Astro's NEW Magnetic Spark Plug Universal Extension Sockets

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Introducing a set of 9/16", 5/8" and 13/16" universal spark plug extension sockets.

The 5/8" comes in 6" and 10" extensions.

Video:

Some nice features on these ones:
- We made the full length of the socket OD A) small for the drive size and B) uniform all one diameter, no stepped ring sticking out. This allows for use in tight cylinder head spark plug holes.
- Super smooth universal joint, knurling on the socket and extension for finger use.
- Internal magnetic ring sticks to the spark plug drive body, doesn't dangle from the terminal/terminal core.
- Widened magnetic ring mouth and careful positioning so if the spark plug angles within the socket it helps to not chip the porcelain.

Sizes are engraved

 

[tpierce]

Love 'em! I need to get a set of those.

 

[dclassical]

Saw them on SMA's video and they look very interesting.

 

[rlitman]

... Widened magnetic ring mouth and careful positioning so if the spark plug angles within the socket it helps to not chip the porcelain...

That's the main fear that's stopped me from going magnetic so far. Sounds like a big improvement from the rest of what's out there to me.

 

[chappys4life]

curious how these compare to the gearwrench/matcho set I own currently. Also price point?

 

[CobraRed]

curious how these compare to the gearwrench/matcho set I own currently. Also price point?

I see $48-62 online so far, but several places out of stock still.

GW has the raised ring he's talking about, although on some sizes may be below the OD? And their 5pc set only has 9/16" and 5/8" sizes for some reason. Although i know people like them

 

[PCMusicGuy]

They look great but they are still too long to be able to get into some tight spaces on my cars.

 

[qqzj]

Can 9/16 =14.28 really work for 14mm? I need 14mm stuff. On Amazon, a brand called Ares has theoretically the most appropriate stuff. Anyone has experience with this brand?

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[toddmorr]

definitely worth a look. I really like that Astro innovates with quality and reasonable pricing. good support to boot.

 

[M6erfan]

I bought the GW SP set years ago. The first time I went to use it that ring prevented the socket from going into the spark plug well. One fail was enough, I gave the set away.

 

[qqzj]

Would you like to tell us what kind of car you used it on? I used the GearWrench one for 4 cylinder Toyotas and 6 cylinder Honda. It worked very well. So I am surprised by your comment. Thanks.

I bought the GW SP set years ago. The first time I went to use it that ring prevented the socket from going into the spark plug well. One fail was enough, I gave the set away.

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[toolmutt]

Hey, Chris. Those look great. Any chance they will be offered individually? All my vehicles are the same, 5/8".

And thanks for your presence on GJ! I've purchased several AP products based on the influence here!

 

[qqzj]

Here's my GW spark plug socket. Can you tell me exactly what is the problem?
I put a used spark plug in, there is no wobble. So I don't understand the last two points you made. Any help? Thanks.




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[qqzj]

As far as I can see, before the spark plug really goes in, if it is not parallel with the socket, the metal tip will touch the side wall of the socket first. Once it's well seated, the plug is parallel with the socket. The ceramic part has no chance to touch the socket wall and get cracked. So I am very surprised about the point you made. Also the black ring at the end of the socket is flush with the socket. If it's above, it would be at most 2 pages thickness.

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[ptgarcia]

Those look nice!

Put together a metric set and I'm in!

 

[rlitman]

Can 9/16 =14.28 really work for 14mm? I need 14mm stuff. On Amazon, a brand called Ares has theoretically the most appropriate stuff. Anyone has experience with this brand?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

My understanding is that with spark plugs, there is no actual 9/16" size socket. They are all 14mm, whether marked 14mm or 9/16". The same goes for the spark plugs themselves, which often have dual SAE/metric markings.

 

[Eric29]

Thanks. I’ll pick a set up.

 

[qqzj]

Really? Thanks. I was never aware of that. Nowadays lots of BMW and Subaru use 14mm. There's definitely a trend to get smaller. It would be nice if the AP rep can confirm this point.

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[rlitman]

Really? Thanks. I was never aware of that. Nowadays lots of BMW and Subaru use 14mm. There's definitely a trend to get smaller. It would be nice if the AP rep can confirm this point.

I found that from NGK when I was changing the plugs in my Honda. A lot of manufacturers have gone to the smaller format.

 

[ttpete]

Amazon has 14 mm 12 point plug sockets:

https://www.amazon.com/14mm-spark-plug-socket/s?k=14mm+spark+plug+socket

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

14mm 12-point is a real need with the newer advent of 12-point spark plugs which also require ultra thin wall sockets for access. But we felt there were already plenty making these now.
You'll see some spark plug manufacturer's listing a "14.2mm" hex when looking at their drawings, but it's not common. For the most part if searching 9/16" you'll mainly find tools not spark plugs because it's used synonymously with 14mm in the tool world for better or worse.

 

[Skin]

Really? Thanks. I was never aware of that. Nowadays lots of BMW and Subaru use 14mm. There's definitely a trend to get smaller. It would be nice if the AP rep can confirm this point.

