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3/4" drive sockets

Lead-Core

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Layout boat kill'n ducks in wisconsin!
been looking at the forums for awhile but just now joined! woo hoo! i just graduated from tech school for auto maintence tech and have been working at a local ford dealer for just over a year now. i am thinking of going back to school in the futore 2014 for OTR/AG diesle tech being that is what i have been interested in for the last 3+ years. i am wondering- what are the fasteners on that sort of equipment? mm or sae and up to what size? 6 or 12pt? impact and chrome or just one? can any diesel techs put in on this to help me out on what is really needed instead of spending bank on sockets and only really needed one or the other set(s). thanks!
 
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bob15

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When I worked on farm equipment, I didn't use the 3/4" drive set much. That being said, my set is SAE chrome with a couple impact sockets (those I used quite a bit). Look for a US made used set. My set is mainly Bonney & older chrome OTC sockets, with a few Snap-Ons thrown in. I would definitely buy the Snap-On ratchet head, breaker bar head and the 18 & 36" bars(even if used).

I really used 3/8 & 1/2 drive sockets the most, followed by 1/4" and lastly the 3/4" set.

bob
 

thightower

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I've been out of the diesel business for about 5 years. I have done trucks and heavy equipment. Most of the stuff that needed 3/4 drive was SAE, mostly 6 point. There were a few 12 point, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, mostly head bolts and rods and mains. I would probably look at chrome sockets, 3/4 drive chrome will take more torque than most people think. The 3/4 impact sockets can get expensive in a hurry. Most schools have tool list before you start class. Up to 2" should keep you out of trouble anyway.
 

Charles (in GA)

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I assembled a 3/4 drive set from flea market sockets (3/4 to 2" all 12 point chrome 18 sockets total, missing the 13/16" and 1-15/16")). I have never paid over $5 for a single socket and usually $2 to $4, all are USA made except for one Taiwan made Williams socket. Extensions were also flea market for about a dollar an inch, 3", 8" and 15", all old USA brands. Have three different ratchets that I didn't pay a lot for either, a pebble handle Proto ($10) I had to install a kit in, a old Bonney in decent condition ($20), and a brand new Blackhawk (probably Taiwan) very small round head, for $40.

In the process of acquiring these sockets, I have almost built another set, which I will eventually sell to someone at work.

Sears had some kind of stupid almost give away prices on 3/4 drive sets earlier this year, so keep an eye out there also and on their web site. Their 3/4 drive sockets are pretty good stuff.

Charles
 
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Hammell

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Newer stuff is MM, or any equipment from overseas (Japan made Cat). Old stuff like our Cat D8k is Sae, nice to have both sets. And buy whatever impacts you need as you go, ie for track bolts, undercarrage work. Depends what your going to work on. Ive gotten into Wright tools, their great.
 

sk farmer

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you "will" need 3/4. you may not need it every day, but you will need it. i have a pretty good assortment of chrome sae and metic and sae impact sockets in 3/4 drive. some sizes you will never need and some you will use all of the time but you won't know wich til you find out what you work on.
 

4x4gearhead

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Equipement will have a number of different sae and mm fasteners generally. In most cases your sae 3/4 set will get you through it all, the nuts and bolts are so big it doesnt really matter that the size isnt exact. This can sometimes be untrue but in most cases it is.
 

fatfillup

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I like putting a set together thru the flea market route if you have time and enjoy doing that. You will save a lot of money. Your set won't be matched, but your wallet won't be empty either. As you go, you will figure out the sizes that require top quality sockets and then I would buy individual Snappy, Wright, Proto or such.
 

plinker

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I know a lot of the newer New holland & John Deere stuff is metric, I imagine most everything else is as well.

If your looking for 3/4 drive impact sockets Sunex probably has a set. 12pt chrome & 6pt impact are the common styles available.

I would get angle wrenches too. They like to put fuel/hydraulic lines in funny place's.
 

mvptrukin

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I am going to offer a slightly contrarian viewpoint--unless the Diesel school requires it I would buy zero 3/4" drive hand/chrome sockets. Just buy 3/4" drive impact sockets, a good hand ratchet, breaker/bull bar and the best 3/4" impact wrench you can afford! Also bring your 1/2" drive sockets up to 1 1/4"/ 32mm range. As an example--a 1" Grade 5 SAE bolt has a hex size of 1 1/2" with a dry torque in the range of ~~500 to 600 ftlbs. Your not going to break those loose all day by hand--plus using dimensions from Snap-on a 3/4" drive 1 1/2" chrome socket has a 2 1/8" diameter on the fastener side vs. 2 1/4" for an impact socket---never run into situations with fasteners that large where 1/8" additional clearance is an issue.
 

chris142

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Often the bolts on equipment are not any bigger than on a regular car. There's just more of them. A car may have 6 bolts that bolt the bell housing to the engine and a tractor may have 20.
 

