Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I just read an  info-story about using this tool on a top starter bolt for the same truck I own, 2.7 ecoboost f150.Supposely the dealer wanted $850
to replace this guy's starter because
It is so difficult.An old timer suggested this tool to the OP.I have never heard of this tool until now.

https://getbolthero.com/products/bolthero%C2%AE-offset-extention-wrench

Wow!  Good idea and not a bad price.

There are knockoffs that I haven't researched yet, my comment is why would anyone design something so hard to work on to begin with? It's almost like there is no common sense involved, don't care, maybe on purpose?

Inboard boat motor exhaust manifolds often cover sparkplugs and have to be removed to change them.  IGNORANCE.

Nothing compare to starter of 2000-2006 Cadillac deville , it's under intake manifold

Firstly, as a "car guy" if you have seen one of those "this tool $aved my day" prepare to be bombarded with many more versions of the same AI generated gobbledegook.  I have seen multiple versions of the "story" mentioned at the top of the thread, and no reason to think that with todays technology that the targeted ad isn't actually formatted and aimed to a vehicle/type that you own.  RVer on a cross country trip, young student driving off to college, school bus full of orphans being driven by nuns, if you have seen one of these "story ads" you are probably gonna get inundated with a lot more.  And the all seem to feature some wise old geezer that whips out this miracle tool to $ave the day (and thousands of $$$ as well).  And frankly, until 6 months ago I had never seen one of these gizmos, and I know a LOT of old car geezers and neither have they (not that I've seen it all or know it all).
It "looks" like a cool tool that can be useful in very particular situations, which isn't anything unusual.  I have full sets of flare wrenches, crow foot wrenches, and assorted others that have all been used (I am not and have never been a pro tradesman) but do get used very infrequently.  Going to be pulling out my thumb drive 1/4" ratchet tomorrow to replace a Blend Door Actuator on my Jeep...which falls into the catagory of "never designed to be serviced or maintained" that there have been numerous discussions here about as well (BMW I'm looking at you!).  I would not be surprised if I end up with one of these new "wonder wrenches" at some point, but hopefully I will never need to resort to that...-john

There are numerous companies that make offset extension wrenches. Tite-Reach is another company. They sell a set of offset ratchet extensions, but they sure ain't cheap. 

Make it so you can't work on your

Quote from: jgp12000 on October 22, 2026, 10:51:29 AMThere are knockoffs that I haven't researched yet, my comment is why would anyone design something so hard to work on to begin with? It's almost like there is no common sense involved, don't care, maybe on purpose?

vehicle  yourself, so you gotta pay them to do it with their so-called specialized tools. If there was one specialized tool or pequipment, that would completely change everything for me, it would be a lift lol. Literally had to have my brother-in-law come pull me out from under my truck not too long ago. Strained myself really bad under there after the Jack slipped out and trapped my fingers. Finally got my hands-free and blacked out. Woke up to the neighbor, asking me if I was OK. Can't make this crap up if you tried! So lucky I had a tire and a jackstand under there! Got a 2007 Dodge caravan that would work great on lol.

Most everything is assembled "by component". so things ON that component are blocked by "something else". It isn't, I'm sure, some kind of "master plan" by manufacturers, just a way for them to save money on their cost of manufacture. As Brewcrafter said, with all the "special wrenches" ....both purchased and 'home made" that a mechanic accumulates over his career, I don't remember anything I couldn't "take apart'....some times it involves cutting sections out of a fender, or cross member, or other such gobbledy gook, but it's usually not as time consuming as disassembling things "by component" to get to the thing you are really after....it's usually all about saving time.
That said...it is a pretty neat looking tool, and probably would come in pretty handy, at times

That is a novel design. Vertical clearance is usually a bigger issue for me. Doesn't matter if you can get the ratchet under there if you can't get the bolt or spark plug all the way out.

For Christmas one year we bought my dad a tool that's basically a ratchet with a handle at the bottom that you could twist to turn the ratchet without turning the lever arm. It was functionally a lower torque version of this idea. He still has it, and I've borrowed it a few times. Never seen one like it since.

I have a "wrench" that my dad got someplace; socket fits on the end and there is a squeeze mechanism that loosens/tightens the nut/bolt. Minimal clearance and there is no "throw" room required.  Does not supply a lot of torque, so....

Frank

What's a "top starter bolt"? The starter motor bolt?

Just did the valve cover gaskets on my Subaru. The problem was not the main gasket, but the 4-spark plug "tube" gaskets, worn and allowing oil to seep into the spark plug wells. Was getting CEL: P0303 & '4 codes(misfire) I.e. drowning in oil and shorting out. The challenge was horizontal. The heads are horizontally opposed and sit down low and very close to the sides of the engine compartment, the 6 bolts/each side. I only had 2 very difficult bolts with about 1/2" clearance and no hand finger room. No chance for a socket to get in there. An open end wrench at about 10 degrees/turn takes forever.
The spark plugs have always been a PITA. Godda hold each plug socket just inside of the tube and then attach the extension(s)/universal/ratchet, one by one as you lower it in. The socket got stuck on the spark plug once after tightening and I had ta super-glue the extension on to the socket, to pull it back out.

The worst part was pulling the loose valve covers themselves out. I had to loosen the engine mounts and jack up it about an inch using the oil pan as a support, with someone pulling sideways on the top of the whole engine via intake manifold. Lot's of profanity and jiggling it various ways to get both of them out. Reinstalling both was even a little more difficult. I can only wonder at how bad it would be to get a finger/hand crushed by the engine. Pretty sure the whole engine has to be removed if one had to work on the heads.

Every modern vehicle probably has these service/repair issues. Some stuff has to be removed, some units can be partially detached and pushed to the side. This time I learned that the power steering pump can stay put, but the reservoir with the hoses still attached, can be detached and moved out of the way.
The advantage of the "Boxer" engine is more space on top of the engine, lower center of gravity, better fast-acceleration with less vibration and good cornering ability.

The top mounting bolt of the starter Gregg is the only way I know to describe it.I hope I never have to find out or tackle it.I have a 2016 F150 XLT with 50k miles on the 2.7 ecoboost hwy 24mpg (sounds like a bubble machine according to my SIL).
I only drive it when I need a truck.