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27mm shallow 12 point 3/8 socket

KomatsuTech

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Hey everybody, as the title says I'm looking for a 3/8" drive 12 point 27mm socket. Snap-On has one a FM27 for $35. Does anyone know another source to get one for. Google hasn't been much help for me.

I just need it for a specific low torque situation, changing DEF pump filters. It doesn't need to be Snap-On quality just to get DEF on it and to be rinsed off with water.

I'm currently using 1/2" drive but am having issues with space to access in certain situations.
 
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KnurledNut

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kudakev615

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i honestly have no idea if another version of this socket exists. to me, $35 for a US made specialty socket sounds like a small price to pay for what your getting
 
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KomatsuTech

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I never gave crowsfeet a thought, yes they would work, thanks!
i honestly have no idea if another version of this socket exists. to me, $35 for a US made specialty socket sounds like a small price to pay for what your getting
That's what I was thinking too.

Wiha (Heyco) 60236 15 x 27mm 12 Point 3/8" Socket​


walmart website is what i linked llo
I looked at these before, I believe that's a 15mm socket that's 27mm long. I may be mistaken though.
@KomatsuTech
Is this what its for?

1672524609711.png
Yes, that's the cap on the filter housing.
 

tamaraw

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Koken, $31.56

OP needs a 12pt socket. I looked through the Ko-ken catalog earlier but I didn't see anything that was a direct match
Closest was the 3305M-27 but that's a deep socket.
 

Kasal

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bwringer

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@KomatsuTech
Is this what its for?

1672524609711.png

This is a truly impressive example of the lengths design engineers will go to in order to screw over owners and techs. Maybe there's some reason to make this out of plastic, but there's no conceivable engineering, human factor, aesthetic, spiritual, or political reason to make that 12 point instead of a hex.

It's just plain mean for the sake of meanness.
 

Sumboodie

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27mm is an odd size. 1 1/16" will be much easier to find. Does it need to be metric?
 

KnurledNut

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@KomatsuTech
Whats the service interval on these?
Im assuming your doing off-highway equipment? Every 3,000 hours/yearly?
On-highway commercial/recreational: 100,000mi./3 years?
 

KnurledNut

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This is a truly impressive example of the lengths design engineers will go to in order to screw over owners and techs. Maybe there's some reason to make this out of plastic, but there's no conceivable engineering, human factor, aesthetic, spiritual, or political reason to make that 12 point instead of a hex.

It's just plain mean for the sake of meanness.
Maybe provides a little more torque for stubborn caps?
 

p00p

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OP
K

KomatsuTech

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This is a truly impressive example of the lengths design engineers will go to in order to screw over owners and techs. Maybe there's some reason to make this out of plastic, but there's no conceivable engineering, human factor, aesthetic, spiritual, or political reason to make that 12 point instead of a hex.

It's just plain mean for the sake of meanness.
It has to be plastic or stainless because DEF is highly corrosive.
27mm is an odd size. 1 1/16" will be much easier to find. Does it need to be metric?
No, 1-1/16" would work. I'm not sure why I'm stuck on the 27mm...
@KomatsuTech
Whats the service interval on these?
Im assuming your doing off-highway equipment? Every 3,000 hours/yearly?
On-highway commercial/recreational: 100,000mi./3 years?
Off-gighway equipment with the occasional service truck service. The equipment calls for a change every 2,000 hours. They also get changed as needed, for example DEF pump failure, contaminated DEF, etc.
 

Sumboodie

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It has to be plastic or stainless because DEF is highly corrosive.

No, 1-1/16" would work. I'm not sure why I'm stuck on the 27mm...

Off-gighway equipment with the occasional service truck service. The equipment calls for a change every 2,000 hours. They also get changed as needed, for example DEF pump failure, contaminated DEF, etc.
I didn't realize there was a such thing as DEF filters.

Only been the last 2-3 years I've had to even run something that took the stuff. I prefer to grab the pre-DEF equipment. Seems like it's a constant headache with that stuff.

Other night the loader I.was using decided to STAY reved up to do something with the DPF.
Was high enough to be almost pushing through the brakes and causing some nassty banging between forward and reverse.
 

Tools4Me

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This is a truly impressive example of the lengths design engineers will go to in order to screw over owners and techs. Maybe there's some reason to make this out of plastic, but there's no conceivable engineering, human factor, aesthetic, spiritual, or political reason to make that 12 point instead of a hex.

It's just plain mean for the sake of meanness.
If I had to guess, I would say it was done that way purposefully, to force people to use a 12pt socket or a 12pt box wrench for removal. If it was designed as a hex, people in a pinch might have tried to remove the housing using an open ended wrench or an adjustable wrench. Since the housing is plastic, it probably can't handle tools that apply all their force to only two corners of a hex.
 

bwringer

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If I had to guess, I would say it was done that way purposefully, to force people to use a 12pt socket or a 12pt box wrench for removal. If it was designed as a hex, people in a pinch might have tried to remove the housing using an open ended wrench or an adjustable wrench. Since the housing is plastic, it probably can't handle tools that apply all their force to only two corners of a hex.
Right, I'm sure there's a reason, maybe more than one. But here in the real world, it's not a good reason. We all know that the doof who rounds off a plastic hex with an adjustable wrench is going to immediately grab a large pair of channel-lock pliers... plenty of cars have very similar plastic oil filter housings, and unless you DIY from new or supervise closely with a cattle prod, they all end up chowdered or broken.