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Spark plugs have been primarily metric since the 1930s although there are limited examples of continued use of a pipe thread. Early spark plug manufacturing was dominated by Europe, specifically France. Its just one of those odd things along with wheel sizing and roller bearings which are also metric and are merely converted over to the closest inch measurement for the US market.

The socket sizing has remained standard because the rest of the vehicle was manufactured with it. You weren't going to market an 18mm or 21mm spark plug socket in the 40s, 50s, 60s etc... when nothing else on the vehicle needed it.

 

[Iowafox]

These look interesting and eventually I might pick up a set or ask for a set.
Honestly I have alot of the boot styles and only use them randomly. I have never used a magnetic kind so I wouldn't know what's better then what.
I mainly do spark plugs on lawnmowers and snowblowers when checking them.
My cars and truck use all different sizes of spark plugs and sockets. So a set like this would be handy to have around.
What would the price point on these be?

 

[M6erfan]

Would you like to tell us what kind of car you used it on? I used the GearWrench one for 4 cylinder Toyotas and 6 cylinder Honda. It worked very well. So I am surprised by your comment. Thanks.

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Like I said, it was years ago, but I'm pretty sure it was a BMW M54 engine. All I know is they wouldn't fit in the spark plug well in whatever it was. At any rate, after that I discovered KTC and Ko-ken Zeal spark plug sockets and never looked back.

 

[Farmall450]

My understanding is that with spark plugs, there is no actual 9/16" size socket. They are all 14mm, whether marked 14mm or 9/16". The same goes for the spark plugs themselves, which often have dual SAE/metric markings.

This seems to be the case. Note they're never very "tight" in the socket.

 

[qqzj]

Thanks a lot for the history lesson. This is something I cannot pick up elsewhere.

So you mean the wheels with size 18X 8 is really made with mm sizes? I am glad that I asked.

Spark plugs have been primarily metric since the 1930s although there are limited examples of continued use of a pipe thread. Early spark plug manufacturing was dominated by Europe, specifically France. Its just one of those odd things along with wheel sizing and roller bearings which are also metric and are merely converted over to the closest inch measurement for the US market.

The socket sizing has remained standard because the rest of the vehicle was manufactured with it. You weren't going to market an 18mm or 21mm spark plug socket in the 40s, 50s, 60s etc... when nothing else on the vehicle needed it.

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[theoldwizard1]

It got the South Main Auto YouTube endorsement a short time ago !

 

[M6erfan]

Thanks a lot for the history lesson. This is something I cannot pick up elsewhere.

So you mean the wheels with size 18X 8 is really made with mm sizes? I am glad that I asked.

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Actually it's tire sizing. Wheel size (Diameter/width) is in inches*. But a 235/60, for example, tire is metric (235mm by 60% aspect ratio).

*TRX is an exception (My 1988 BMW M6 uses TRX sized wheels/tires)...

"The TRX was made in three wheel diameters: 365 mm (14.37″), 390 mm (15.35″) and 415 mm (16.3386″). They generally replaced 70-series tires more than one inch smaller in diameter. In the case of the Mustang and Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, their 220/55 390 TRXs replaced the standard 205/70 R14 tires. That was a big jump in diameter size and aspect ratio, but the TRXs did the job admirably, in terms of no noticeable reduction in ride harshness.

TRX tires were used by a number of European manufacturers, including BMW, Audi, Citroen, Peugeot, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Renault , Saab and possibly others. Ford of course, adopted them not only in Europe, but made a major push with them in the US, during the late seventies and early eighties."

 

[Eric29]

I see this for pricing:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBI2UN6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.tooloutfitters.com/magnetic-spark-plug-universal-extension-socket-set/

These look interesting and eventually I might pick up a set or ask for a set.
Honestly I have alot of the boot styles and only use them randomly. I have never used a magnetic kind so I wouldn't know what's better then what.
I mainly do spark plugs on lawnmowers and snowblowers when checking them.
My cars and truck use all different sizes of spark plugs and sockets. So a set like this would be handy to have around.
What would the price point on these be?

 

[Fedwrench]

Not to derail the thread but, since the 2020 SEMA show is not happening, ASTRO needs to present its new products for 2021 here.

I know this can be a rough crowd but, there are many devoted Astro tool users in these pages.

 

[Benito]

Just picked up a set for $54 shipped, been needing a set with 13/16"

 

[KnurledNut]

Same manufacturer as Ares?

 

[WillRead]

Bought a set earlier in the week should be here Tuesday. Looks like a really nice set and I've liked all my Astro stuff so far

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

These look interesting and eventually I might pick up a set or ask for a set.

Honestly I have alot of the boot styles and only use them randomly. I have never used a magnetic kind so I wouldn't know what's better then what.

I mainly do spark plugs on lawnmowers and snowblowers when checking them.

My cars and truck use all different sizes of spark plugs and sockets. So a set like this would be handy to have around.

What would the price point on these be?

If you do buy them be sure to get an 18mm to go with them because all the new mowers I have worked on have 18mm spark plugs and also a few of the newer cars do too


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[Benito]

I see this for pricing:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBI2UN6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.tooloutfitters.com/magnetic-spark-plug-universal-extension-socket-set/

I see the price went down like $8 on Amazon as well already