Date:         Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:31:42 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: wrench/socket (nut and bolt head) sizes
Comments: To: Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <COL119-DS5AD6127C9AC9250495489DB6D0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

  Here's some common wrench comparisons:

Close enough---

5/32     = 4mm
5/16     = 8mm
7/16     = 11mm
15/32   = 12mm
19/32   = 15mm
3/4       = 19mm
29/32   =  23mm

Like I said - close enough. These are almost identical. There is enough
difference in the other sizes that fit is too tight or too sloppy which
at minimum might round off a nut or bolt head or simply not fit at all.

For the whole table click here:

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/science/wrench-conversion.htm

John

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com


On 6/17/2011 4:54 PM, Ed Duntz wrote:
> I've got a pretty good set of tools, including wrenches and sockets, to work on my vehicles (three Vanagons, a Mexican air-cooled Beetle, and a recently-given-to-me '88 Camry). I carry a set of tools with me that I transfer to each vehicle as I drive it. I'm putting together two extra basic sets so I don't have to move them from vehicle to vehicle.
>
> I don't want to get sizes that I won't need. Some socket sets, and many wrench sets, skip a few sizes in the range. Some leave out one size, some another.
>
> I should know this from working on my Vanagons over the years, but please help me out here: what size nut and bolt head (and consequently, wrench and socket size) can you say you definitely have and have not used on a Vanagon? How about deep sockets or u-joints- any particular place you can say you've definitely needed them? I know 10 mm, 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, and 19mm are ones I've used. 36 mm for the front axle and 46 mm for the rear. What else? What's the smallest that you've had to use? Anything bigger than 19mm except for the axles? (I know there's one for the steering wheel- I've got it but forget what size it is.)
>
> CV joint bolts are 6 mm allen, or 8 mm triple square, depending on what's there.
>
> If anyone can post definite sizes they've used, or can say are not needed, it would be appreciated. I've heard 16 mm on some a/c compressors. Is 18 mm ever used?
>
> Thanks,
> Ed in CT
>
>