Lionel Service Station Tools

I have no need for an E-unit vise, I just hold the e-unit in my hand. I do use the E-unit spreader bar.

I doubt that any of the folks looking for official Lionel Service Tool screwdriver or nutdriver sets would use them.
There really isn't anything unique about the screwdriver set. The only slightly unusual aspect of the nutdriver set is the size range.

I use a set of Xcelite PS series nut drivers that I purchased a very long time ago.  
For screwdrivers, I use Craftsman, Xcelite, and Quick-Wedge tools.

Why Xcelite?..... Years ago I had an opportunity to buy a wide assortment of NOS Xcelite tools at an exceptional price.

Back in my days as an LGB serviceman, I purchased a nice set of Xcelite metric hex-drivers, which have also come in handy with my LGB live steam loco (made by Aster).

Craftsman, Snap On, Wiha, and Klein have also served me well over the decades.

My motto is: "You buy a cheap tool (Harbor Freight?), you get a cheap tool!" 

Of the service station tools I have the e-unit spreader, the riveter and the 5D tester are the ones I use the most. 

I like the circuit breaker and whistle controller tests that are built into the 5D and 5F test benches.

IMHO, the last wheel puller, from sometime around 1992 (might be a little older) works best.
The postwar wheel pullers, the ST-301  and the ST-311 had very thin jaw tips which were subject to breakage. Lionel (MPC) also offered this style wheel puller for a while.

In the first half of the 1980's a design modification was made to thicken the jaws. This made them much stronger, but often the puller had clearance problems.
The last puller that Lionel offered was modified again. They thinned out the jaws, but made them wider at the jaw ends to give them more strength. I had to grind away some of the flare on my puller for clearance on a gang car, but so far, they have not broken.

The last two wheel pullers are the ones most often seen of Ebay, sometimes mis-identified as Postwar. Right now there is an ST-301 on Ebay with a damaged jaw.

Folks interesting in such things might be interested in this article from Toy Train Revue

I have found that the Marklin 70900 tool set is very useful for all of my model railway needs.

The set contains a good selection of high quality tools that are suitable for most locomotives of many scales, and can be found for under $20.

I have a set of the Wiha socket drivers in both metric and SAE, very useful for many train repair tasks.  I like the PosiGrip screwdrivers for most use, they will slip a lot less than standard Phillips drivers.

good point tinplate art!!

you get what you pay for,

I have steered clear fo harbor freight

for exactly that reason.

I use needle nose pliers to spread

e-units. POP Goes the weasel!!!!!!!

Reproduction ST-303 E-unit spreader bars cost around $3.50 and work very well.

The e-unit just snaps open, no flying parts!