Which mini wrench set should I order for changing traction tires?

The wrenches that came with my 3 Williams brass engines were mini-socket head nut drivers.  Google that and you'll get a bunch of hits.

 

I'd be leery of the ones you showed as you may put too much torque on the screws and possibly break one off.  Not saying using those definitely will but any lenghty arm like that will increase the torque, plus open-end wrenches always seem to slip off easier.

I'd go with a set of Wiha SAE nutdrivers and a set of Wiha Metric nutdrivers. I have purchased from this site. At the time, their prices were better than Amazon.

I'm with C.W. on the Wiha nutdrivers. I used them for 15 years when my repair shop was open. Much less likely to round off the corners of a small bolt than a wrench.

 

 

I vote for nut drivers as well. Lionel includes them in some of the latest new steamers. As mentioned in another thread, I sometimes grind the outside diameter down a bit to clear things and also grind the end down so the hex starts sooner when the nuts are very shallow.

The Wiha nut drivers are the only PROPER and safe way to go. Instead of purchasing whole sets of them, as they are pretty expensive, I purchased only those 3 sizes that fit most all of my steam locomotive model side rod hex screws.

What 3 sizes are those, and what vintage are your engines. Thanks.

Small   =  3.0 X 60

 

Medium  =  5.0 X 60

 

Large   =   5.5 X 60

 

 

Some of my MTH models were originally Proto 1, and have been up-graded to 2.0, so those would be from the 1990s. I also have about 19 or so, Sunset/3rd Rail models, and 2 of those were originally conventional (1990s) and have been up-graded to TMCC.  The few Lionel models I have, came with their own hex wrench.

 

Also, for what it's worth, just as professional Mechanics or Machinists, would not use an open-end wrench on any hex hut/bolt that can be accessed with a socket, it is NEVER advisable to try and remove small hex-head machine screws with any sort of open-end wrench. 

That's great, thanks. I can't think now where the 4 mm was needed, but I guess I would probably add that to my list. My latest Lionel engine is 5mm.

I've never changed a traction tire before, but I do like taking things apart. I just use my small Kobalt ratchet set that my grandpa got me for Christmas a couple years ago...

I have a set of both metric and SAE Wiha drivers, and I added a couple of missing sizes to my sets.  So far I haven't had any drivers or other similar sized hex heads that I can't attack with them.

 

The open ended or box wrenches don't always work as well in some situations.

Just don't get a monkey wrench!

I have some of those mini open end wrenches. Mine were made by Moody tools. I have never found an application for them.
I use nut drivers.

I guess the mini open end wrenches would get around a clearance problem, but I have never run into one.

Especially not a left handed one (I believe those are quite rare also, real collector's items).

 

I also have a set of Wiha SAE & Metric nut drivers as well as a small screw driver set and some of their other tool as well. I have ordered all of them directly from Wiha (the link above). If you get on their email list, they have occasional sales on some items. When I got the nut drivers, both sets were on sale so I saved a few bucks there. I think they also offer free shipping on orders over $100 (used to anyway). It is very easy to get to that amount if you start looking around on their site, you will be over that in no time. Their tools are very well designed and made and probably as good a quality as you will find anywhere.

 

Also, thanks to the OP for the post and all others for informing us about the small wrenches not being needed, I was also thinking of purchasing as set.

A wiha metric nut driver set is what I use and a dental pick to stretch the tire around the wheel.

Wiha also makes full size screw drivers that are handy for PW locos. The tips on #1 and #2 Phillips a bought at the same time as the mini-drivers look as good today as when I got them 15 years ago. I can't say that about any other general hardware store Phillips I've ever owned.

 

 

I also put together a set of Wiha Pozidrive screwdrivers. I wish they made JIS ones.

That makes 2 of us. I have been wanting a set of JIS drivers, but the Wiha's have spoiled me and I don't really like any others that I have seen so far. No doubt; they are good sets, but I just like the feel of the Wiha stuff. 

I have a set of Moody JIS screw drivers, purchased through Amazon. They are precision sized. I would like to get a set of full sized JIS drivers, but I have not figured out what to buy. Hozan is one possibility.

All these tools come in handy for fixing household appliances too. And once in a while I pick up an old piece of stereo equipment. I recently got a Sony linear arm turntable back in working order.

I also use the Wiha nut drivers. I have full sets in both inch and metric because I find them handy for all kinds of things. A couple of snips with a scissors will turn the package they come in into a nice storage tray that fits in the toolbox drawer. If a locomotive came with a wrench to get the side rods off I will use that, otherwise the Wiha. 

 

I also wish Wiha made JIS drivers, but I am quite pleased with the Hozan JIS drivers I got from Amazon (actually a separate vendor who sells through Amazon Marketplace). I use the Wiha #1 and #0 Pozi drivers for about 90% of my train work. Every once in a while I run into a piece that needs Philips drivers (just got done working on a couple of older Williams  engines that had Philips screws), and now and then I find one that I don't like the way the Pozi driver fits and the JIS works better. But mostly, the two Wiha Pozi drivers do the job.