Specialty Tools
Only the Best for Mercedes Classics
Classic Mercedes-Benz are marvels of engineering, but that doesn't mean things don't go wrong. From hydraulics to cutting-edge electronics to vacuum systems and sensors tracking just about everything, there are thousands of things that need to be checked and tested before determining the exact cause of an issue.
Along with the know-how to track these problems down to their source, you often need specific tools and implements in order to test the performance of these systems.
Whether that's simply a quality tool set or a rare piece of machinery, we've got anything your Mercedes needs covered. Take a look below to see some of our specialty tools, what they do, and a little history about the item itself.
If you didn't guess, we've got a bit of a thing for German engineering and quality brands. Do you NEED a high-end German-made wrench to work on a 280SL? No, but it definitely helps you play the part and gives you the confidence that, no matter how tough a job you're working on, your tools won't let you down. We're excited to announce that, starting in 2024, Black Forest is your go-to distributor for Stahlwille automotive products. We'll be expanding our showroom and posting regular content featuring their products so keep an eye out for more as we get this excited partnership rolling.
Stahlwille, officially known as Stahlwille Eduard Wille GmbH & Co. KG, was founded in 1862 by Eduard Wille and started out producing pokers and fire tongs. Over the years they expanded their oeuvre to include other forged steel tools, eventually producing high-quality products for automotive, industrial, and aerospace use.
Hazet Tools
Here at Black Forest we have an unrivaled collection of Hazet tools and accessories that help us complete our projects. From ratchets and screwdrivers, to carts and containers, even a few vintage signs thrown in there, our shop not only gives us the ability to do the work, but gives our clients the confidence and peace-of-mind that we only use the best on their beloved classic.
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Hazet was founded in 1868 by Hermann Zerver with the original HAZET-Werk factory in Remscheid-Vieringhausen, Germany. Now with three state-of-the-art facilities, Hazet is in its fifth generation of family ownership and continues to produce some of the industry's best tools and carts, including the "Tool Trolley Assistent 166N" seen here.
Sun ELECTRIC 500 Distributor Tester
The Sun 500 Distributor Tester is a device that was used from the 1940s through 1970s to test the performance of a vehicle's distributor. The device measures the amount of time that the points in the distributor are closed (aka the "dwell angle") as well as the timing of the spark that is produced by the distributor.
The Sun Electric Corporation was founded in Chicago Illinois in 1931 and produced a wide range of automotive testing equipment including distributor testers, performance analyzers and volt ignition testers. Sun Electric was acquired by Snap-On in 1998.
Sun Electric PERFORMANCE ANALYzER
The Sun Electric Performance Analyzer is used to test engine performance and can diagnose issues with a wide range of engine components, specifically cylinders and distributors. With the ability to turn off specific cylinders at any given time, problems can be traced to the exact part, giving automotive technicians insight into the issue they are facing and can help them trace the cause of a particular problem.
VACUUM AND PRESSURE TESTER
Hydraulics and vacuum systems have been used by Mercedes-Benz for almost a century with many innovations first made available to the public through high-end vehicles such as the Pullman 600 Limousine. While revolutionary, luxurious, and convenient when working, these systems proved difficult to maintain and service. Testing the vacuum system components was essential to maintaining the vehicles, but finding the fault in such an expansive and unique system was time consuming and costly.
The Mercedes-Benz vacuum and pressure tester was created for this purpose, allowing technicians to create and test a vacuum without the entire system assembled. This saved countless hours and prevented repeated disassembly of the systems in order to track down problem components.
Custom-made specialized steering GEAR Socket
When it comes to sockets, most people buy them by the set, using the same few over and over while the majority sit virtually untouched waiting for the day one of your projects finally warrants their use.
When you get into a restoration however, there's no telling what you'll find. We recently started exploring a rebuilt but still non-functioning steering gear in the hope we could give it new life. While that hope still remains, there have been a few bumps along the way, including the realization that some of the tools needed simply do not exist anymore.
Luckily we've got some pretty handy guys in the shop. We ordered the size socket we needed from a local supplier and spent the better part of the day customizing it to fit our needs.
CUSTOM-Modified Ball Joint Remover
This may seem like your typical ball joint remover and that is because, basically, it is. Bought straight from the Mercedes Classic Center, this tool is readily available to anyone needing to remove and replace their ball joints.
What makes this particular tool special is a small modification to the inner lip of the U-shape, allowing us to use it in the disassembly of fuel injection pumps. As you can see in the close-ups, the outer surface was shaved down slightly while the inner edge of the U-shape was beveled to accommodate our needs.
