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View Full Version : commonly used tools, socket/spanner sizes



MLD
17th January 2012, 03:37 PM
Pitched at those handy with the tools, I wanted to know what additional socket sizes & spanners sizes that I don't currently have that are used by LR. Among other tools, I carry with me a spanner set of 8mm to 19mm and a 1/4 inch socket set 4mm to 10mm and 1/2 inch socket set 10mm to 24mm.

In addition, it would be interesting to know what special little tool that you throw in the tool box that has saved your bacon. A tool that you would never leave home without or has a special place in your heart.

For me I was given a manual impact driver. It has a 1/2 inch drive for the socket and you hit it with a hammer. The mechanism twists slightly with a jolt from the hit to loosen and tighten a nut (or screw head). Significant saving of weight over carrying a powered impact driver and associated compressor (or other power supply)
File:ImpactDriverWithBits.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ImpactDriverWithBits.png)

Smart people learn from other people's lessons learned the hard way, the rest of us still smack our thumb with a hammer from time to time.

cheers MLD

Homestar
17th January 2012, 03:45 PM
Personally, I would put a 3/8" socket set on your list. I use mine far more than the 1/2", and they aren't so cumbersome. Mine is a Sidchrome 8 to 19mm (I think) and I have had it for years - always the first think I reach for when working on my vehicles.

You will be less likely to overtighten bolts as well.:)

Favorite tool is my cordless impact gun - it makes ripping stuff apart soooooo much quicker.

Cheers - Gav

LWB123
17th January 2012, 03:58 PM
In addition, it would be interesting to know what special little tool that you throw in the tool box that has saved your bacon. A tool that you would never leave home without or has a special place in your heart.

Hello from Brisbane,

Facetiously, I might have said a bottle opener................

However, two tools that I always take overseas, and have used from time to time, are a mini Maglite (AA) torch and a Leatherman (Micra and a Wave).

For the truck, maybe a hub spanner - but probably only if you have the rest of the stuff required to fix a seal, bearing etc with.

Cheers,

GoldCloverLeaf
17th January 2012, 04:00 PM
Can't go wrong with a couple vise grips (more an emergency type thing, i wouldn't use them to undo anything unless i had to!), one small, with a narrow head and one big.

Other than that maybe a breaker bar, universal socket, deep sockets... where do you draw the line though...

Also, keep some penetrating oil like Inox under the drivers seat which serves two purposes, you can use it on rusty bolts and it also comes in handy for the inevitable Td5 ECU harness oil invasion :p

jackz
17th January 2012, 04:10 PM
I always carry a small butane soldering iron, you can get a cheapie from stupidcheap.
Much better than twisting wires together and wrapping in tape.
The heat from the exhaust port also is great for heat-shrink and makes a good emergency fire (and cigarette) lighter :D
Sent from my GT-I9000T using Tapatalk

isuzutoo-eh
17th January 2012, 04:19 PM
Tube socket for hub bearings. WHen I broke a front axle, I used it. When I broke a diff, I used it.When a friend broke a CV, he used it. Sure a nail or centre punch and hammer can replace it in an emergency, but it makes it soooo much easier having that tool to hand.

Weller/Portasol butane pen torch. When my 'roid muncher physique can't budge a nut or bolt, ie often, it gets the torch. Works 9 times out of 10, particularly good in conjuction with the impact driver. Also good when dealing with rounded off lock nuts such as on propshafts-melt the nylon and they undo oh-so-easily. Has a soldering tip for electrical repairs. A hot-air tip for heat shrinking. A hot-knife tip for...slicing icecream?

bee utey
17th January 2012, 04:20 PM
One of the more common jobs I would have while out is tightening someone's towball. An aluminium handled stillson wrench and a 15 inch shifter together with a short piece of suitable pipe live in the travel toolbox.
Then there's the lump hammer for straightening suspension arms...(and tent pegs in difficult ground).

I have one of those impact wrenches, gave up using it 20 years ago. The piece of pipe and a decent breaker bar run rings around it.