AZ_Catskinner

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On Cat stuff, beyond around 19mm diameter, they are usually SAE. I don't think I've ever seen bigger than a 36mm metric on Cats from 797's on down.
 

ken w.

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I also put together my 3/4 drive sockets from flea markets,estate sales and used tool dealers.Pawn shops sometimes have some too.I have found that there is usually the same select sockets that are used most of the time.
 

bobcatdan

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From my experince, owning 3/4" was completely optional. The Deere dealer I worked at supplied everything large. I slowly put together a 3/4" set made up of sunnex impacts, cornwell ratchet, matco breaker bar and allen extensions. I was one of three guys out of 15 that owned 3/4" stuff. I'm at bobcat now and the need for 3/4" is there, but rare. My shop that doesn't supply **** for tools still has a shop 3/4" set. I would wait until you have job and see what you need then.
 
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Lead-Core

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Layout boat kill'n ducks in wisconsin!
Thanks for all the replys!! Helps a ton hearing what is really used in industry. And was looking at craftsman sets online. Also most tech schools in Wisconsin are partnered with snap-on so buying tools is not needed juat pay rental fee for semester and when graduate you get a new set of tools and box so money is really put aside and used for that! Just a bit of topic lol
 
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crewchief888

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i bought my 3/4" dr sockets as i needed them.
some 12pt chrome,
some 12pt impact,
some 6pt impact
even a 6pt deep chrome tossed in :thumbup:

as mentioned, expand your 1/2" dr sockets up to 1 1/2"

3/4" dr rachets and impacts get heavy, and many times wont fit where you need them to fit. :bounce:

get yourself a torque multiplier 1/2" dr input 3/4" dr output

allen has some reasonably priced (approx $200) 3/4" dr sets, friend of mine picked one up at a pawn shop brand new for $50

:beer:
 

bustdknuckle

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Colorado
I currently work for a Freightliner dealer and I believe that chrome sockets would be fine. If you get a SAE set you would be good. Its mostly the littler trucks that have metric 12 point bolts. I went to Northern Tool and got the SAE set with the add on up to 2-1/2" most the time they get used for seals or a adapter for fuel filters. I would definitely get the snapon head and bar if you get the bar and head used be sure to get the "new" style cause they changed the diameter of the bar and it the bar or head breaks then the snappy guy will cut you a deal on a new on
 

tyheuser

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Not necessary but a good investment I have a set and im in the auto industry I use them on axle nuts and pitman arms occasionally but I use them with a deadblow for driving seals more then anything they work great on any kind of seal around a shaft such as a cam seal, crank seal, output shaft etc.
 

R W

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Nov 10, 2012
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Australia
Have owned a set for over 30 years and wouldn't be without them, as stated they may not be used every day but when they are needed they are needed.
I built my set up by buying one or two at at time as needed
 

Shocker

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Olympia, WA
I have a mixture of SK, Bonney, and Craftsman 3/4 in SAE and a full set of Armstrong metric. A Bonney and SK ratchets and extensions. Comes in handy at times. I am looking for a decent breaker.
 
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Lead-Core

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Layout boat kill'n ducks in wisconsin!
been looking at socket sets and snap-on is way to expensive for me $2k for shallow mm and sae impacts. sunnex dont list prices but i no there other tools are pretty decent for price and c-man is decent on price to. i didnt read it or i missed it but is shallow and deep needed or one or the other? been reading alot of sae when it gets past say 24mm, so a 3/4 mm set not really needed??

also i read i should get my 1/2 up to 32mm. i have up to 27mm, do i need 28-32 in a full series or can i skip some that arnt used at all, since 30+ per socket adds up fast for deep and shallow.

sorry for so many questions, regarding angled wrenches is both mm and sae needed or one over the other? also sizes needed?
 

bob15

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Why buy new? You can get good prices (even on Snap On stuff) used. Look at: pawn stores, swap meets, craigslist, e-bay, GJ classifieds, etc.

Also look for SK & Wright if buying new, though angle wrenches would be Snappy only. Maybe look around at used stuff, and also wait and see what you will really need. Kinda pointless to buy tools you're never going to use, whether its Snap On or Joe Blow's Socket Company located in Fairyland, China.

bob
 

crewchief888

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been looking at socket sets and snap-on is way to expensive for me $2k for shallow mm and sae impacts. sunnex dont list prices but i no there other tools are pretty decent for price and c-man is decent on price to. i didnt read it or i missed it but is shallow and deep needed or one or the other? been reading alot of sae when it gets past say 24mm, so a 3/4 mm set not really needed??

also i read i should get my 1/2 up to 32mm. i have up to 27mm, do i need 28-32 in a full series or can i skip some that arnt used at all, since 30+ per socket adds up fast for deep and shallow.

sorry for so many questions, regarding angled wrenches is both mm and sae needed or one over the other? also sizes needed?

we have a set of CM chrome, shallow, 12pt sockets at the shop, they seem to be holding up to the abuse.
i normally grab a deep socket, when i need a socket, in 1/2" dr it's usally an impact, i have select sizes in chrome 12 pt

from my experience, used angle head wrenches are hard to come by, especially anything larger than 3/4".
ive only ever needed 2 metric angle heads, 12mm & 17mm, both for fuel injection lines.
i'd suggest you get your angle heads as needed, buying a full set may be a huge waste of cash, if all you use is a couple sizes.

trying to buy every tool you think you'll ever need all at once will empty your wallet quick, and you may need other tools that you cant afford.

i've been buying my tools since '76, and have been a paid wrench since '84, and still run across things that make a job go easier and faster....


