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How often do you use these big metric sockets

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ToolGlutton

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I'm thinking to buy some 1/2 dr metric sockets during this week's Craftsman Club sale. I notice that most 1/2" dr metric socket sets sold by Craftsman only include sizes of 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm.

My question is how often you use sockets with sizes of 20, 23, 25, 26 mm?


Thank you!
 
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John Timmins

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Never is the answer to your question including the 21mm.

I sailed on U.S. flag ships as a merchant marine engineer , deep sea, for 30 years. The ships were mostly 4000 HP per cyl slow speed diesels. Since I have worked on machinery for years that had metric fittings I would take away all the sockets from the workbench that were never used. I would leave available 4,6,8,10,12,13,14,17,19,22,24,27,30,32,36,41,46,55,60,65,85 and some larger size special sockets and slugging wrenches.
A freind of mine, a 40 year VW and Porsche mechanic told me he uses them all. Personally I have never used sizes like 11,15,16,18,20,21,23,25,26. These wierdo sizes are possibly included because some foreign diesels like Burmiester and Wain were all metric except for WHITWORTH fuel system thread bolts, go figure. I think that some Whitworth bolts had odd hex size on the bolts or nuts.
American socket sets used to include stuff like 25/32, and 31/32 to fit occasional metric hex on American cars or engines or Whitworth.
Don't even get me started on what I think about Whitworth pipe threads.
 
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Fedwrench

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I have never used a 20, 23, 25, or 26mm socket. I have used a 20mm wrench on GM ac lines and fuel filters but, never a socket.:thumbup:
 
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SteveU

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Grey Pneumatic sells sets that go from 10-36mm no gaps in both shallow & deep, don't know if you want impact sockets though.

GRY1326M regular
GRY1326MD deep
 
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MachineTech

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Looks like if you need all those sizes or not depends on what you do. Personally I would get them all if for no other reason than to have a complete set that looks nice when I open the drawer :thumbup:
 
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lbgradwell

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John Timmins said:
American socket sets used to include stuff like 25/32, and 31/32 to fit occasional metric hex on American cars or engines or Whitworth.
Click to expand...

Is that right?! I always wondered why those sizes appear on my old wrench sets and what had transpired that made them obsolete!
 
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ToolGlutton

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Thank you all for the replies. I'm very glad to learn that they are not used very often indeed. It has been a mystery to me. :D

It seems that for DIYers, those sizes aren't very necessary. You saved me money :thumbup:
 
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Stephenw

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In many cases, a standard size socket provides a very close fit. A little bit of slop on a larger size fastener is very unlikely to slip and round the corners, especially if using a 6 point socket.

13/16 is .8125 inches, or 20.6375 mm. Pretty close to a 20 mm.

15/16 is .9375 inches, or 23.8125 mm. A little sloppy, but may work for a 23 mm. I have used a 23 mm socket before, on a Saturn automatic transmission. I used it on either the input or output shaft nut (don't remember which). An SK brand 23 mm socket is in my set. It was the only one with a thin enough wall thickness to fit (and I included Snap-On in my search).

15/16 is .9375 inches, or 23.8125 mm. A little sloppy, but may work for a 23 mm.

1 inch is 25.4 mm. Very close to a 25 mm.

1 1/16 is 1.0625 inches, or 26.975 mm, close to a 27 mm. I don't think a 1 1/32 is a common socket size in a standard set, so a 26 mm is the only one without close substitute.
 
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dxdexter

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John Timmins said:
I have never used sizes like 11,15,16,18,20,21,23,25,26.
Click to expand...

Its hard to believe that after 30 years you have not used sizes such as 11, 15, 16 and 18. I guess it all depends on what you work. These sizes are very popular on many vehicles, but I guess not ships.


Moose-LandTran said:
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
Click to expand...

I most whole heartily agree, Mr. Moose.
 
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tony p

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22mm is reasonably common as the size of the pulley locknut on some European alternators. Hardly an everyday task for most people though, and I don't think I've ever used it for anything else.
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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Moose-LandTran said:
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
Click to expand...

