i was wondering if anyone knows how to make or where to buy this wrench, the one i had before was just a wrench ground down around the edge, well needless to say when i was doing some tightening the damn thing broke

i have seen special socket wrenches for this but i have never found out where they got them , any ideas?

 

sdbull65

The last time we were putting on S&S heads, my buddy ground down a 12 point 7/16 swivel (not deep well) worked really well, he is a GM mechanic just brought a Snap-on 3/8 with a swivel type (up and down) head that really was nice, I know everyone can’t go out and buy that torque wrench but I put it out there anyway, the head bolts are a kind of pia. And yes that is blood on it !

Good luck,

cj




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sdbull65,
you really have several options, all will work dependiing on what particular ratio of cursing, busted knuckles, patience and beer you employ. me?, l-a-z-y. so.....
anyhow.. A. HD p/n 94590-73 the serv. manual tool can be gotton from Fog Hollow (they're on the web) the 70-Early 78 Serv. Manual showes this tool but the later (78&1/2- 84) doesn't.....curious. Snap-on (or is it S-K?) has a simular device but only about half as long. Snap-on has a 12pt.thinwall socket in 9/16ths which they ok up to @90 ft/lbs. or so but, hey, its a Snap-on so whos counting!(HD headbolt std torque value =65 ft/lbs.). Try for a "short height" socket because the "taller " the socket the greater the chance of it slipping off and maby busting a fin ( curses!) alsotaller sockets tend to "lean" when "leaned-on" which will give a false torque value even when using a for-real torque wrench as opposed to those of us who rely on tattoo distortion...Next!
B. I don't remember the P/N but the sweetest lil' ol' head bolt wrench I almost ever saw I got (1976) wasfrom Dixie Motorcycle Supply. I've been informed they are still in biz. Believe it or not, it's the head-bolt wrench for a 45! Watch out though, two months of wiping up cosmoline smears could trigger a divorce...that stuff gits everywhere!...hummmm. A 45 speciality house can prob-lee supply one without disrupting your domestic situation. They're 12 pt. with a neat champfer that helps hold it in place. Next!
C. One of those curved starter-alternator box ends do alright xcept on the front/front and rear/rear bolts Again, Snap-on is the best bet there cause the cheap-assed crap from China has too much meat on the box. Next!
D. And my personal favorite, a 9/16ths, 12 pt. cylinder base nut wrench for Continental aircraft engines, about 25 bucks from your local aviation supply house. A very cool and twisted wrench allowing all kinds of approach angles to any of the bolts. Also promotes tool envy.
And now a short word, befor you reinstall those bolts, try this: clean on your wire-wheel (you DO have a wire-wheel?) then using a fine (but stiff) BRASS hand-brush, buff the threads well, then apply a VERY thin coat of hi-temp anti-sieze the length of the threads (only) and only 1/3rd the dia. of the bolt. I also reccommend you git a brass brush (bottle-brush type) that you can take to the threads in de' heads. I suppose thats where some (ok, a lot) of patience comes in but you will be WELL rewarded, the bolts go in sooo easy and next time come out soooo easy.
Sorry to be soooo long winded about all this, I hope the info helps gitanother shovel back in the wind.
Skip, A&P, Caretaker of the last production Shovelhead.

 

Depending on what type of bolt head you are using, check 'ebay'doing a 'search' for TORQUE ADAPTER. I am using 7/16, 12pt head bolts on my Shovelhead big bore. I picked up the snap-on torque adapter and had to shave a tiny bit of material from the socket wall of the adapter. These will allow room to use the torque wrench when placed at 90 degrees. I noticed there are always a few sizes available on ebay.

 

Snap-On makes a curved wrench, it's a combo 1/2, 9/16. They also have these great little dogbone wrenches, about two inches long you can attach your 3/8th drive to, as well as your torque wrench.