That sounds so old-fashioned and low tech!  In the Air Force, I was a
jet mech on the F-15 engines in-shop.  Complete teardown, overhaul,
build-up and run-up on the test pad.   The big nut up front was removed
and installed with a hydraulic-powered wrench similar to your Sweeney
wrench.   A pump and lines hooked up to the wrench and move it a few
clicks at a time.  You had to remove it and move it a few splines and
continue torquing until you reached the proper torque reading.   IIRC,
it was massive, like 10,000 to 30,000 ft/lbs!  This was to retain a
driveshaft that spun up about 60,000 to 130,000 ft/lbs of torque.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RSkGGe17pA

Watch between 3:20 and 4:00 for a view of this wrench in action. More
between 5:20 and 7:00.

Mike B.

On 9/30/2013 1:35 AM, JRodgers wrote:
> Well, nut removal might be easier with  Sweeney Wrench.
>
> Envision a 5 inch diameter splined shaft with threads, and 12 foot or
> bigger four bladed propeller, mounted on it - and a nut big enough to
> hold it on. Now what on earth do you supposed could tighten and loosen
> such a monster. Well, that would be a Sweeney Wrench. The thing is a
> geared, chain drive device that screws onto the threads, locks on to the
> nut, and as the mechanic down below reaches up and pulls the chain
> through the tackle block that drives it - the torque is multiplied a few
> hundred times to get torques values - or to relieve torque values of
> 2500 lbs or so.  A small version would be handy for cranky and difficult
> Vanagon Axle Nuts.
>
> John
>
> On 9/29/2013 6:01 AM, Stephen Grisanti wrote:
>> I'm not looking forward to ever needing the 46mm socket for the big
>> rear axle nut, but have always kept that measurement (and its
>> standard 1 13/16" equivalent) in mind in case I trip over one, which
>> I recently did.  Of course, after buying I find that NAPA stocks the
>> non-metric one for $25 (on sale this week for $16!) but that Ohio
>> antique mall was fairly boring until I hit a huge booth full of tools
>> and the $5 find that is now living under the back seat of the '87
>> Westy with its new Harbor Freight 3/4" drive breaker bar.
>>