Snap-on friction ball fix (socket extension)

trebomb · Sep 21, 2012

I know it's not a high-dollar piece, but I got this 1956 extension and it's missing the friction ball to lock in the socket. Has anyone ever replaced these? SO shows no replacement parts available.

Octarine · Sep 21, 2012

Give it to your dealer and you'll get a shiny new one. That's a warranty replacement.

TwoInch · Sep 21, 2012

i think he wants to keep the vintage tool, and not get a new one.

cmandp · Sep 21, 2012

They are usually pressed in and are not supposed to come out, thus no replacement parts. I would just find a appropriately sized ball bearing and spring, then find or make a hollow punch to peen the metal over.

trebomb · Sep 21, 2012

Octarine said:
Give it to your dealer and you'll get a shiny new one. That's a warranty replacement.

I'm OK with a warranty replacement, but I don't buy much off the truck, and they might look at me sideways when a 30 yr old guy trades in a 56 yr old tool?

Bruce Lancaster · Sep 21, 2012

SO does have ball and spring sets for breaker bars and such...I think you could that stuff and improvise the back plug if you are determined to fixxit.

DARKSCOPE001 · Sep 21, 2012

they shouldn't trebomb. i work with a guy who traded in an ancient pair of snap on channellocks some guy from his last job gave him. they were beat to heck and back and rusty and most of the grips were torn away. snappy man gave him a nice new pair

Snap-on is warrantied FOR LIFE if your dealer wants to give you hell about it then just call snap-on direct and have them ship you one. but yes cmandp has it right. those are pressed in. the hole is smaller than the ball. and they press it in. the metal expands then contracts around the ball holding it in place during normal life.

also there is a tiny little spring in there that you would have to replace too. and im willing to bet if the ball fell out once the hole is so wallowed out and expanded its not going to hold another retainer ball.

Just hop on the snappy truck. say you want it warrantied and they should take care of you

mvptrukin · Sep 21, 2012

If you go to the SO website and click on the parts catalog--then square drive tools--then extensions there are some friction balls and the correct spring available--you might not find it under every extension or your particular extension. $1.00 for each item.

Snapped-off · Sep 21, 2012

DARKSCOPE001 said:
Snap-on is warrantied FOR LIFE if your dealer wants to give you hell about it then just call snap-on direct and have them ship you one. but yes cmandp has it right. those are pressed in. the hole is smaller than the ball. and they press it in. the metal expands then contracts around the ball holding it in place during normal life.

Snap-on is warrantied for the life of the tool to the original owner. It's dealer discretion whether they warranty tools such as in this case. Most do, some don't.

William Payne · Sep 22, 2012

I am not being rude this is a genuine question but can someone point me in the direction of where it states that snap-on is warrentied for life. I happily buy from snap-on yet have never seen that stated anywhere.

Snapped-off · Sep 22, 2012

William Payne said:
I am not being rude this is a genuine question but can someone point me in the direction of where it states that snap-on is warrentied for life. I happily buy from snap-on yet have never seen that stated anywhere.

I don't think I have actually seen it advertised as "for life", but when I say it, it is more of a generalization. Most hardline tools will be warrantied for the life of the tool if it breaks.

Snap-on warrants to Customers who purchase Product from authorized Snap-on distribution channels for use in their profession that Snap-on® brand Products and Blue-Point® brand Products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a duration described in each Product's warranty code. The warranty duration depends upon the nature of the Product. If the Product information for purchased Product does not include a warranty statement with the applicable duration or prior to a Product purchase, Customer can obtain the Product warranty code and warranty duration from a selling Snap-on dealer or representative or by writing Snap-on

This warranty only extends to the original Customer and cannot be transferred or assigned.

Probably not exactly what you were looking for, but sort of sums it up. Majority of dealers will warranty a broken/worn tool regardless of above if you are a paying customer, some even if you're not a customer.

William Payne · Sep 23, 2012

Thanks, thats all I had read regarding warrenty. I just thought I would ask as it gets thrown around alot on here about snap-on and "lifetime warrenty" yet I have never seem them state that in those terms.

Brad54 · Sep 23, 2012

William Payne said:
Thanks, thats all I had read regarding warrenty. I just thought I would ask as it gets thrown around alot on here about snap-on and "lifetime warrenty" yet I have never seem them state that in those terms.

Now, what I'd like to see is the wording of their warranty from back in the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, when now-old tools were bought.
Was a 1956 tool sold with a warranty for the lifetime of the tool, or was it sold with a warranty for the lifetime of the guy who bought it?

-Brad

trebomb · Sep 23, 2012

Thanks, guys. I think I'll mail it in and hope for the best.

Snap-on friction ball fix (socket extension)

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