Jim Wilkins wrote:

Water pipe and malleable iron fittings are very handy to make custom
tools but also quite soft. Music wire from hobby stores can be ground
to the shape of wrench teeth and pressed into holes in the pipe.

Indeed, I just bought some scraps of iron pipe and am building a
tool now to remove the lift cylinder packing. It's easy, because
the rod is straight and does not overhang the packing nut.

The pump is a different kettle of fish:
http://www.zefox.net/~bp/pumpgland.jpg
(apologies, it's another obese image)
With the pump piston in place, the eye overhangs the
piston packing nut completely. The outer nut can be installed
separately, so a socket-style wrench has a chance, especially
if it's supported by a pilot.

I've had good results with hook and pin spanner wrenches made from the

Does anybody know the correct name for wrenches to fit gland nuts like
those shown in the photo? They're not hook, nor pin. "Claw spanner" is
the best term I could think of, but it isn't fruitful in a web search.

For now the plan is to make a socket-style wrench out of pipe, then split
it with a saw and fit it around the piston as a pilot. A hose clamp to
secure, and pliers to tighten. It's almost worthy of Rube Goldberg.

8-)

bob prohaska