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Thread: Massive Armstrong wrench - photo

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    clydeman (Jan 25, 2020), greyhoundollie (Jan 29, 2020)

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    Supporting Member ranald's Avatar
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    I think strong arm wrench is a better description. lol

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    greyhoundollie (Jan 29, 2020)

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    I have one that's similar. It fits a 5" nut and weighs about 50 lbs. The railway ran through the farm where my family lived from the 1860s to early 1970s. My father said that the railway workers would sometimes hide extra tools in our barn when the inspector came around so he wouldn't take them for other crews. I think that's how we ended up with it. My uncle told me that he remembered the crews using this wrench, with a long sleeve to extend the handle, on the nuts of steam engine wheels.

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    greyhoundollie (Jan 29, 2020)

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    Here's a photo. Sorry, I didn't have a banana handy so I hope a tape measure will do.
    The handle is 1-3/8" thick, and the head is 1-5/8" thick.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Massive Armstrong wrench - photo-img_20200125_200239.jpg  

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    katy's Avatar
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    They used to use one like that on big Caterpillars and probably other makes and models. It was used to take slack the out of the track. Later they used a hydraulic cylinder and pumped grease in it, Much easier. IIRC it was about 4' long and the opening was about 4", I never used one but I remember seeing them.

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    I was thinking that maybe some guy might forget to bring his lunch with him before he tackled a big job. The wrench came equipped with a snack to help him along.

  12. #7
    Supporting Member Crusty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by greyhoundollie View Post
    ... The wrench came equipped with a snack to help him along.
    They used to. In the tool crib now there's a bin with a bunch of big wrenches and banana peels.
    If you can't make it precise make it adjustable.

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  14. #8
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    I saw that bin with the banana peels. I thought that was for monkey work.

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    Supporting Member Crusty's Avatar
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    It may well be after the most recent round of lay-offs.
    If you can't make it precise make it adjustable.

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    greyhoundollie (Jan 29, 2020)

  17. #10
    Supporting Member Philip Davies's Avatar
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    When you have eaten the banana, you can use the skin to lubricate the nut!



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