Taking apart a SnapOn ball swivel socket

[Danglerb]

SnapOn makes 4 sizes of swivel ball extension sockets (skinny 3/8 drive extension with a 10mm to 14mm swivel socket on the end). The ball portion is part of the end of the extension with a recessed groove for full motion of the socket.

The swivel portion below the ball seems like a standard SnapOn ball swivel socket, so if it isn't too hard to take the ball swivel apart it seems like it should be possible to put the extension bar on any size ball swivel socket you wanted to. If it worked well I would look into cutting a ball end on a normal extension instead of paying $20 or so for a used Snapon FLXM813.

[Blacknwhitepit]

I read your post a couple times to get the gist of it, but I think I know your idea.

What I am wondering about is the expense of getting a ball socket onto an extension. It seems like the socket that you could potentially destroy would cost more than to buy this tool used.

Not to say that I wouldn't try it myself, "just to see if I could do it"

But a 13 mm 3/8 swivel socket costs $35 new!

The $20.00 on Ebay may still save you time and effort.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w209/blacknwhitepit/swiv1.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w209/blacknwhitepit/flex.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w209/blacknwhitepit/swivel.jpg

-BWP

[Danglerb]

I was thinking of going the other way, buy a "cheap" $20 FLXM813 and use it to make a something other than the currently available 10mm to 13mm sizes, like a 15mm or SAE size, or with a 6 pt socket.

[Blacknwhitepit]

I was thinking of going the other way, buy a "cheap" $20 FLXM813 and use it to make a something other than the currently available 10mm to 13mm sizes, like a 15mm or SAE size, or with a 6 pt socket.

Oh,

I see now. Hmmmm. Still doesn't seem to be an easy task.

I suppose you would have to remove the retaining ring, and get it back on intact?

-BWP

[Danglerb]

Retaining ring is the trick to it, either it comes off "nicely" or it would have to be replaced and recrimped if thats how it goes on.

[Jbullfrog]

You may have noticed this, but the extensions with a ball swivel are reversed from the sockets. The sockets have the ball on them and are inside the driven portion, but the extensions have the ball and the socket is the driven portion.

[Danglerb]

You may have noticed this, but the extensions with a ball swivel are reversed from the sockets. The sockets have the ball on them and are inside the driven portion, but the extensions have the ball and the socket is the driven portion.

Oops.






.......

[krusty the clown]

You may have noticed this, but the extensions with a ball swivel are reversed from the sockets. The sockets have the ball on them and are inside the driven portion, but the extensions have the ball and the socket is the driven portion.

i have a set of snap on swivel/impact sockets that have the ball on the drive end. no date stamp.......i wonder when they changed them?