Special Tool?

[Jerry/MT]

I need to install a block heater in my NH TD95D. The hole has a 42 mm plug with a recessed hex hole that"s about 1 inch across the flats. I figure I can make a tool out of an appropriate bolt with a set of nuts welded to it so I could remove the plug with a socket wrench.
Does anybody where I could get an existing tool that would do this job?

 

[Uncle Ernie]

Oh I am sure Snappy has one in the catalog if not on the truck. NAPA might even have one.

 

[bison]

i would use the welded together nuts for the prob one time aplication,not to many 1" allen hexes on machinery me thinks.

 

[JDseller]

Like Bison posted. Just weld two nuts together. Then just stick one side into a socket and the other into your coolant plug. The cost will be much less than any tool you will buy. I have a whole drawer full of these type of home made tools. Use them all of the time.

 

[TimV]

McMaster-Carr has hex-bit sockets, if that would work. They go up to about 24 mm in metric and 1 1/4" in inch sizes. 24 mm metric is $41 or so. As others have mantioned, it would be a lot cheaper to weld nuts together, or take a short bolt of the appropriate head size and weld it into an old socket.
hex bit sockets at McMaster Carr

 

[Dusty MI]

Or get a threaded rod coupling. Which is just an extra long nut.

Dusty

 

[Fred Martin]

Jerry, might even find a piece of flat iron that will come close to fitting in the points of the hex...maybe a little grinding and use a crescent wrench on that...which ever is faster for you to make up. ohfred

 

[RodinNS]

Just weld two appropriate sized nuts together and weld them to a bolt if necessary. That simple.

Rod

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

I made one to change the oil on one of those tractors, then found the giant hex wrench in the toolbox. Doh.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I"ll check the tool box, Ken.