ToolGlutton said:
Thank you all for the replies. I'm very glad to learn that they are not used very often indeed. It has been a mystery to me. :D

It seems that for DIYers, those sizes aren't very necessary. You saved me money :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Stephenw said:
In many cases, a standard size socket provides a very close fit. A little bit of slop on a larger size fastener is very unlikely to slip and round the corners, especially if using a 6 point socket.

13/16 is .8125 inches, or 20.6375 mm. Pretty close to a 20 mm.

15/16 is .9375 inches, or 23.8125 mm. A little sloppy, but may work for a 23 mm. I have used a 23 mm socket before, on a Saturn automatic transmission. I used it on either the input or output shaft nut (don't remember which). An SK brand 23 mm socket is in my set. It was the only one with a thin enough wall thickness to fit (and I included Snap-On in my search).

15/16 is .9375 inches, or 23.8125 mm. A little sloppy, but may work for a 23 mm.

1 inch is 25.4 mm. Very close to a 25 mm.

1 1/16 is 1.0625 inches, or 26.975 mm, close to a 27 mm. I don't think a 1 1/32 is a common socket size in a standard set, so a 26 mm is the only one without close substitute.
Click to expand...

This is one of those things where they are so close together, that IMHO, better to spend the money on the general SAE and Metric sets, get your other often used stuff, then watch out for bargains and filler sizes like these.
I do agree with Moose, BUT my view is get the other important stuff first.:thumbup:
 
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dxdexter

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ToolGlutton said:
I'm thinking to buy some 1/2 dr metric sockets during this week's Craftsman Club sale. I notice that most 1/2" dr metric socket sets sold by Craftsman only include sizes of 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm.

My question is how often you use sockets with sizes of 20, 23, 25, 26 mm?


Thank you!
Click to expand...

You will often see hardware/chain store socket sets that are offered at discounted prices , which lack many sockets. I think its there way of getting you hooked into their brand and then forcing you to buy more expensive "completer" pieces.
 
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paramudduck

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For a diy'er just get the most common and pickup the weird stuff as you need it.
Or if you run across a really good deal on it. Even doing this you will end up with tools you'll have only used once or twice.
 
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Honda 1

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Thanks for asking this question, ToolGlutton. I have been looking at the same metric socket sets in the Craftsman Club Flyer. I have some of the sockets and don't want to overlap with duplicate sockets.
I had the same thoughts about some of the socket sizes being offered. I haven't gone past 21mm on the car projects I have done.
The responses to your post will save me from buying sockets I probably won't use.
 
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chammyman

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21 mm strut to hub bolts,
22mm shocker bolts on many cars,
23mm socket only ever used one to tilt the cab on renault and volvo units,
24mm used quite often and cracked 3 can't recall on what though,
25mm never used, 26 mm not very often but normally on truck track and drag arms,
27mm used a lot on trucks again drag and track arms and wheel bolts etc,
28mm never used one,
29mm never used one,
30mm used a lot wheel bolts on trucks and hub nuts on cars
31mm spanner used on compressor pipes
32mm hub nuts, wheel nuts and pipes
33mm most common truck wheel nut size
34mm wheel nuts and various pipes
35mm never used
36mm crank bolts, wheel nuts and various other things
 
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Moose-LandTran

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Copied from an older thread.

Moose-LandTran said:
Some common sizes and their uses:

20 - Various Pulley Bolts.
21 - various applications, many suspension bolts (control arms, wisbones etc..)
22 - Track rod end lock nuts on many German cars. Some suspension & engine bolts. Some wheel nuts. Many Shock top mount nuts.
23 - more commonly found on track rod lock nuts, but again some suspension bolts.
24 - fairly rare, some engine pulley bolts. Alfa Romeo Track rod lock nuts. some GM Oil filter housings.
25 - very rarely used. Cosworth YB-Series engines' Cam Pulley bolts.
26 - Various hub nuts on VW-Audi cars. Element-tye oil filter housings
27 - Light commercial wheen nuts, Diesel injectors.
28 - Commercial Diesel injectors.
29 - Chrysler hub nuts.
30 - Various hub nuts. BMW, VW-Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, GM, PSA-Peugeot etc..
32 - Various Hub Nuts. VW-Audi, GM. Commercial vehicle Driveshafts. Many Fan clutches.
33 - Some commercial vehicle wheel nuts, certian Paccar Drop Arms. (Pitman arm)
34 - Rarely used. some European hub nuts.
35 - Rarely used. some PSA-Peugeot hub nuts.
36 - Various hub nuts, VW-Audi. Volvo Gearboxes. Saab hub nuts.
38 - Rarely used, some hub nuts.
41 - Hub nuts, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Ford Sierra Sapphire.
56 - Hub Nuts - Ford Transit, Iveco light commercial vehicles.
65 - Hub Nuts - Ford Transit, Iveco light commercial vehicles.

