shop made serpentine belt tool

[Metal Wolf]

seen thes belt tools before but did not want to spend the money although it would of been cheaper to buy one but
made these tinkering around the shop need to change a belt and got tired of having to interlock two wrenches together and fight with the small area in the sons car to get down in there.
just thought I would share it with yall.

[geezer]

Nice idea, certainly a handy gaget if you need to replace the belt, been there, done that, myself and it ain't no fun, those dam belts always break at night during a rainstorm or at -30 in a blizzard, at least mine use to, Now a days I get them replaced at the first sign of wear.

[Ray]

I really could have used that a while back working on my sons Caviler. What did you use for the square? Looks like part of an old ratchet or break over bar.

[Metal Wolf]

I really could have used that a while back working on my sons Caviler. What did you use for the square? Looks like part of an old ratchet or break over bar.

Hi Guy’s

I guess It would have been a good idea if I had elaborated a lil more on what I used as materials.

28 inch long flat strap 3/16” thick 1” wide, round the edges at both end’s for desired look
Take a cheap short 3/8” or ½” extension and cut the socket lug off roughly a ¼” above the lug
Put flat strap in drill press and drill a hole on one end roughly a ½” from the end and try to center it but you will have to use your judgment as for your center depending if you use a ½” or 3/8” lug drill the hole slightly smaller so you can tap the lug in to place as straight you should have a slight dish on back side of hole to TiG or use MiG weld back side of lug in to place using a sort of spot weld puddle filling, Using MiG is nice and quick and leaves a nice little dimple and should not have to do any grinding after.

As for a coating on the handle you can grind some small dips on each side about 1-¾’s of an inch long
Or you can leave it flat then I used a ¾” heat shrink for a sort of anti slipping grip works real nice.

Really simple to make and works great.

[Wrenchtamer]

now weld a plug at the other end that will accept a 7/8 ratchet wrench and you hve one of the nicest belt tools out there. I use the gear wrench one and the only belt I have not been able to remove with it is from a mini cooper.

[Gary]

Just wondering, The last time I was at sears to get parts for a broken ratchet they are like .01 cent so they dont have to change them out , but I do not remember if the 3/8 square end comes with it? But that would be a cheap alternative if it comes with it..
Gary

[ScratchStart]

you can use a pice of 3/8 keystock also or square cold roll, that's what I used on mine cause I didn't have anything else handy... at 3 am.... at -30 degrees.... in a blizzard....after a mechanic told me it was worn out....

[ducksface]

Harbor Freight has it for $14 on sale, I'll buy that one and do the required mods.

[presure2]

gotta love homemade tools.
sometimes, its the only way to get the job done!

[ducksface]

HF today. $247 later...I have a serpentine tool. It's all I went in for....

[presure2]

^^ hahahaha aint that a bit%h?!?!
go in for 10$ worth of stuff...come out with 250$ worth...yup, sounds about right!