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1/4 Locking Wobble Extensions

Zewnten

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Jun 11, 2017
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Does this unicorn exist? Especially in longer lengths. Always seems like I need to reach a hose clamp or other little fiddly thing through a maze of an engine bay.

Now before everyone says use a universal joint or socket I need something a bit more solid, especially when putting it all back together, to get the threads started, line parts up etc.
 
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Tools4Me

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Jun 22, 2021
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If I'm interpreting the OP correctly, he is looking for a locking wobble extension. As in, it "physically holds the socket and prevents it from falling off the extension when used in tight areas", not just a wobble or wobble plus extension which have a simple spring ball retention mechanism.

They probably don't exist as the type with a detent ball and a ring you move back and forth or a button you push to lock or release the socket. That style requires a notch along the side or a bore through the center of the square drive (for the locking mechanism). That likely can't be done on a wobble end, because the square drive end is already thinned out and weakened by the wobble shape and can't handle having even more metal removed.

If one exists at all, it would probably have to be a pin lock style wobble, for use only with impact sockets or chrome sockets that have a hole through the side of the female square drive end for the pin lock to engage and be released from.

I made a couple wobble extensions myself, back when they were first introduced, were hard to find, and still quite expensive. I filed dual bevels onto each side of the male square drive end of regular extensions with a diamond file until I had about 8-10 degrees of socket angle capability. They did the job quite well until I eventually found good deals on the actual wobble extensions I have now.

If someone wants to do the same, ideally look for something like a long bare steel (Apex, etc) or black oxide coated impact extension with a pin lock male square end. That way there's no chrome peeling or chipping issues to worry about after you make the modification. With around 20 minutes of careful DIY work you could have yourself a nice 1/4" drive long pin lock tip extension for use in tight areas.

Here's a couple pics I found showing one of my original DIY wobble extensions, right after I finished making it. The third image shows a pin lock end, for people who might not know what one is. There is a pin instead of a detent ball, and it pushes in and springs back and locks itself into the hole in the side of a socket's female square drive. You then use a small tool (like a pin punch) to reach into the socket hole, push the pin in again, and release the socket when you are finished working.
 

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mr.lemons

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Snap on makes them in 3/8" but not 1/4" :confused:


fghfghfgh.jpg

Similar to the post above, I've filed 1/4" (non locking) wobble extensions to make them more wobbly, and to remove the 'plus' feature as it's mostly annoying. Maybe worth having a go at filing a cheap locking extension. :dunno: Would be interested to know if it works, or if the extension would no longer hold a socket securely.
 
OP
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Zewnten

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Tools4Me: you have the right of it, I'm tired of the sockets falling off the end while snaking it through and out of the tight spaces. Also tired of tape not sticking to oily sockets or having to clean residue off when done.

My back up plan was to file my own from pin locking extensions. Now I need to find a set of those. Any suggestions?
 

toolenthusiast

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Jan 21, 2017
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Tools4Me: you have the right of it, I'm tired of the sockets falling off the end while snaking it through and out of the tight spaces. Also tired of tape not sticking to oily sockets or having to clean residue off when done.

My back up plan was to file my own from pin locking extensions. Now I need to find a set of those. Any suggestions?
I can’t remember the last time I had a socket fall off an extensions. Make sure the little spring-loaded ball in the extension is free, and add light oil if necessary. Make sure you aren’t using any worn or low-quality sockets. You should be fine.
 

KnurledNut

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There is a pin instead of a detent ball, and it pushes in and springs back and locks itself into the hole in the side of a socket's female square drive.

How is the socket gonna wobble if its pinned?
:unsure:
And on the opposite side of the pin is a plug that holds the pin and spring in place. I dont know how much you could grind that before compromising it.
 
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Tools4Me

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How is the socket gonna wobble if its pinned?
:unsure:
And on the opposite side of the pin is a plug that holds the pin and spring in place. I dont know how much you could grind that before compromising it.
On all mine, the male pin is noticeably smaller in diameter than the corresponding hole in my sockets, so there's quite a bit of wobble/play allowed by design. You do make a good point about the plug on the reverse side, I didn't think to mention that in my original post. The reverse side plug is an older way of installing the pin and spring. Apex and other brands like Williams used to make all their bare steel extensions with a plug. I have quite a few. I don't know if anybody does it that way anymore, but there are many extensions of that style available on the used market, so try to avoid them because they probably wouldn't work well for making a DIY wobble tip. That being said, all my newer Apex stuff has a regular square drive end where the metal around the pin lock is pressed to hold everything in and no secondary plug exists. I also have a bunch of recently made Proto pin lock extensions that are made the same way without a plug on the back side.

I'm not super familiar with brands, availability, and part numbers for 1/4" drive pin lock socket extensions, because I mainly use them in 3/8" and 1/2" drive only. In 1/4" drive I mostly own and use 1/4" hex power drive extensions/adapters instead, because I'm usually attaching them to a handle for use like a screwdriver or attaching them to my 1/4" hex impact driver. When I rarely need to attach my hex power drive extensions to a 1/4" ratchet, I use a Snap-on TMC109A adapter.

