Hand Tools for Engine, Belt and Driveline Work
Easy Life Markets sells hand tools for people who fix their own vehicles and for workshops that need the right tool for a specific job. Our current hand tools range is made up of four specialist sets: a crankshaft pulley holding tool set, an EA211 timing tool kit for VW Group engines, a 15-piece timing belt adjuster tool kit in chrome vanadium steel, and a heavy duty yoke puller for Class 6 to 8 truck drivelines.
What should you buy? Match the tool to the job and to the part in front of you. If you are changing a timing belt, you need a way to hold the crankshaft pulley, lock the engine timing and reach the tensioner. If you are replacing heavy truck U-joints, you need a puller sized for the yoke. This guide covers the main kinds of hand tools, the materials and sizes to check, how specialist tools differ from general ones, and how to use and look after them safely. The current price and availability are shown on each product page.
What Counts as Hand Tools
Hand tools are tools powered by your own hands rather than by a motor, battery or air line. They include spanners, sockets and ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, punches, pullers, holding tools and measuring tools. They are quieter, lighter and often more precise than power tools, and many jobs in engine bays can only be done by hand because there is no room for anything bigger. The hand tool article on Wikipedia traces their history from stone tools to modern alloy steel.
In vehicle repair, hand tools fall into two groups. General tools, such as spanners and screwdrivers, work on almost any vehicle. Specialist tools are made for one task or one engine family. Our current range sits in the specialist group, and you will find general workshop gear in our wider tools department and tools and equipment section.
Main Types of Hand Tools
Spanners, Wrenches and Sockets
These turn nuts and bolts. Open-ended spanners slip on from the side; ring spanners wrap round the head for better grip; sockets fit a ratchet or breaker bar. A 6-point ring or socket grips the flats of a hex head and is less likely to round it off. A 12-point fitting goes on at more angles, which helps in tight spaces. Our 15-piece timing belt adjuster kit uses 12-point ring adapters from 12 to 19 mm plus E10 to E18 external Torx adapters on a long, flat, curved handle, so you can reach tensioner bolts where a normal ratchet will not fit. For single wrenches, see our wrenches section.
Holding Tools
Some bolts are tightened so firmly that the part turns before the bolt does. A holding tool stops the part moving while you work. The crankshaft pulley holding tool set bolts to the pulley so you can loosen or tighten the central pulley bolt without jamming the flywheel or levering against a delicate damper. It comes with a holding bracket, fixing screws, a flange nut, a screw pin, a turning tool and a pressing block in a carry case.
Engine Timing and Locking Tools
When a timing belt comes off, the camshafts and crankshaft must stay in exactly the right position. Locking tools hold them there. They are engine specific, because each engine family has its own lock points. The EA211 timing tool kit contains six tools made to the patterns of factory tool numbers T10340, T10494, T10499, T10487, T10476 and T10477, for belt-driven VW Group EA211 petrol engines. Match your engine code before you order; the product page lists the codes the supplier gives.
Pullers
Pullers remove parts that are pressed or seized in place, such as bearings, pulleys, gears and U-joint caps. A forcing screw pushes the part out steadily, which gives far more control than a hammer and protects the surrounding metal. The heavy duty yoke puller is listed for yokes from 1-7/8 in to 2-3/16 in and for common Spicer and Meritor driveline series, with flange bolts in 3/8-24, M12 x 1.25 and 1/2-20. For differential bearings, our tools department also has a carrier and pinion bearing puller with three clamshells.
Screwdrivers, Pliers, Hammers and Punches
These are the everyday hand tools every toolbox needs. Choose screwdrivers that match the screw head exactly, since a loose fit strips the head. Pliers grip, bend and cut; locking pliers hold. Use soft-faced hammers on parts that must not be marked. Pin punches drive out roll pins and align holes; the 15-piece belt kit includes one.
