An excellent tool source (was "PS pump check valves removal problem")

[ikessel@worldnet.att.net]

Phil Rose wrote:
> 
> Igor,
> I've been looking for a set like that for a while. Seems I can find all
> kinds of 1/4" hex-drive bits (torx, Phillips, square...) but not metric
> Allens. I'll start looking at Makita suppliers for it.
[...]
> Back I go--to the hardware stores on Monday.

Phil,
there are places that make all hardware stores look like flea markets.
If you are an engineer of if you somehow otherwise have access to the
excellent (perhaps the best there is) industrial supply named
McMaster-Carr (908) 329-3200:

in the cat #101, page 2211, p/n 52752A25- a 7-piece set (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3,
4, 5mm Allen bits) is $9.90. It's the same thing that I have (sans a
6mm).
Look through this page, you'll find a lot of 1/4" accessories. About $35
would buy you a full assortment of Philips, slotted, Torx and Allen bits
and then some more.

I bought a lot of tools from them. All tools are the best industrial
quality I've ever seen, mostly American-made with some Swiss, German and
British inclusions.

For example I bought their lockable magnetic bit holder with a
ball-in-a-socket U-joint flex which allows to unscrew stuff "from around
the corner" so to speak. Never saw anything like this anywhere else.
It's far far better than the clumsy flexible holder that Sears et al
sell.

The 17mm, 1/2" drive Allen, that I bought from them for undoing those
stubborn oil plugs, could kill an elephant if you trough it hard enough.

I also bought their digital 3/8" drive torque clicker wrench (3Nm to
30Nm) which is accurate to 2% and is very handy for those tender 8 and
10mm bolts screwed into Aluminium parts. It conveniently picks up where
my big digital 1/2" drive clicker leaves off (i.e. below 35Nm).
Expensive, tho, I think it was around $110.

I also have their rather unique tool, which I have never seen _anywhere_
else: a small reversible ratcheting adapter of unbelievable toughness.
It is a metal cylinder , about 50x50mm, with a male 1/2" square drive x
1/2" female square drive, which converts my 22" breaker bar into a
gigantic ratchet. Comes rather handy in, say, undoing that stubborn 27mm
bolt on the harmonic balancer (OK, I _do_ use a 1.5m cheater pipe to
break it loose). I just did the timing belt on my 200 in about 40min
flat.

I'd say this big yellow McMaster-Carr "bible" is a must-have right after
a Bentley manual.

--
Igor Kessel
Two turbo quattros