I mainly use Apex EX-250-... series and Proto J613... series in 1/4" drive. If the OP wants a true 1/4" ratchet extension with a pin lock, he should look into the Apex EX-255-... series extensions. If he can visually see that the male square drive end has no plug opposte the pin lock, or if they were recently produced, they should be plug free and work well for the wobble modification.

Here are a couple helpful links to get people started with finding part numbers for square drive and power drive pin lock extensions without chrome plating on them.

Zoro has some of the best prices out there on the Proto stuff. For Apex you pretty much have to find it on Ebay to get good prices. That's how I've accumulated 90% of my Apex tools. Everywhere else is usually quite expensive or there are order quantity minimums.

I'm sure there are probably other manufacturers out there that make 1/4" pin lock impact extensions, but I don't know what those brands are off-hand. Maybe someone else will be able to add more brand options to the mix.
 
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warrlong

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Apr 3, 2023
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Does this unicorn exist? Especially in longer lengths. Always seems like I need to reach a hose clamp or other little fiddly thing through a maze of an engine bay.

Now before everyone says use a universal joint or socket I need something a bit more solid, especially when putting it all back together, to get the threads started, line parts up etc.
Snapon just released these. I was looking for the same thing in October of 2023, which is a locking 1/4" drive wobble extension set. I saw a related thread listed at the bottom of the page under yours, which I landed on first. Hope you found out about these already, and if not, here you go.

By the way, me too, I absolutely hate when sockets fall off, especially in a tight space where dropping something will take a lot of effort to retrieve.

I wanted a solution that would hold the nut/bolt/fastener in the socket securely, and then securely unto the extension and then the driving ratchet.

Here is my solution, that these locking 1/4" wobble extensions, have just become the final missing piece to.
I will be using Koken Nut grip sockets (https://kokenusa.com/pages/search-results?q=koken+nut+grip+1/4) to hold the fastener, then these locking wobble extensions (https://shop.snapon.com/product/Ext...-Drive-Locking-Wobble-Extension-Set/103TMXWKL) then a locking Snap-on 1/4" driver (part number SGTL4BR) (https://shop.snapon.com/product/Han...-8-1/8"-Locking-Instinct-Driver-(Red)/SGTL4BR)

So happy to have a complete workable solution, and just happy to share. Happy tool hunting! God bless!
 

bonneyman

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I haven't seen a locking 1/4 drive wobble extension but, would a locking universal joint work in your application?
Dang, when I was working I could have worn these babies out! :love:
 

JradM

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Sep 4, 2019
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Alberta
M6erfan and Fedwrench beat me to my first two ideas, so I'll mention a third - there are also "driveline" sockets that are like extensions and swivel sockets combined. E.g.:

1698248300697.jpeg

I actually think their ideas of a locking extension with a swivel socket or a locking universal joint are better than mine, but this is yet another way to make a locking wobble redundant - especially if you want to use them with an impact.
 
OP
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Zewnten

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Jun 11, 2017
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I took @Tools4Me advise and modified some apex bits for my needs but the Snap On set looks a lot easier with oily hands. Appreciate the heads up @warrlong.

I haven't seen a locking 1/4 drive wobble extension but, would a locking universal joint work in your application?
Universal joints and sockets have to much play for me to line things up using the socket extension combo, think forcing a hose clamp into position way deep down in an engine bay where you can barely get the extension through let alone you hand to hold it still.
 

fishmanstan

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Nov 19, 2020
Messages
7
Location
Michigan
I've been using the regular Snap-On 1/4 locking extensions for 15+ years and they've always been my go to extensions. I've been waiting for the locking wobbles for a long time after seeing my buddy's 3/8 version a while back.

Well, I finally got the Snap-On 1/4 locking wobbles and they barely wobble with my 15+ year old Snap-On sockets. I can't say if they work better with newer SO sockets, as I don't have any newer SO sockets to try it with.

However, the color coded Wera 1/4 sockets lock on tight and have lots of wobble. My coworker has 1/4 Tekton sockets and I'll try those next.
 

warrlong

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Apr 3, 2023
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I took @Tools4Me advise and modified some apex bits for my needs but the Snap On set looks a lot easier with oily hands. Appreciate the heads up @warrlong.


Universal joints and sockets have to much play for me to line things up using the socket extension combo, think forcing a hose clamp into position way deep down in an engine bay where you can barely get the extension through let alone you hand to hold it still.

No problem 👍
 

JRPAviator

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Apr 23, 2021
Messages
69
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Georgia
I’m confused. Maybe I missed it and didn’t read thoroughly. Snap on does make these. Last time I checked (a while ago) they were not on the website. They do exist. Plan to spend $225+/-.IMG_5209.jpeg
 

fishmanstan

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Nov 19, 2020
Messages
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Location
Michigan
I’m confused. Maybe I missed it and didn’t read thoroughly. Snap on does make these. Last time I checked (a while ago) they were not on the website. They do exist. Plan to spend $225+/-.IMG_5209.jpeg
I ordered these directly from the website. They do exist but they don't wobble very welll with my older SO sockets.

They work great with my Wera 1/4 sockets though.
 
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