Hand Tools Compared
| Tool type | What it does | Key size or fit to check | Our current example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring and Torx adapters with flat handle | Turns tensioner and pulley bolts in tight spaces | Bolt head size, 12-point or E-Torx | 15-piece timing belt adjuster kit |
| Pulley holding tool | Stops the crankshaft pulley turning | Pulley hole pattern and spacing | Crankshaft pulley holding tool set |
| Timing locking kit | Holds camshafts and crankshaft in time | Engine family and engine code | EA211 timing tool kit |
| Yoke puller | Pushes U-joint caps out of a yoke | Driveline series, cap size, bolt thread | Heavy duty yoke puller |
| Bearing puller | Removes pressed-on bearings | Bearing size and type | Carrier and pinion bearing puller (tools department) |
| Spanners and sockets | Turn nuts and bolts | Metric or imperial size, 6 or 12 point | See our wrenches section |
Materials and Build Quality
The steel in hand tools decides how they cope with force. These are the terms you will see on listings.
- Chrome vanadium steel (Cr-V): a hard, tough alloy widely used for spanners, sockets and adapters. The 15-piece belt kit is listed as chrome vanadium.
- Chromium-molybdenum steel (Cr-Mo): a tough alloy often used where shock loads are high. The EA211 kit is listed as chromium-molybdenum steel.
- Heat treatment: hardening and tempering that makes steel strong without making it brittle. The yoke puller is listed as heat-treated.
- Finish: chrome plating, black oxide or phosphate coatings slow rust. Any finish still needs to be kept dry.
Look at the machining in the photos. Flats should be crisp, threads clean and pins straight. A carry case with fitted slots is worth having, because it shows at a glance if a piece is missing.
Sizes and Standards to Check
Metric and Imperial
Most modern cars use metric fasteners, sized in millimetres. Many older and heavy vehicles use imperial sizes in inches. Some trucks mix both. The yoke puller, for example, includes bolts in two imperial threads and one metric thread. Never force a near-match size; it rounds the fastener.
Drive Sizes
Sockets and ratchets come in square drive sizes, usually 1/4 in for small fasteners, 3/8 in for general work and 1/2 in for high-torque jobs such as crankshaft and suspension bolts. Heavier work on trucks may use 3/4 in. Check that a holding or locking tool works with the drive size you will use on the bolt.
Thread Pitch
Two bolts with the same diameter can have different threads, such as M12 x 1.25 and M12 x 1.75. Use the thread size stated for the tool or the part. A wrong pitch cross-threads and ruins both parts.
Engine Codes and Part Patterns
Specialist hand tools are only useful if they fit your engine or driveline. Find the engine code on the timing cover, engine block or in the service book. For pullers, find the series mark on the driveshaft. If in doubt, send a photo through our contact page and we will help you check.
Building a Basic Vehicle Toolkit
Specialist tools do their best work alongside a solid set of basics. If you are starting out, this is a sensible core to build over time:
- A metric socket set in 3/8 in drive, with a ratchet and a short extension, plus a 1/2 in breaker bar for stubborn bolts.
- Combination spanners from about 8 to 19 mm, open end on one side and ring on the other.
- A torque wrench covering the range your common jobs need.
- Flat and cross-head screwdrivers in several sizes, and a set of Torx bits.
- Combination pliers, long-nose pliers and a pair of locking pliers.
- A soft-faced mallet, a ball-pein hammer and a set of pin punches.
- A good torch or head lamp, and a magnetic pick-up tool for dropped bolts.
- Gloves, safety glasses and axle stands.
Add specialist tools as jobs come up. A pulley holder and timing kit come next for anyone doing belt work, and pullers follow when you start on bearings and drivelines.
Specialist or General: When Each Makes Sense
A general tool can often be made to work, but that is not the same as doing the job properly. Specialist tools earn their place in three situations. The first is when the factory procedure calls for them, as with locking tools on belt-driven engines. The second is when an improvised method risks damage, such as levering on a harmonic damper or hammering a yoke. The third is when you will repeat the job, so the time saved pays back the cost. If a job comes up once and the service information allows general tools, the general route is fine. If not, the right tool is cheaper than the repair that follows a mistake.
How to Choose Hand Tools
- Start with the job. Write down the task, the engine or vehicle and the fasteners involved.
- Read the service information. It lists any special tools the job needs and the order of work.
- Match the fit, not just the name. Engine codes, hole patterns and thread sizes matter more than the vehicle brand.
