How do I open this inspection port?

[Jdege]

My boat has diesel tanks with inspection ports that clearly take some sort of tool to open - but I don't know the name of the tool, so I don't know what to ask for, when I go looking to buy, rent, or borrow one.

I just need something that will fit into the two holes and let me give it a twist.

What is the name of the tool I need?

[Dsanduril]

I have one of those tools but no longer have the ports it opens (replaced with ports that take a winch handle). No idea what it's called, but it is just a bit of stout (1/4" or so) SS wire that is bent in a "V" and then two legs about 1/2" long that turn down to go into the holes. What is the spacing between the holes, I can measure mine (there is some flex in the "V")?

I'll be down at the boat in a next day or two, happy to mail it to you, PM me an address and I'll drop it by the post office.

[Edit]
Here's the fancy one from West Marine:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/groco...67?recordNum=4

And the style I have:

[Bill Seal]

Pin spanner, or adjustable pin spanner. Look on McMaster-Carr.

[Sailmonkey]

Option 1

https://www.googleadservices.com/pag...BAgBEDw&adurl=


Option 2


https://www.defender.com/product3.js...186&id=4399933

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Jdege

My boat has diesel tanks with inspection ports that clearly take some sort of tool to open - but I don't know the name of the tool, so I don't know what to ask for, when I go looking to buy, rent, or borrow one.

I just need something that will fit into the two holes and let me give it a twist.

What is the name of the tool I need?

A spanner wrench.

[jakkum]

Two drillbits that Just fit upside down, and a flat piece of iron.
If that does not work, tap the thing a bit with a small jammer and try again
Keep the iron as flat on the surface as possible

[The Perfessor]

I needed something similar to service my winch. It is a spanner wrench. I couldn't find one with pins that fit, so I made one out of two brackets and some screws and nuts. Hope this helps.

[TrentePieds]

And then, when you've done as Jaccum suggests, take the next drill size down, and drill two holes in the flat bar, EXACTLY the same distance apart as the holes in your access port. Tap the holes in the flat bar using the NC (National Coarse) tap that is denoted the same as the diameter of the holes in that access hatch. Screw in a coupla roundhead or panhead machine screws, Drive a nut on the screws up against the flat bar, and trim the protruding threads to the depth of the holes in the access hatch.

Now you have a permanent key for the hatch, and you know how to deal with lost pin spanners in the future :-)

TrentePieds

[gonesail]

i used a spanner wrench on my stuck bronze inspection port and the wrench bent like a piece of spaghetti. will probably remove the port and soak it in some PB blaster for a few days .. and hope it loosens up.

[Hudson Force]

I realize that my often used method is subject to slipping and less likely to work with an inspection port that has not been opened for a long time, but......

I simply hold the handles of two long phillips head screw drivers in the palm of my left hand with the points in the holes. While pressing down I pry another screwdriver between the two, fairly close to the plate, and lever them to open.

.....'always handy and usually works.

[tkeithlu]

Wow! What a compendium of wickedly good ways to open threaded inspection ports! Let me add tapping it around with a pin punch and a very small hammer. Fortunately, they make them with handles nowdays.

[garyfdl]

We always called the tool a 'pin spanner' but I'm not sure that is the correct name.

I have used this with good luck:

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ers-64087.html