Another reason, or excuse, might be that a six-point hex would enable or perhaps even encourage the use of impact tools. Yes, there really are morons out there, lots of them, who would ugga-dugga this without a second thought (although it sounds like there's no endwise access in the OP's application). Maybe the 12 point is a way of slowing down the ugga-dugga-ites, just a little?

Personally, I would have designed the part without a "nut" at all, so it can be handled like any oil, fuel, or water filter. At least the OP now has a couple of possible actual answers to the question!
 
OP
K

KomatsuTech

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Thanks for all of the replies! I think my simplest solution is going to be to get the Snap-On socket. I am going to get one of the crowsfeet mentioned earlier too.
 
OP
K

KomatsuTech

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I didn't realize there was a such thing as DEF filters.

Only been the last 2-3 years I've had to even run something that took the stuff. I prefer to grab the pre-DEF equipment. Seems like it's a constant headache with that stuff.

Other night the loader I.was using decided to STAY reved up to do something with the DPF.
Was high enough to be almost pushing through the brakes and causing some nassty banging between forward and reverse.
Yeah they are there to help protect the pump from any debris entering the tank. Depends on the brand loader/engine, but if it was really cold out it could have been trying to keep higher temperatures in the exhaust system. It could have been doing an active regeneration too. Either way it really shouldn't have been pushing through the brakes or banging forward or reverse.
How about a low profile adapter?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0021UGAL0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have an old set made by Starr Products. I have used them to put a 27mm socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet to fit the nut on a VW oil cooler.
I have a set, just trying to simplify things with less parts so to speak.
If I had to guess, I would say it was done that way purposefully, to force people to use a 12pt socket or a 12pt box wrench for removal. If it was designed as a hex, people in a pinch might have tried to remove the housing using an open ended wrench or an adjustable wrench. Since the housing is plastic, it probably can't handle tools that apply all their force to only two corners of a hex.
That's very possible.
Right, I'm sure there's a reason, maybe more than one. But here in the real world, it's not a good reason. We all know that the doof who rounds off a plastic hex with an adjustable wrench is going to immediately grab a large pair of channel-lock pliers... plenty of cars have very similar plastic oil filter housings, and unless you DIY from new or supervise closely with a cattle prod, they all end up chowdered or broken.

Another reason, or excuse, might be that a six-point hex would enable or perhaps even encourage the use of impact tools. Yes, there really are morons out there, lots of them, who would ugga-dugga this without a second thought (although it sounds like there's no endwise access in the OP's application). Maybe the 12 point is a way of slowing down the ugga-dugga-ites, just a little?

Personally, I would have designed the part without a "nut" at all, so it can be handled like any oil, fuel, or water filter. At least the OP now has a couple of possible actual answers to the question!
I believe it is for better engagement with the cap, but that's my opinion. It's a very simple set up all things considered.

If you would go overboard if you used anything else you would cause unnecessary damage and more downtime so you may be onto something with the theory of slowing people down.
 

Radio Flyer

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It has to be plastic or stainless because DEF is highly corrosive.

No, 1-1/16" would work. I'm not sure why I'm stuck on the 27mm...

Off-gighway equipment with the occasional service truck service. The equipment calls for a change every 2,000 hours. They also get changed as needed, for example DEF pump failure, contaminated DEF, etc.

I giggled when I saw that!

Several industries crippled over this mess.
 

Sumboodie

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I giggled when I saw that!

Several industries crippled over this mess.
This spring DEF was getting hard for us to get.
About was getting bribes from the shops to put them higher on the cue when we had anything come in.
One shop uses roughly 600-700 gallons a month.

We have 5 or 6 new dump trucks at my other job that use the DEF. Been nothing but headaches with them. Constantly have to let them regen, so that's 1/2hr-hr of wasted time.
Several have spent at least a couple weeks at the dealer for issues dealing with emissions.

I don't see this newer stuff lasting 50+ years like old iron.
 
Last edited:
OP
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KomatsuTech

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This spring DEF was getting hard for us to get.
About was getting bribes from the shops to put them higher on the cue when we had anything come in.
One shop uses roughly 600-700 gallons a month.

We have 5 or 6 new dump trucks at my other job that use the DEF. Been nothing but headaches with them. Constantly have to let them regen, so that's 1/2hr-hr of wasted time.
Several have spent at least a couple weeks at the dealer for issues dealing with emissions.

I don't see this newer stuff lasting 50+ years like old iron.
We haven't had trouble with getting the DEF itself, it's DEF related components. Even fuel filters and hydraulic fittings are scarce at times. Bucket teeth are like hens teeth finding. It's all messed up.
 
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