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19_again

19_again

Jedi Warrior
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I seem to recall seeing a tool to remove and tighten (not simultaneously) the nuts on early model dashboards, specifically the ones that held in the wiper, fan switches. No mention of it in Moss. these nuts are the ones with the two cuts opposite each other on the face. Any suggestions?
 
Those used to be available from one of the normal suppliers, but I don't remember which. Regardless, they were quite expensive and are easy to make out of some appropriate size tubing. One just has to file the edges away to form the tips to fit into the slots in the nuts.
Cheers,
 
I knew I'd seen this question somewhere, but I was thinking it was on a different forum.
Anyway, here is a tool I made to remove the chrome nuts.
Start with this, a kitchen size bottle/can opener. Needs to be about 3/4" wide, and about .065 thick to fit the slots in the nut.
Opener.jpg


Mount in vise with bottle opener end up. Cut two slots about 1/2" long, about .10" from each edge
Saw-1.jpg


Bend the center tab down, or bend down and cut it off
Bend-1.jpg


Square up the ends with a file or bench grinder and it's ready to use.
Finished.jpg


The legs will straddle the switch. About 1/4 to 1/2 turn is all you need to loosen or tighten the nut. The rest you can do with your fingers.
Using-2.jpg


Total cost to me was zilch, as I had the opener in the kitchen drawer.
 
Yeah, but, how ya gonna open your bottle of Old Speckled Hen?
 
If ya have one'a them "church keys" th' metal is both strong enuff and thick enuff! :thumbsup:
 
I never could figure why they called them, "Church Keys"! Pretty much a thing of the past now with the screw offs and pop tops.
popcorn.gif
 
I shouldn't say the cost was zero, as I had to debit the Kitchen Utensils Inventory and credit the Garage Tools Inventory, so I suppose there is a cost somewhere, about like changing a nickel from one pocket to the other.

The metal strength issue is exactly why the "church key" opener is the real deal. Even with the skinny legs, they are still strong enough to not be bendy in use.

Bob Gloyd is the only one hereabouts that actually drinks Speckled Hen, so that's not an issue.
 
ronzi said:
Bob Gloyd is the only one hereabouts that actually drinks Speckled Hen, so that's not an issue.
Click to expand...

Theres a few more up North. When their not drinking Odell's or New Belgium products. :thirsty:
 
Thanks Ronzi,
I'll use the same premise for building a tool for tightening my ignition ring nut, as the ebay tool works only on the wiper/fan sized nuts. Since I sort of collect old local business based church keys, I'm sure I've got a spare. Not quite sure how the collection started, but that in itself is probably a major clue, eh?
Mike
 
Mike,
My church key tool won't fit the ignition nut either, but on my car the nut sits up higher than the surface of the switch, so the edge of the tool works fine on it.
The local food store chain, King Soopers (think Kroger), has the kitchen size opener in their utensils selection for like, $1.69. It is a much more elaborate tool, with a spiffy rubber grip in the middle.
I haven't looked for one, but an opener to fit that would have to be about 1" wide, as the chrome nut measures about .975 OD and .644 ID.
RonS.
 
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