What Is This Tool?

[Steve Haynie]

What do you call this? 

[anotherfreak]

"Salesman Sample"

[krhnyc]

That looks like the tool used to open screw top bolier drains...

[krhnyc]

whats the Pat No.?

[anotherfreak]

Sorry,

it's a Valve Adjuster - combines a screwdriver and socket wrench, designed to adjust push-rods in overhead valve engines

 

"A valve adjuster. A socket goes on the square shaft and the blade adjusts the rocker. Used on old GM cars mainly "

[velorush]

All GM valves I've adjusted (always Chevy small block V8's made before they started this "LS" business) were either 9/16" or 5/8" (been too long to remember) nuts on a stud.  That tool looks much smaller.  The one's I'm talking about / familiar with look like this:

A stud (for each, eight on each head) sticks out from the head and through the center of the rocker arm.  The nut (pictured) is tightened or loosened to adjust the valve. 

What GM engines have that sort of configuration (use that tool)?  Just curious as I haven't seen one that had a square shaft and a center blade.  Interesting!

[killerteddybear]

I call it custom

[aknapp]

1 hour ago, krhnyc said:

whats the Pat No.?

1544520

[Steve Haynie]

Thank you. 

[velorush]

Ah, Google being my friend, this says it's a valve adjustment tool, but the patent is from 1925 (GM's small block debuted in 1955). 

Splains it.  Been around, but never been into, an engine that old.  Always interesting stuff here!

[hamerhead]

Where'd you find that, Steve? Inside the case of the last banjo you bought?

Pretty cool.

[Biz Prof]

14 hours ago, velorush said:

Ah, Google being my friend, this says it's a valve adjustment tool, but the patent is from 1925 (GM's small block debuted in 1955). 

Splains it.  Been around, but never been into, an engine that old.  Always interesting stuff here!

Exactly what I was thinking. In fact, my first thought upon seeing the image and then reading the reference to adjusting valves was "stovebolt six!".  My intuition is sometimes correct...

[Steve Haynie]

I am helping someone sell off tools on craigslist and eBay.  There have been some oddities that took a while to identify.  There is more stuff that has me searching.  It has been an adventure identifying machinist tools, body shop tools, heavy equipment mechanic tools, automotive tools, electrical tools, plumbing tools, etc. 

I have also learned there are people with GAS for tools. 

It has also surprised me how fast tools depreciate.  Tool boxes take a big hit.  Calipers and other measurement tools with $200+ prices go for $30 used. 

[velorush]

49 minutes ago, Biz Prof said:

Exactly what I was thinking. In fact, my first thought upon seeing the image and then reading the reference to adjusting valves was "stovebolt six!".  My intuition is sometimes correct...

My experience with the Chevy six: in 1981 I bought a 1957 Chevrolet 210 two-door (yep, $40 from the original owner).  Step 1: remove the six (and the cast iron powerglide as one unit), Step 2: scrap six and powerglide, Step 3: insert '69 350 (with that lovely sounding but still streetable 327/350-hp cam) and turbo 350 trans. Joy!

46 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said:

I have also learned there are people with GAS for tools.

Love tools!  Especially the more esoteric tools like you posted.  Run across any adze in the stash? 

[Greg G]

Yup.  Tappet adjuster.  I have smaller ones for adjusting motorcycle tappets.

[cspot]

Had to check to make sure there wasn't a picture of me here....

[gorch]

16 hours ago, Biz Prof said:

Exactly what I was thinking. In fact, my first thought upon seeing the image and then reading the reference to adjusting valves was "stovebolt six!".  My intuition is sometimes correct...

Someone willing to kemper that for me? 

[SSII x 2]

I thought this was going to be a thread about Yngwie...

[Caddie]

looks like a left-handed monkey wrench