Barcalo Buffalo

The Master Cylinder

The Master Cylinder

Well-known member
I just picked up this Barcalo Buffalo Multi-purpose Model A wrench from the 30's. I just tried it on my rear end drain plug. The square 'nub' is too large. Wouldn't be hard to grind to fit but I was just curious, did the drain plugs have a larger hole back in the thirties?

Everything else fits fine.

589849
 
An Amazing tool IF you purchased the Model A version (3X Spark Plug) vs the early V8 with a different spark plug adaptor.

Try to find the Patent Number out on the net for all it's uses.

Yes, sometimes a 3/8 ths drive breaker bar does work better for rear axle plugs.
 
Yes, this one fits the 3X spark plugs. Patent 1870612.

I had to remove a little of the 'grith' of the ⅜" square nub to fit the rear end plugs.
 
I have one of those wrenches , I also had to file the rear end plug part. Mine looks as if it was never used until I got it.
 
It has both oil drain plugs....larger for '28, also used for front brake drum nut.

Small oil drain plug, '30-31 also serves the rear brake drum nut.
 
I was visiting with several members of my Model A club today and one of them was showing the 1/2" breaker bar that he ground down to fit the rear end plug in his 1931 coupe. One of the other guys mentioned that 7/16" bar stock fits the same place. I'm thinking that the next time I'm at the steel supplier's I'll snag a foot or so of 7/16" bar stock and bend it (with heat) like an Allen wrench and throw it in the trunk. I don't remember now how I removed that plug but I've checked the rear lube (1930 sedan) and added some a while back. Alternatively, I might cut up a socket and weld a short piece of the 7/16" to it so it can be used.

fwiw, the previous owner of my "A" cut down a 1 3/8" socket and welded a flat bar to it to use on the crankshaft nut to turn the engine over while timing the engine (to find the "dimple" in the timing gear).

I bet that if everyone on here showed his/her homemade or modified tools for use on Model A's I would be astounded.

Is there a "homemade tools" thread on here somewhere that I haven't found?
 
Last edited:
atch said:
I was visiting with several members of my Model A club today and one of them was showing the 1/2" breaker bar that he ground down to fit the rear end plug in his 1931 coupe. One of the other guys mentioned that 7/16" bar stock fits the same place. I'm thinking that the next time I'm at the steel supplier's I'll snag a foot or so of 7/16" bar stock and bend it (with heat) like an Allen wrench and throw it in the trunk. I don't remember now how I removed that plug but I've checked the rear lube (1930 sedan) and added some a while back. Alternatively, I might cut up a socket and weld a short piece of the 7/16" to it so it can be used.

fwiw, the previous owner of my "A" cut down a 1 3/8" socket and welded a flat bar to it to use on the crankshaft nut to turn the engine over while timing the engine (to find the "dimple" in the timing gear).

I bet that if everyone on here showed his/her homemade or modified tools for use on Model A's I would be astounded.

Is there a "homemade tools" thread on here somewhere that I haven't found?
Click to expand...

A ⅜” breaker bar or ratchet should fit the rear end plugs on your Model A.
 
I picked up a couple of sets of "pipe plug" sockets, male and female, from the river store several years ago. I've found them quite handy to have around. But I agree, a 3/8" ratchet seems to fit the diff quite well. And if I remember correctly (without crawling under the car to verify) the Mitchell overdrive drain/fill plugs. ******, not so much.

FWIW, I've also run across replacement plugs that have a male fitting on the plug (requiring either a square socket or a wrench) installed on cars. Probably purchased at the Big Orange Box Store.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GT5VPM?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GTA2F6?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
Last edited:
atch said:
I was visiting with several members of my Model A club today and one of them was showing the 1/2" breaker bar that he ground down to fit the rear end plug in his 1931 coupe. One of the other guys mentioned that 7/16" bar stock fits the same place. I'm thinking that the next time I'm at the steel supplier's I'll snag a foot or so of 7/16" bar stock and bend it (with heat) like an Allen wrench and throw it in the trunk. I don't remember now how I removed that plug but I've checked the rear lube (1930 sedan) and added some a while back. Alternatively, I might cut up a socket and weld a short piece of the 7/16" to it so it can be used.

fwiw, the previous owner of my "A" cut down a 1 3/8" socket and welded a flat bar to it to use on the crankshaft nut to turn the engine over while timing the engine (to find the "dimple" in the timing gear).

I bet that if everyone on here showed his/her homemade or modified tools for use on Model A's I would be astounded.

Is there a "homemade tools" thread on here somewhere that I haven't found?
Click to expand...

The Master Cylinder said:
A ⅜” breaker bar or ratchet should fit the rear end plugs on your Model A.
Click to expand...

atch said:
That's probably what I did but I just can't remember (result of old age I guess).
Click to expand...
Update:

1. I'm sure that I used a 3/8" breaker bar or ratchet. I crawled under the car to check and while very loose it did work.

2. I did get a piece of 7/16" key stock (about 1 1/2" long) at the hardware store but it's too large for the rear plug. I might file or grind it down just enough to fit into the plug and then weld it into/onto something. Perhaps a socket or a piece of bar stock. I'm thinking I'll probably weld this into an old socket. If I had a 7/16" 8-point socket I'd use that but I checked and don't have one.

3. If I had known then what I know now I'd have bought a piece of 7/16" stock a foot or so long; ground down one end to fit the plug; and then heated/bent it into an "L" shape like an Allen wrench.
 
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