:beer:
 

Murphy4570

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Why buy new? You can get good prices (even on Snap On stuff) used. Look at: pawn stores, swap meets, craigslist, e-bay, GJ classifieds, etc.

Also look for SK & Wright if buying new, though angle wrenches would be Snappy only. Maybe look around at used stuff, and also wait and see what you will really need. Kinda pointless to buy tools you're never going to use, whether its Snap On or Joe Blow's Socket Company located in Fairyland, China.

bob


FYI, the big Snap-On set of 3/4" sockets goes for about $3,400 new.

So if you think getting it for $1,500-2,000 used on CL is a "good" price, have at it! :lol_hitti

I love Snappy stuff, but even I can't justify that. That's shop tool pricing.
 

bob15

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FYI, the big Snap-On set of 3/4" sockets goes for about $3,400 new.

So if you think getting it for $1,500-2,000 used on CL is a "good" price, have at it! :lol_hitti

I love Snappy stuff, but even I can't justify that. That's shop tool pricing.

You haven't looked on e-bay then.......

auction

# 221166998719 SO $500 bin: $700
# 170920286039 Williams $ 590
# 130817505438 proto $650
# 230901142514 SO $880
# 160831659697 Wright $ 490
# 271122925417 Wright BIN $190

there is another Williams set for $202, NOT US made.

the Wright set looks like a helluva deal!!

Like I mentioned in my first post, most of my 3/4" set is Bonney and chrome OTC.

bob
 

Murphy4570

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You haven't looked on e-bay then.......

auction

# 221166998719 SO $500 bin: $700
# 170920286039 Williams $ 590
# 130817505438 proto $650
# 230901142514 SO $880
# 160831659697 Wright $ 490
# 271122925417 Wright BIN $190

there is another Williams set for $202, NOT US made.

the Wright set looks like a helluva deal!!

Like I mentioned in my first post, most of my 3/4" set is Bonney and chrome OTC.

bob

That's the small set. Goes for $1,200 new, so $500 is a good deal.

Here's the big set:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=632647&group_ID=674948
 

Exceller8

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Banning, CA
I picked up a really nice Craftsman =V= 3/4" set today for $125 on CL. I didn't even haggle when I saw it was a =V= set. :rocker:

Pictures soon... :D
 

Black89LX

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Jul 23, 2010
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Wisconsin
Graduated from diesel school last spring. Before leaving I took advantage of the student program that Snap-on offers and purchased a 3/4" drive impact socket set along with the metric sockets individually. Cant say I use them daily, I can say that I have a tool problem. Only buy specialty impact sockets now as I bought all of my impact sockets through the Snap-on student program. Sure it was expensive, I think that it was worth it. I dont have to worry about my tools breaking from regular use and everything is paid for. I take a lot of pride in my tools and box.

418IM 18pc set 1-1/4 - 2-3/8" $500.91
17pc 25-50mm $341.77

<a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/pb260119.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://imageshack.us/scaled/large/703/pb260119.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" border="0"/></a>
 
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e-tek

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Sears had some kind of stupid almost give away prices on 3/4 drive sets earlier this year, so keep an eye out there also and on their web site. Their 3/4 drive sockets are pretty good stuff.

Charles

Do you think those cheap SEARS items was part of the "professional Series" sell off? Now everything is standard series, made in China.

Thanks for all the replys!! Helps a ton hearing what is really used in industry. And was looking at craftsman sets online. Al

You got some great advice here. There a re a lot of tool brands out there, but - as much as I hate to say it - new Craftsman stuff is dead to me - see above.
 

Black89LX

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Wisconsin
In response to your original question of what size fasteners are on over the road diesels... you will be fine with a 1/2" impact socket set up to 1-1/4" and 24mm. you start seeing the large fasteners when going into the driveline, 2-1/4" pinion nuts, 2-3/4" output shaft nuts, 3-7/8" wheel end nuts... suspension components also use large fasteners, mostly provided by the shop. 1-7/8" for Mack u-bolt nuts on their camelback suspension. Neway rear suspensions also use large fasteners, 3-1/2" nuts retaining the air spring bracket. cummins has large fittings on their engines so wrenches up to 1-5/8 is needed. Mercedes fuel and oil filter caps are 36mm, a chrome socket is all you need. lug nuts are 33mm along with the larger tie rod ends and drag links, otherwise 30mm is the normal size for tie rod and drag links.
 
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