any body tried this knock off wrench

[Russ S.]

Has any one tried this knock off tool? I called Long Island Corvette on it as they had sent me a email advertising it. I was wondering if it was warrantied against breakage as it is aluminum and appears to me to be prone to failure. They advised me that it would break if dropped so no, it wasn't warrantied.
Any one with experience with it?

[John M.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Russ, I've been using the one that Dennis Portka makes and it is unbreakable and also has only plastic up against the knockoffs.
I don't know how to get in touch with him; I'm away from home.
John McRae

[Clark K.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Has any one tried this knock off tool? I called Long Island Corvette on it as they had sent me a email advertising it. I was wondering if it was warrantied against breakage as it is aluminum and appears to me to be prone to failure. They advised me that it would break if dropped so no, it wasn't warrantied.
Any one with experience with it?

I bought the KO wheel tool from LIC about which you inquired. I have used it quite a few times and it is a great improvement over the "lead hammer" or even a dead-blow hammer. This tool is very heavy duty even though it is made entirely of aluminum. I don't think that dropping it would damage it. The handle is long enough for great leverage and the other parts are well machined. It puts torque on all three "ears" of the spinner at the same time, a big improvement.
-Clark
2012 National Top Flight 1965 Red/red L76 A/C Coupe

[Jaime G.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Dennis Portkas tool which is similar to the one shown is very good without damage to the spinner.
He advertises in the Driveline.

[Roger P.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Hi Russ,
I purchased that tool a few years ago from one of the vendors. It is well made and stores behind my passenger seat in 3 pieces. However, my experience has been that it doesn't torque the spinner nearly tight enough on its own. If you use it before using a big-azz lead hammer, then it's fine. How do I know this you ask? I almost lost a wheel near the end of an hour-long drive on the highway. I was fortunate to make it to my friend's house where we discovered that my right rear wheel was very loose. I was shocked! So we used the tool to tighten the wheel, and since he is much bigger than me, I let him handle the final torquing. Well guess what? On my way back home after driving on the highway for about an hour, I almost lost the wheel again. This time I had to pull over on the side of the highway and tighten the wheel myself with cars speeding by me. I was frustrated and concerned about the wheel constantly becoming loose. I posted on the TDB, and John H. and others gave me very good advice... buy a *****Thumper 6 lb. lead hammer and beat some love into the spinner. I did what they told me, indexed the spinner to the cone with a silver sharpie, and my spinner hasn't moved even a fraction in over 2 years.

Food for thought,
Roger (50141)

[Russ S.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Hi Russ,
I purchased that tool a few years ago from one of the vendors. It is well made and stores behind my passenger seat in 3 pieces. However, my experience has been that it doesn't torque the spinner nearly tight enough on its own. If you use it before using a big-azz lead hammer, then it's fine. How do I know this you ask? I almost lost a wheel near the end of an hour-long drive on the highway. I was fortunate to make it to my friend's house where we discovered that my right rear wheel was very loose. I was shocked! So we used the tool to tighten the wheel, and since he is much bigger than me, I let him handle the final torquing. Well guess what? On my way back home after driving on the highway for about an hour, I almost lost the wheel again. This time I had to pull over on the side of the highway and tighten the wheel myself with cars speeding by me. I was frustrated and concerned about the wheel constantly becoming loose. I posted on the TDB, and John H. and others gave me very good advice... buy a *****Thumper 6 lb. lead hammer and beat some love into the spinner. I did what they told me, indexed the spinner to the cone with a silver sharpie, and my spinner hasn't moved even a fraction in over 2 years.

Food for thought,
Roger (50141)

Roger, Your experience and advice is very good to know although I know others here have advised just as you say-use the heavy lead hammer. I am glad tho to get your first hand experience and to know that the hammer does actually tighten the spinner further. Thanks to all for your valuable feed back.

[Neil C.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

All things being equal////(Not counting the Mother Thumper Hammer for Final Blows ) IS the all Metal Long Island Wrench SUPERIOR to the Polyuretane Tool????? I just dont think either can give 450lbs torque ALONE without final blows BUT The metalOne Seems Way More Efficient than The Polyuretahane Tool...Thoughts???

[Mike M.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

i bought one when they first came out, tried it on K/O's and several spinners backed off(one spinner came completely off on I95 on way to cyprus regional). i sold the damn thing at carlisle shortly thereafter. one thing i do to prevent loosening of spinners is to thoroughly clean the threads of spinner/adapter with ether or lacquer thinner. i never lubricate the spinners.i have a 5# hammer with leather ends to contact the spinner chrome. mike

[Philip A.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

I too have the tool from Dennis Portka that has the protective insert. After having him restore my Spinners, there is no way I can bring myself to take a hammer to them. From what I have read here, dead blow hammers should NEVER be used and the Mother Thumper is probably the best lead hammer. One thing to note is that Dennis's tool comes with instructions on how to install and tighten the spinner to get the correct torque using his tool.

[Bill M.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

I have the wrench it tends to pop off of the spinner. Bought from LI corvettes you have to lean into it as well as turn as needed. I use a heavy rubber mallet to complete the tightening of the spinner

[F S.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

So with this all this being said, What are you torquing the adaptor nuts, to ?

[William L.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

If I remember right I think the assembly manual calls for 450 lbs of torque on the spinner.

[Richard L.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

I bought the Portka tool and used it once...

i went back to the 6# lead hammer...

I also use Never Seize on the threads... Never had a problem and have had the wheels since 1970 after paying $350 for a set of 5... Felt like I'd never get through paying for those wheels... Recently replaced the wheels with a set of AFC's Direct B/O KO's...

Don't worry at all about them coming off now... One of the benefits of getting older and hopefully wiser..!!!

[John D.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Nice block of hard wood and sledge hammer works just fine.

[Neil C.]

Re: any body tried this knock off wrench

Re Changing from Western Repops to Orig K/Hs OK After a Variety of Opinions at the Opposite end of the spectrum I decided to use The 3 Piece Wrench from LIC to only Finish or Start a Spinner On/Off>>> Always Do a Start off or Finish on with The ****** Thumper 6#....and a Piece of Hardwood.Use 3 Piece Cast Aluminum for easier turns after ****** Thump... I have Zero Confidence in the Polyuretahne One.... Decided to use a Light Coating of Anti-Sieze as opinions were YES to use and NO not to use.. Ill go for middle ground. I have no fear Spinners will come off. Lord knows how many Xs Ive taken on and off The Western Wsheel Ones with Pins and They never loosened ( Safety Pins wouldnt stop a Wheel coming off in itself...A marker will do as well) Tyhanks for Heads Up....