- Buy the set if you will reuse it. Workshops and home mechanics who do repeat jobs get the most from a kit with a case.
- Check what is not included. A holding tool still needs a breaker bar and a torque wrench; a puller still needs a spanner or impact gun.
- Know what a tool does not do. A belt adjuster kit is not a timing locking kit, and a pulley holder does not set timing.
Using Hand Tools Safely
- Wear eye protection. Pullers and punches can throw out fragments, and springs can release suddenly.
- Disconnect the battery before working on the front of the engine or near the starter.
- Support the vehicle properly. Never work under a vehicle held only by a jack. Use stands or a lift, and chock the wheels.
- Pull, do not push. Pull a spanner towards you where you can, so your hand does not hit metal if the bolt breaks free.
- Use the right length of handle. Do not add pipes to extend a tool beyond its design.
- Stop if a tool slips or sits crooked. Reset it squarely before applying force.
- Use a torque wrench to tighten. Follow the torque and angle values in your service manual, and replace stretch bolts where the manual says so.
Timing belt work and heavy driveline work are safety-critical. A timing error can damage an engine, and a poorly fitted driveshaft can fail on the road. If you are not confident, have a qualified mechanic do the job.
Caring for Your Hand Tools
- Clean after every job. Wipe off oil, grease and dirt, which trap moisture and hide damage.
- Oil threads and moving parts. A lightly oiled forcing screw turns smoothly under load.
- Store them dry. Keep tools in their cases, away from damp floors.
- Inspect before use. Replace bent pins, cracked bodies, worn jaws and damaged threads.
- Keep sets complete. Put each piece back in its slot so nothing is missing next time.
For tidy storage, our storage and shelving range includes garage shelving and a lockable metal cabinet with pegboard doors.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Jamming a screwdriver in the flywheel teeth to stop the engine turning.
- Using an adjustable spanner on a tight bolt that needs a ring or socket.
- Hammering out U-joint caps and bending the yoke ears.
- Buying timing tools by vehicle model instead of engine code.
- Using a 12-point tool on a rusted, rounded hex head where a 6-point would grip better.
- Forgetting to read our return and refund policy before ordering a specialist tool.
Related Parts and Categories
Hand tools go hand in hand with the parts they fit. Browse timing belts and chains for belt kits, including the KP15688XS timing belt kit with water pump, crankshafts for crank parts, driveshafts for driveline parts, and diagnostic equipment for testing. The full auto parts store has the rest.
Who These Hand Tools Suit
Our hand tools suit home mechanics who carry out their own timing belt service, independent and mobile workshops that want the right specialist tools in a case, and fleet and heavy-truck technicians who service Spicer or Meritor drivelines. We will add more general hand tools over time, so check back for new sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hand tools do I need for a timing belt change?
Usually a pulley holding tool, the locking tools for your engine, a tool to set the tensioner, sockets and spanners, a breaker bar and a torque wrench. Your service information lists the exact tools.
Will the EA211 kit fit my car?
Only if your engine is a belt-driven EA211 petrol engine. Check the engine code against the list on the product page, because the same models were also sold with other engines.
Is the 15-piece belt kit a timing locking kit?
No. It turns and adjusts tensioners and pulleys in tight spaces. Many engines also need engine-specific locking tools.
Does the crankshaft pulley holder fit every engine?
No. Pulley hole patterns vary. Compare the hole spacing and pin positions in the photos with your pulley before ordering.
Can I use the yoke puller on a car or light pickup?
It is listed for Class 6 to 8 trucks and equipment and for caps from 1-7/8 in to 2-3/16 in. Smaller joints are outside that range.
Are these tools branded factory tools?
No. They are aftermarket tools. Factory tool numbers and driveline series are given only to describe fit.
Where can I find shipping details?
See our shipping policy, and our FAQ page for other order questions.
Shop Hand Tools at Easy Life Markets
The right tool makes a hard job safer and quicker. Match each tool to your engine code, pulley pattern or driveline series, check what is included, and keep your sets clean and complete. Browse our hand tools above, or ask us before you order if you are not sure which one you need.