Hope that helps,
Moose.
Click to expand...
 
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chammyman

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well he was a fool.

90% of the ones that came in had chiselled hub nuts. Also 90% have nowhere near enough oil in the rear diffs, pull the half shaft out and nothing comes out most of the time.

I used to have to chisel them off and buff them down and then I could use the socket on them if I could find the right sized one, otherwise just spin it on, lock ring then spin on and chisel the outer one on.
 
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GDA

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Moose-LandTran said:
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
Click to expand...

Perfect advice for someone building a set of quality tools to last a lifetime.

On topic - I have a full set from 10 though 41 but above 21 have only used 22, 24, 27, 30, 32 and 36. Seem to use 21, 22, 24 and 36 the most since I work mostly on friends and my own BMWs. 27 is found in several places on my LR Discovery.
 
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a390st

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Just get them all. I needed a 23mm for an emergency and ended up having to order one. The town where I lived wasn't really big on foreign cars and there wasn't a 23mm socket to be found. It's better to have them...
 
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kiall1987

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chammyman said:
well he was a fool.

90% of the ones that came in had chiselled hub nuts. Also 90% have nowhere near enough oil in the rear diffs, pull the half shaft out and nothing comes out most of the time.

I used to have to chisel them off and buff them down and then I could use the socket on them if I could find the right sized one, otherwise just spin it on, lock ring then spin on and chisel the outer one on.
Click to expand...
thats a real **** way to do that plus alot of grief mate
 
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chammyman

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kiall1987 said:
thats a real **** way to do that plus alot of grief mate
Click to expand...

indeed it is but am I supposed to travel back in time tell the previous mechanic not to chisel them on and destroy the nuts?

If so please tell me the location of said time machine as I would really liek to use it
 
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kiall1987

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chammyman said:
indeed it is but am I supposed to travel back in time tell the previous mechanic not to chisel them on and destroy the nuts?

If so please tell me the location of said time machine as I would really liek to use it
Click to expand...

Indeed i see alot of heavy plant and landrovers with this kind damage done to them btw am in Glasgow , kirkintilloch
 
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chammyman

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well you know what I mean then. Sometimes you can clean the nut up and use the socket other times its that far gone and the customer/boss refuses to replace it so all you can do it chisel it on.

Ah Kirky, I used to live in Lenzie, the old man still lives in Kirky though.
 
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eschoendorff

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ToolGlutton said:
I'm thinking to buy some 1/2 dr metric sockets during this week's Craftsman Club sale. I notice that most 1/2" dr metric socket sets sold by Craftsman only include sizes of 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm.

My question is how often you use sockets with sizes of 20, 23, 25, 26 mm?


Thank you!
Click to expand...

Uhhh..... never. Actually, I was at Sears yesterday and noticed that they were clearancing their jumbo set of full-polish metric wrenches for $49.99. I didn't buy them... I already have Snap On wrenches in the large sizes taht I need and the others would just sit around gathering dust. I know this is like blasphemy around here, but I'll buy them if and when I ever need them...
 
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snorky18

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I do all my own automotive work, biggest I've ever needed was 36mm socket for front drive axle of Nissan Altima. Rarely do I use anything over a 19mm.

Anything bigger than a 36mm and you're probably working on heavy equipment, ships, tractors, and who knows what else.

I bought this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34683 for about $15 on sale (go ahead, flame me:flamethro, get it out of your system), and for occasional home mechanic use, I see no need for anything else. One of them (I think the 27mm?) has had about 1200 FT-LB of torque on it, it didn't blink.

If you should need larger ones for a car project, many parts shops (all autozones I believe) will loan it to you for as long as you need for a deposit equal to the value of the tool, which you get back upon returning.
 
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