Sometimes, the imports are better...

[Loscaldazar]

I've had a Gearwrench 80546 swivel spark plug socket with a permanently attached extension for a few years. Makes it so your extension doesn't come out of your spark plug socket when using it, and it has a swivel function making it easier to get into some hard to reach places to do spark plugs (Subaru spark plugs....).

I figured I'd upgrade to the Snap On version- the FSXK320A. I received it a few days ago and went to use it yesterday. It is shorter than the gear wrench version, meaning it can't reach all the way down to the spark plugs in a Subaru without adding another extension (the drive end of the Gearwrench just barely sticks out, allowing for a ratchet to be attached to it).

Furthermore, the collar that retains the pin on the swivel portion is larger the the one of the Gearwrench. It won't even fit through the spark plug access hole to remove the spark plug! The gearwrench is much thinner and has worked on every Subaru I've used it on!

Even better, the Gearwrench uses a magnetic retention system that works way better than the rubber boot in the Snap On.

Here are some measurements..

Thickness of the Chrome socket portion (Snap On slightly smaller):
Snap On- 0.8550"
Gearwrench- 0.8630"

Thickness of the Swivel Pin Retention Collar (Gearwrench significantly smaller by over a tenth of an inch):
Snap On-0.9840"
Gearwrench-0.8800"

Price:
Snap On-$73
Gearwrench-$10-$15

The knurling is better on the Gearwrench to boot too. I'm surprised the Snap On doesn't fit Subarus, as this type of spark plug socket was practically invented to do spark plugs on them. So way to go Gearwrench, some of your products are indeed better than Snap On. I'm also glad I decided to check this before getting rid of my gearwrench socket.

 

[Local]

Gearwrench makes good stuff and for the price they are hard to beat. I love the knurling on the extensions after owning extensions with no knurling I wont go back. Didn't even know they make that setup you have. I had to tape the extension on to the socket.

 

[KnurledNut]

+1
That Gearwrench swivel is excellent.

 

[brianh]

I do have to ask, if the gearwrench already worked for the task why upgrade?

 

[Loscaldazar]

I do have to ask, if the gearwrench already worked for the task why upgrade?

Thought the Snap On would be nicer and thinner. The gearwrench just barely fits. You might be able to see a line that is worn on the black collar of the gearwrench where it scraps a bit as the spark plug is being unscrewed/screwed in. While the Chrome portion of the socket was thinner (as expected), the collar was stupidly larger and prevented it from fitting.

 

[Richard Cranium]

So what is the part number on the gearwrench?

 

[bert1913]

i replaced all of my foam spark plug sockets with magnetic type sockets

 

[Loscaldazar]

So what is the part number on the gearwrench?

Gearwrench 80546. Got mine from AAP years ago with a coupon, so I probably only paid $7 or $8 for it.

 

[KnurledNut]

The 5/8" comes in different lengths.
They also make 9/16" and 13/16" just like these.

 

[T45]

 

[itsvegas]

picked up two of these for cheap brand new at the flea market and use them alot on small engines and love them!

 

[Loscaldazar]

I'm well aware that these exist, and have plenty of them. Not the same style though. Still have to use an extension with this type, and even if it is a locking extension, hope that nothing accidentally catches the release collar and separates the two pieces. The one piece design is much better for my case, and the gearwrench is better than the Snap On offering.

 

[Hiball]

Aren't the extra long fixed spark plug sockets the ticket on the subaru's? I recall helping a buddy change them on his 2.5??, didn't even need a universal till we got to the Airbox side.

(Edit) I guess I should assume that my buddies older subaru is on par with "All" models/Years/Engine choices.


Btw I have the GW flex set, I've had it for years, not sure if I've ever used it.... But one day it will save the day.

 

[T45]

I'm well aware that these exist, and have plenty of them. Not the same style though. Still have to use an extension with this type, and even if it is a locking extension, hope that nothing accidentally catches the release collar and separates the two pieces. The one piece design is much better for my case, and the gearwrench is better than the Snap On offering.

Snap on has 40 types of spark plug sockets...

and locking wobbles that are much lower profile than 5/8 sockets

Which also come in various lengths, as do the 5/8 sockets...

Of course none of this is needed if you aready have a socket that works.

But don't blame a brand when they offer a greater variety tools for the purpose that are being overlooked.

(also, snap on locking extension, have anti-snag flanges and release mech's that work against any counter-force should they "catch" on withdraw--two redundant design elements built in for FOD avoidance )>

 

[General Geoff]

When it comes to spark plug sockets, imports are better.


