm side to fit the GAV Works perfect.

02-09-2013, 08:40 AM	#4
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: Tools IMO..since we no longer have steel manufactured in the us, everything is made overseas...and nobody can harden steel like the USA. So every tool we buy today is less than second quality.

02-09-2013, 09:31 AM	#5
lance leblanc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Baton Rouge LA Posts: 238	Re: Tools There are quaility hand and tools that are made in America. They are just not as easy to locate them. I now buy most of my tools (wheater I need them or not) at auctions. Plant turn-arounds produce a large surplus of both hand and power tools, some even unused. But my new U.S. manufacturer of chioce is S-K Tools. Available new at Grainger Industrial supply. I recently sacrificed one of their screwdrivers to fabricate a specialty tool. "It like the shape it was in more than I wanted it to change, I eventually broke down and went to H.F. bought a $1 screwdriver that was easily manipulated." __________________ Lance "When Solomon said there was a time and place for everything he had not encountered the problem of parking his automobile." Bob Edwards

02-09-2013, 09:59 AM	#6
Fordors Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orland Park,IL Posts: 1,402	Re: Tools Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) [QUOTE=Tom Wesenberg;588465 It's too bad Crafstman tools lowered their standards and are no longer all made in America. I worked with a Metallurgical Engr. back in the '80's and he had previously worked at Lindberg Heat Treat a large Illinois shop. It was already common practice that Sears sockets, wrenches, etc. were forged in India and shipped here to Lindberg for h/t. With big business and even many small shop owners much more concerned with huge profits rather than US jobs at a decent, liveable wage and quality goods and services we're doomed. A strong middle class equals a strong economy; we are over the hump, it's all down hill now.