brake adjusting wrench

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Wow ,I didn't think mentioning a fair priced tool from Snyders would stir up people so much .Mikes sells them for the same price but was out of stock.I see the vendor's seem to have a harder time to get certain parts more now than say 10 years ago and prices have went way up in the last few years.Good tools are not cheap and $15 for a well made special tool is not bad.Shipping has gone way up as well.

In a nutshell, here is reality. People like to come here (-and other places too) to rant about how Model-A parts do not fit correctly ...or that they feel reproduction parts are cheaply-made junk. I will be the first to agree that many are, HOWEVER, many hobbyists simply will not purchase the better quality when a cheaper item can be used. This hobby just lost a Supplier and Manufacturer who closed their doors to supplying quality parts due the mindset similar to that in post #7 above. This Supplier had been around for over 40 years serving this hobby, and I think what set them apart was they always tried to offer/manufacture the best quality of Model-A parts. Many of their parts were manufactured in the US, or in the better off-shore factories who also manufactured for Automotive OE parts industry. The underlying issue this supplier had was parts sales often went to another dealer because the Hobbyist chose 'cheap' over quality ...and then was quick to make comments like what we read in post #7. In the past 50 years, this hobby has transformed from being a component Restoration hobby into a component Replacement hobby. The irony IMHO is the quality of many (i.e.: most??) Model-As today is in worse mechanical condition today than what they were 50+ years ago.

 

[Fullraceflathead]

Very well spoken Brent as usual!!!

 

[Mel Larsen]

So much for Kind and Respect! Brent

 

[alexiskai]

So much for Kind and Respect! Brent

You're the one who dropped in here, having owned a Model A for two months, and declared one of the core hobby vendors offering a custom tool to be overpriced, based on the fact that you can fabricate one on your home mill and lathe using materials and time that you value at zero. If you're gonna get mad about other people sharing their negative opinions, maybe think twice before sharing your own.

 

[Werner]

I am completely agree with Brent.


I have too za Citroën Traction, probably from 1947 or 1952. Back then, spare parts were available, they were good quality, and they cost good money, of course.
Then came the new generation of drivers who didn't want to spend a lot of money on spare parts and drove the dealers into a corner with a race to the bottom.
This led to many parts now being manufactured in India, china, ... They cost less than two-thirds of the price and are the kind of parts that used to be thrown away. Inaccurate fit ans dimensions, soft steal, generic iron, brittle plastics.
They fit poorly or not at all, require a lot of rework, and often need to be replaced a short time later.
That's what you get for less money - less quality


Unfortunately, this has become the norm. True love for classic cars is dying out!

 

[ModelA29]

Watch the estate sales or ask around in your club. I got one for $2. Our club has an annual auction of stuff people bring to donate. One went for $5 last year. I got a new crank wrench for $10.

 

[AKJurnee]

I’m Glad some you cheap guys aren’t trying to get into aviation! My day job is aviation, looking at some of these prices of model A parts and engines are dirt cheap compared to overpriced airplane stuff! You can buy a brand new Model A engine or an overhauled one for 1/8th or less the price of a rebuilt Cessna 150 engine! A regular new 4 banger air cooled O-320 found on Supercubs, Cessna 172, etc common engine, is now 80k not including external parts and labor!

I’ll happily buy the highest quality Model A tool or part.

EDIT: $82,000.00 for a lycoming o-320 now…

 

[ModelA29]

I’m Glad some you cheap guys aren’t trying to get into aviation!

Been there done that. Went to the auto parts store for my Delco generator and starter brushes.1/4 the price of "aviation" ones.Swapped a $15 auto voltage regulator into a friends 172 while on the road once he priced the one with a Cessna cover he swapped the covers. It was still in the plane 10+ years later. Replaced only the bad valve and guide on 1 cylinder that was low. High time IO-470 in my Cessna 182. My plane had a carb that had been rebuilt and certified for car gas. When I cut the seal off and opened it up because it was leaking it had a phenolic float that had sunk not the brass one required by the STC - so much for "professionals".

 

[Hitman]

N/a

 

[Flathead Fever]

I know you could adjust these brakes with a modern tool. My dad collected Ford tools when he restored Fords. He always kept original Ford tool kits in the cars, the kit that came with each new car. He collected KRW tools when he found them at swap meets. That was the thing to do in the 1960s, collecting KRW tools if you were a serious Ford restorer. They are no better or worse than modern tools just something fun to collect. I have a couple drawers full of just the old KRW tools.

 

[German guy]

Simply buy the tool from Snyders. It is cheap and reliable and small enough that it does not make the side panel pouches bulge. You will want it on drives to that you can make adjustments as you drive to get just the right braking power.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

The one the car came with works for me.

