OT - Auto Parts Salesman Comment - Whoa

[Norm's Coupe]

Can't always blame the counter people either. I stopped at a parts store today to pick up new air filters for my wifes car and my van. While there I noticed the folding start lug wrenches. Were in a nice plastic storage pouch. Have been wanting to pick one up, so I did. Then I read the package to make sure it was for SAE and not metric. Well..........believe it or not, it was for both. Had four sizes listed for each, but only four ends. Hmmmmm??. I read the size stamped on each arm. Each arm had a metric size and SAE size stamped on it. Now, how could one end fit both metric and SAE without one of them being slightly loose?? So.......I carried the wrench to the counter with me and ask the clerk the same question. It was a female clerk, but even she got a puzzled look on her face and said, how could that be right. Bottom line. I put it back and didn't buy it. However, if the manufactures do something like that, how can you expect a clerk to know all the answers.

The store was a bubble wrap store, Advanced Auto Parts.

[Young Ed]

Not sure what other sizes were on there but 3/4 is exactly 19MM. They are one in the same. Not many of the sizes equal like that but a few do.

[greg g]

Now 19mm/ 3/4 inch has become pretty standard for tire lugs be they nuts or bolts. However what I wanna know is how come nobody makes a lug wrench with a 19mm for nice new nuts, and at least one end at 18mm for when the shiney chrome cover goes south and the 19 don't fit no more.

[Young Ed]

Greg here in the rust belt those 2 piece lug nuts become a PITA. My truck got converted to 15/16 lugs that are 1 piece. Helpful but my stock tools no longer work.

[Normspeed]

Norm, I bought one of those, it really is compact and sturdy and works fine on the Plymouth lugs. I dug mine out and it's marked 11/16, 7/8, 13/16 and 3/4-19mm. Pep Boys.

[Guest jjmorrse]

I had a problem with vapor lock one time, so I went into one of the Oreilleys and was looking for some of that reflective heat wrap for the line. The guy at the counter pried himself from the cell long enough to tell me that he had gotten some for his honda. Of course, they did not have any. He did point out some corrugated plastic wire loom that should work. I proceeded to get some fiberglass wrap and aluminum exhaust tape. He laughed and said that would never work.