Tank
17th January 2012, 04:34 PM
A 27mm socket for the wheel nuts, circlip pliers, a good set of punches and chisels (for metal use of course), electrical crimps and quality crimper, 2 tyre irons (quality) a purpose built spanner for the viscous fan nut, grease gun (full), tie rod end (ball joint) breaker, Sidchrome Ratchet handle 3/8 drive ratchet bar, assorted size packets of plastic zip ties, small roll of wire (steel), a good solid ball pein hammer, a roll of fuel line (appropriate size at least 2M long), assorted hose clamps, bits of heater hose with preformed bends, a good quality set of Vice Grips, a set of 30cm Stilsons, teflon joint tape, spare hoses, belts, plastic Epoxy resin (for fuel tanks and radiator header tank, Chemi-Weld or Bars leaks and some silicon gasket maker, probably a few other things I can't remember, but these always go with my comprehensive tool kit, Regards Frank.

MLD
17th January 2012, 04:42 PM
Tank you are either Macgyver or had many lessons learned the hard way.

cheers MLD

Tank
17th January 2012, 04:52 PM
Tank you are either Macgyver or had many lessons learned the hard way.

cheers MLD
The second one, I used to carry suspension spring compressors, the day that I left them at home, I needed them, I need to get a stronger draw for my tools the 60kg. weight keeps busting them, be prepared, I say..., actually I cant think of one item that I haven't used over the last 40 years of 4WDriving, quick to point out, they weren't all Land Rovers, Regards Frank.

isuzu110
17th January 2012, 05:14 PM
A 27mm socket for the wheel nuts, circlip pliers, a good set of punches and chisels (for metal use of course), electrical crimps and quality crimper, 2 tyre irons (quality) a purpose built spanner for the viscous fan nut, grease gun (full), tie rod end (ball joint) breaker, Sidchrome Ratchet handle 3/8 drive ratchet bar, assorted size packets of plastic zip ties, small roll of wire (steel), a good solid ball pein hammer, a roll of fuel line (appropriate size at least 2M long), assorted hose clamps, bits of heater hose with preformed bends, a good quality set of Vice Grips, a set of 30cm Stilsons, teflon joint tape, spare hoses, belts, plastic Epoxy resin (for fuel tanks and radiator header tank, Chemi-Weld or Bars leaks and some silicon gasket maker, probably a few other things I can't remember, but these always go with my comprehensive tool kit, Regards Frank.

Great List.

If you have an R380 gearbox, a Torx T55 bit for the filler and a tube of neverseize copper /nickel grease

JDNSW
17th January 2012, 06:52 PM
Depends in part what model Landrover you have. If A series Landrover remember that you need both AF and BSW spanners, but few metric.

John

Stuck
17th January 2012, 08:55 PM
Facetiously, I might have said a bottle opener................


And a cork screw too. Over the years I've saved a few men from the wrath of their Missus by having one on hand. No forward thinking on my part though, my Missus leaves them in the car.

Tank
18th January 2012, 12:32 PM
I have Torx sets in my general tool kit, neversieze as well, cans of Contact cleaner, WD40, gasket stripper, throttle body cleaner, degreaser, spray grease, insect repellent and still more stuff i can't think of at the moment. I really need to trim down my gear, then again, if I do I'll probably regret it, oh and a spare header tank cap, Regards Frank.

Ratel10mm
20th January 2012, 11:35 PM
Here's a list that Ezyrama gave me for series vehicles:

Spanners
7/16
1/2
9/16
5/8
3/4
1 1/16

slug_burner
21st January 2012, 08:38 AM
http://http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/107686-vehicle-spares-tools.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/108045-tools.html

d2dave
22nd January 2012, 12:34 AM
For my D1 tdi, one tool I always carry is a half inch drive, 10 mm, single hex socket. There are a lot of bolts around the front of the engine that have a 10mm head with an 8mm thread. In earlier years a 6mm bolt would have a 10 mm head and an 8mm bolt would have a 12 or 13mm head.

So having an 8mm bolt with loctite is very easy to round off a 6mm head.

For the socket you can't go past a Stahlwille.

Dave.

Don 130
22nd January 2012, 02:23 PM
an led headlamp. I got mine from Aldi. $10.00
Don

Boxhead63
22nd January 2012, 10:07 PM
Mine. Somebody is always trying to use my tool. It used to be my x wives now my current wife. Life's tough at the top.

Cheers,
Rob