 

[David in San Antonio]

Shipping seems to have a set minimum cost. I text a few nearby Model A friends when I’m going to put in an order in case anyone wants to combine their order with mine and save on shipping.

 

[JRrev]

these comments are absolutely absurd!!! Imho and from my observations of being in this hobby for many decades, this hobby has suffered in the past couple of decades or so because of this mindset. Hobbyists seeming have lost their respect for their vehicles, the good people that serve this hobby, -and for the hobby itself.


Furthermore, possessing a 7/16 8-point socket does not allow you to adjust the brakes as you did not also purchase something to rotate this new socket. The snyders' wrench does not require the purchase of any other tools to make it function. (it likely should be pointed out that properly adjusting the adjusting wedge requires being able to locate the center of the detents so the adjusting shaft can be seated. This is done by quickly rocking the adjusting tool in opposite directions. Using a ratchet on a socket is difficult at best to get it right and also time consuming. )

secondly, making your own out of 'what'? Everything you would use to fabricate a wrench equal to what the snyders' tool is will have a value and a cost of obtaining it attached. This wrench is made available for the hobbyist that likely does not have a welder, a drill, a file, or the materials to fabricate one out of. In my case, i have a full machine shop, a cnc plasma table, and the materials needed to fabricate these ....however at $14.50 i cannot justify the time & materials expenses to fabricate them in-house when they are available at $14.50. That definitely shows the wrench itself is not overpriced. Additionally, the cost of shipping this wrench to your doorstep might seem overpriced to you, but you can be assured you won't be able to drive from the nw to ohio to transport it yourself cheaper than what they will be charging to ship it. So in reality, is their shipping charges really "over-priced"??

in a nutshell, here is reality. People like to come here (-and other places too) to rant about how model-a parts do not fit correctly ...or that they feel reproduction parts are cheaply-made junk. I will be the first to agree that many are, however, many hobbyists simply will not purchase the better quality when a cheaper item can be used. This hobby just lost a supplier and manufacturer who closed their doors to supplying quality parts due the mindset similar to that in post #7 above. This supplier had been around for over 40 years serving this hobby, and i think what set them apart was they always tried to offer/manufacture the best quality of model-a parts. Many of their parts were manufactured in the us, or in the better off-shore factories who also manufactured for automotive oe parts industry. The underlying issue this supplier had was parts sales often went to another dealer because the hobbyist chose 'cheap' over quality ...and then was quick to make comments like what we read in post #7. In the past 50 years, this hobby has transformed from being a component restoration hobby into a component replacement hobby. The irony imho is the quality of many (i.e.: Most??) model-as today is in worse mechanical condition today than what they were 50+ years ago.

x 2

 

[jerick]

I found that a foot lift handle off of Lazy Boy chair works just fine. I reduced the head area to have a much smaller area. Works great||, and cheap. No shipping. You will need to find an older chair to get the handle with the right size hole.

 

[old31]

I recently purchased this socket, and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YRCGSG?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Klattu1929]

I try to combine many items to help with shipping costs. If I was worried about spending a couple hours time to make a tool I would go crazy. I just enjoy making things, being retired, I'm always puttering on something. I don't monetise my time, I'm not in a business. The starter solenoid died on my mower, so I drove to the junkyard, found one in a lincoln navigator, rerouted the wiring, made a bracket out of scrap aluminum, all good to go now. Point is i could have gone to the dealer, but I enjoy rummaging in junkyards, i enjoy getting out for a drive, i enjoy the challenge. Sometimes I need tool now, do I spend a couple hrs making a tool for a job, or wait a week minimum for it to arrive in the mail.

I value our supplier's, wish there were some up here in the NW. Making things is mental health for me. We all have a story on the current parts problems, but we all have different lives and outlooks on how we address the needs for our cars.

I just made seat springs for my car out of old bed springs, I guess I didn't have a 1000.00 + shipping laying around, i would love to have purchased them. My springs cost me about 75.00. I used a welder i purchased in the 80's. And so it goes.

 

[Klattu1929]

Sorry, that was a starter relay, not a solenoid. And a great thank you to the FordBarn member who sent me drawings of his ford factory seat springs.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I found that a foot lift handle off of Lazy Boy chair works just fine. I reduced the head area to have a much smaller area. Works great||, and cheap. No shipping. You will need to find an older chair to get the handle with the right size hole.

Better yet, just invite yourself over to your neighbors for the upcoming SuperBowl, and while everyone is focusing on the game, remove your neighbor's Lazy-Boy Handle, and now you have a Model-A Brake tool that cost you about the price of a bag of Chips!!

 

[Bruce of MN]

I don't know, have you seen how much chips cost these days?