Craftsman USA 5/8" vs Koken ZEAL 16mm:

5/8"/16mm thickness of outside wall of socket:
craftsman 22.13mm or 0.871 inches
ko-ken 20.53mm or 0.808 inches


The locking extensions I use are slightly lower profile than the outer socket wall thickness so it hasn't been an issue yet. Will say that the Koken plug socket fit into the plug well of an '89 Suzuki Katana where the Cman did not.

 

[dnschmidt]

TOPTUL has some amazing spark plug sockets. Go the the Toptul.com Website and enter spark plug into the search box. Now, you're going to have to fight your way through 15 pages of kits that contain spark plug sockets, due to the fact that the new Website sort of ***** (the old one was better but that never stopped anybody from "updating" something now has it) but you'll see some really cool stuff. I haven't carried much of it since I figured everybody has as many spark plug sockets as they need but if enough of you find something there that you think I could sell (at least 10 of because that's normally how many are in a box) maybe I'll include it in my next order.

 

[WWheeler]

Yeah I first bought the 9/16 one and it worked awesome on my buddy's F150 Triton reaching all the plugs which even the Ford spark plug socket tool specifically made for the Triton V8 couldn't do. Not without removing stuff on the firewall side especially.

I'd already done a few of those Triton spark plug changes before with a 1/4" impact while the motor is hot which works like a champ to not have those troublesome plugs separate and leave the ceramic stuck down in the head, and anything to speed up the process to be able to get them out in one piece is a lifesaver, as anyone who has ever had to break out a Triton broken spark plug removal tool will no doubt attest to. A normal 9/16 spark plug socket won't even fit down in there, but these Gearwrench do and the magnet lifts it right out. Zip zip zip & done.

That job alone made me enough of a fan of the tool to go out and get the 3-piece 5/8 set and the 13/16 one to go with it.

The 5/8 one also was a lifesaver doing the spark plugs on a Ford Ranger 4 cylinder with 8 spark plugs and the four on the driver's side under the exhaust manifold are the most difficult to reach I've ever encountered. That longest extension Gearwrench magnetic swivel socket made it soooo much easier.

I haven't been totally impressed with all the GearWrench tools I've tried, but I'm a fan of these things.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Aren't the extra long fixed spark plug sockets the ticket on the subaru's? I recall helping a buddy change them on his 2.5??, didn't even need a universal till we got to the Airbox side.


Btw I have the GW flex set, I've had it for years, not sure if I've ever used it.... But one day it will save the day.

If you remove the airbox, battery, and/or windshield washer fluid reservoir, there is plenty of room for an extra long spark plug socket (and maybe on some of the newer ones without removing any of that- haven't done any of those for spark plugs yet... lot more room in the engine bay though) it's fairly easy. Sneaking a socket down in there without removing anything is the trick, and this type works excellent for both sides of the engine.

On older turbo Subarus (pre 2008), it's nearly impossible with anything but a flex since the spark plug access holes are basically between the front frame rails. Those are a special hell to change and sometimes require the motor to be jacked up an inch or two to even get a swivel spark plug socket snuck in there.

Snap on has 40 types of spark plug sockets...

and locking wobbles that are much lower profile than 5/8 sockets

Which also come in various lengths, as do the 5/8 sockets...

Of course none of this is needed if you aready have a socket that works.

But don't blame a brand when they offer a greater variety tools for the purpose that are being overlooked.

I'm not blaming an entire brand for anything. This is the tool to do Subaru spark plug sockets quickly without removing things in the engine bay. The all in one design is simple and guarantees no separation between socket and extension.

I looked up the locking wobble extensions and the Snap On swivel sockets (without the permanently attached extension- the S9706KFUA). The total length of those two would be 6.72," which is going to cause clearance problems once a ratchet is attached to that. It may work for some Subaru applications, but not all like the gearwrench tool will.

Snap On decided to also produce this style of spark plug socket, and it isn't as good as the gearwrench. That has no bearing on any of the other Snap On offerings for spark plug sockets.

 

[M6erfan]

I cant remember what I was trying to use it on, but that GW socket in the 1st post was too wide to fit into a deep well. This was a couple of years ago, so again, sorry but I cant recall...

Anyway, I went Ko-ken also, no issues since. And I really like their spring clip plug holding mechanism.

 

[jerseykat1]

I have the gearwrench spark plug sockets with the magnet and extension as well. I love them. The magnet is so simple yet so effective. I did have to modify the 9/16" version though so it would work on Nissan. The magnet was too close to the insulation of the plug not allowing it to seat. Best plug sockets i have in my box.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[jerseykat1]

I do have to ask, if the gearwrench already worked for the task why upgrade?

Good point.... But I understand as I'm a tool junkie myself..

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk