I feel like I should know what this is for, but I’m drawing a blank. Champion? Spark plug related? Google image search is baffled , it seems. From a friend’s collection. He doesn’t know either! 3/8 drive , no ratchet, only turns part way.
Last edited by Steelonsteel; 03/14/20262:59 AM.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
That's the Champion spark plug emblem so I'd guess it's a tool for cleaning a plug or gapping it.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Last edited by Phak1; 03/14/202612:04 PM. Reason: Typo
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
I tried to do a relatively quick search of the Patent number "1511925" which is expired. Since all the patent records I could find on the web don't list them by number, but only by applicant (company and/or inventor), best I could do is tag the patent number being issued sometime in the early to mid-1920s.
It's definitely supposed to ratchet, so mechanism is probably just seized up.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Aha, so with these hints, I figured it out. It takes a spark plug socket, and in the loosening direction,it locks and removes the spark plug. Then in the tightening direction that blade notch engages a spring ball and clicks at a preset torque. From the feel of it, that spring is worn out and clicks too easily. Maybe why there aren’t many around anymore? Curious, does anyone use a torque wrench on spark plugs? I never have. Just going by the pressure needed to compress the Washer on a new plug. Not very much in pounds! Thank you all for looking at this🤓
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
Thanks for the explanation in how it works. I was trying to figure that out but came up blank. I agree it’s just a conversation piece at this point in its life, but that will stump allot of mechanic’s, especially the younger generation!
Last edited by Phak1; 03/16/202611:47 AM. Reason: Typo
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
That's the Champion spark plug emblem so I'd guess it's a tool for cleaning a plug or gapping it.
That's what I found when searching on the web for "Champion CT483." It came up with a spark plug gapping tool, but I think that's a reuse of the part number. I don't see how that thing could attach to a socket without bending the blade on the end.
SteelonSteel, can you post a pic of how it works? My curiosity is piqued. [on edit] I see from the eBay link that Phil posted that it has a stub for the socket to fit on. That explains the mystery. So it's a rudimentary torque wrench. Added a picture from that eBay listing.
I tried a patent number search on the number Dan posted and it came up with a "pocketed table" describing the legs folding into pockets issued in 1924 invented by August F Wasmuth.
Last edited by klhansen; 03/14/20266:34 PM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Off topic, but I also remember a spark plug shaving device that some race engine builders used to trim the gasket surface of the plug shell down, along with a torque wrench, to clock the ground electrodes at exactly the same position for every cylinder. Now, that's really getting ridiculous about "blueprinting"! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Yes , Jerry, but you wouldn’t want your spark flying off in all directions ! So, one last point on the Champion spark plug tool. I decided the spring tension is actually fine. There isn’t actually a click, just bottoms out and you probably go slightly tighter. I’m guessing these were given out by the Champion distributor to shops etc. Designed to help with young and not so young shop workers with a heavy hand. Then you could remove the plugs without a cheater pipe 😂 Maybe they didn’t get used much
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996