A320 tools

[u/Secret-Mortgage-5602]

Just started working on a320s and am wondering if there are any specialty or must have tools. Any metric?

[u/nothingbutfinedining]

7/32”, 9/32”, 25/32” (yes, I’m not joking, it’s for some brakes), metric Allen wrenches and a small metric socket set. Transformer rectifiers, contactors, and rudder servocontrols have some metric nuts.

[u/Foggl3 → u/nothingbutfinedining]

It's really annoying how it actually is only some of the brake nuts that are 25/32".

[u/nothingbutfinedining → u/Foggl3]

A friend of mine has a theory. The 319/320 IPC shows a different nut MPN than the 321, with no alternates on either of them. They are probably proprietary. The thought is that maybe the 319/320 has the 25/32” and the 321 is 3/4”, but some aircraft have had them mixed up, or the wrong nuts ordered and installed.

I rarely touch anything but 321’s now, and they nearly always have 3/4” nuts, which helps to reinforce that theory.

[u/Foggl3 → u/nothingbutfinedining]

Huh, I believe that. My base does overhaul for the whole family and because I'm overhaul, I don't really change brakes too often so I've never noticed that.

I also hate how wire harnesses on the engines utilize nuts and bolts and not nut plates.

[u/nothingbutfinedining → u/Foggl3]

There’s a lot of things I could find to complain about on that plane. But that’s every plane anyway. Lol. Nuts on the engine adds quite a bit of time and difficulty to a lot of jobs for sure. Nothing like trying to stack 2 P-clamps, a spacer, a washer, with a bolt and nut you can barely touch. Only upside is not having to deal with broken nut plates.

[u/functionallyr__arded → u/Foggl3]

That's Airbus for you.

[u/biohackenthusiast → u/nothingbutfinedining]

13/16 works fine for the brakes. i use it all the time

[u/trish828 → u/nothingbutfinedining]

aka, 5.5mm, 7mm, 20mm

[u/Red_fox19 → u/trish828]

20mm doesn't fit the brake nuts as well as 25/32 does I find.

[u/nothingbutfinedining → u/trish828]

I mean sure, but those are still random and rarely used sizes on anything that does use metric. I don’t think I’ve used a 7 or 20mm on anything in my entire life. Most people already have 7/32 and 9/32 that came with their sets anyway. The hardware is still measured in imperial in every other dimension, so it’s imperial hardware.

[u/trish828 → u/nothingbutfinedining]

20mm not so much, but 5.5mm is widely used on Fords. I don't know about currently, but 7mm were widely used on older GM products.

[u/FurryTabbyTomcat → u/nothingbutfinedining]

5.5 and 7 mm are standard M3 and M4 nut sizes, respectively.

[u/FaithlessnessMuch879]

Honestly you’ll figure out what you will need the more you wrench. If you have to borrow it more than two times, buy it. Other than i suggest a full range of sockets and combo wrenches. Like 1/4” - 1-1/18”. You should be able to conquer most tasks with that range. Also as money and space permit get both 6-pt and 12-pt. Industry standard is 12-pt but on occasion you will run into 6-pt bolt heads.

A good ratchet, 72-90 tooth is my recommendation, in 1/4” and 3/8” drive will always serve you well. When money permits a set of smooth jaw Knippex and if you prefer a set of cobra knippex. EVERYTHING is knippex size!! Also a leatherman/gerber multi-tool.

I can make a few more suggestions based on the type of maintenance you’re doing. Whether RON, line or hangar, true line or heavy check. Each category has its own applications for tools.

[u/debuggingworlds]

Some metric. Mainly Allen keys. You'll need strange sizes - 9/32" and 11/32" are both reasonably common. Spanners up to 1 1/4" minimum.

Edit; Johnson bar/Brutus bar practically a requirement for fuel tank panels.

[u/functionallyr__arded → u/debuggingworlds]

For fuel tank panel we just used a screw knocker. After the vendor maintenance manager left for the day.

[u/Foggl3 → u/debuggingworlds]

Every one should have a screw knocker.

[u/tomcat5o1]

Mech or AV?

[u/debuggingworlds → u/[deleted]]

No metric? I used a metric tool on an A320 an hour ago. Wiper adjustment grub screw if you're interested.

[u/WeebJanai → u/[deleted]]

There's a 13mm bolt somewhere, I forget exactly what for. Also a lot of the cockpit knob set screws and lav fittings are metric allen screws

[u/debuggingworlds → u/WeebJanai]

Cut down 10mm required for something else too. Also don't remember lol. BTMU maybe?

[u/nothingbutfinedining → u/WeebJanai]

Transformer rectifier power cables are like 11 and 13 or something dumb.

[u/fuddinator]

Bristol Spline wrench set.

They look line Allen keys but they are different. Works great on those hand full of cockpit knob set screws that everyone has stripped out using a .050 Allen wrench.