Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

[Dick Bottis]

I haven't rebuilt a carburetor in years but I figured that I could do it with out much trouble. But when I started to disassemble the secondary and remove the metering body I noticed that it has several screws which have a head type that I am not familiar with. It is not a flat blade, phillips, torx, or hex. It almost looks like a hour glass shape. Does anyone know what type of screwdriver is needed to remove these screws? Where can I find one?

[frank mccracken]

Re: Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

Those are called "Clutch Drive". I suppose you could find a screw driver, I ground a flat screw driver narrow enough to fit the length and haven't had a problem.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

Dick-----

The type of screw to which you refer is called a "clutch head" screw. These screws were used on many Holley carburetors. In fact, I recall looking all over the Los Angeles area for one in the summer of 1968 when the Holley carb on my brand new Chevelle SS 396 L-78 failed on a trip to southern California (the service manager at Citizens Chevrolet in the Eagle Rock district of LA told me that the carb was not covered under warranty). I was able to find clutch head screwdrivers but NOT the one for this size. Finally, I went to a carb repair shop and the fellow told me that he had never been able to get one of the right size, either, and he just used a regular blade-type screwdriver with the blade ground down to just fit the width of the opening. That's what I did and it worked.

If these screwdrivers were hard to find in 1968, you better believe that they're hard to find today. Snap-On carries about 3 sizes, but I don't know if any of these are the right ones for these Holley screws. I don't know of any other source.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

Frank------

Are you that guy that I talked to in the carburetor repair shop in Los Angeles in 1968 or did you talk to that same guy, too?

[Terry M.]

Re: Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

I've had one since 1970, but now I will have to recall where I got it. At the moment that recall just isn't there.

[Clem Z.]

they are 5/32" clutch heads,try sears *NM*

[Jon #40768]

Re: Snap-On SSDC 5 works like a charm

The above is the screw driver number. They also make, or used to make, this in a socket form also.

ps The SSD stands for a standard screwdriver and the C for clutch.

Jon

[Joe L.]

Re: they are 5/32" clutch heads,try sears

clem-----

I don't think that Sears has a clutch head screwdriver or socket in their whole Craftsman line. It's a real "specialty item" these days.

[Clem Z.]

Re: they are 5/32" clutch heads,try sears

i keep forgetting that it has been quite a few years since i filled my tool box. "tempist fuget"

[Clem Z.]

5/32" clutchhead screwdrivers for sale

try www.1-home-improvement.com/screwdrivers/index18.html

[Gary Bishop]

Re: Making Clutch-head Drivers

I made my set of Clutch-head Drivers by grinding/filing "Bolts" to fit the width of the slots. I found they covered more of the surface of the screw. I can use them in a socket or socket driver.

[Chas Kingston]

Re: 5/32" clutchhead screwdrivers for sale

Clem -- follow the links and you will find that the tool has been discontinued and nobody else makes them. Maybe I should put mine on ebay? What am I offerred?

Ol' Geezer

[Mike Baker]

Try Ace Hardware

I found a "screwdriver set" there awhile back that has a couple dozen screwdriver tips and a handle. I think there are four sizes of clutch head tips, several torx, and some that I had never seen before. NO philips tips.

[Brian J.]

Re: Rebuilding 69 Tripower Carborators

I bought a set about three months ago from an eBay seller.They were brand new Channellock brand a set of 5 different sizes for 20 bucks. He had a few more sets at that time. I would check there.
Good Luck
Brian

[Terry M.]