8 point sockets

[sorcutt]

Does anyone know what 8 point sockets are used for?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Square nuts and bolts. drain plugs, pipe fittings, some structural fittings.

i have an unusual 8-point wrench, although it's an octagon as opposed to the "usual" 8-point sockets that are bi-square.

 

[speed bump]

I have never seen an 8 point fastener so I believe they are the 12 point equivelent for square nuts.

 

[billymade]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_8-point_Sockets_used_for

 

[plinker]

These are the only socket that will remove frozen in pipe plugs without rounding them off. If they get rounded you'll need a "bolt out" socket to remove them.

Some set screws also have a square head.

 

[george4]

I asked the same question last year, not a heavy use item.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9356&highlight=socket:beer:

 

[nissan_crawler]

They also work with taps in areas where a tap handle doesn't fit and you need a long extension to get to it.

 

[Dodgepu360]

band adjustment on mopar 727 transmissions

 

[dxdexter]

in a pinch you can also use them with a suitable size of solid square stock to make extra long socket extensions.

 

[Uncle Buck]

in a pinch you can also use them with a suitable size of solid square stock to make extra long socket extensions.

Great idea, I never thought about that one!

 

[chad s]

8 point sockets are to 4 pt sockets, what 12 pt are to 6 pt sockets. Has any company made 4 point sockets anytime recently (like the last 30 years)?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Snap on make 4-point sockets. (Pipe plug sockets.)

They also make some big ones for budd wheels or something. maybe 3/4" or 1" drive.

 

[wilbilt]

OCG's San Francisco photos include some 4-point fasteners in a cable car. Still useful and needed tools!

Photo #6:
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18780

 

[dxdexter]

8 point sockets are to 4 pt sockets, what 12 pt are to 6 pt sockets. Has any company made 4 point sockets anytime recently (like the last 30 years)?

Armstrong makes a few in 1" drive . http://www.armstrongtools.com/catalog/products.jsp?groupID=1493

I have a 7/8" - 1/2" drive 4 point but it was made more than 30 years ago.

 

[chad s]

Snap on make 4-point sockets. (Pipe plug sockets.)

I always thought a pipe plug socket was a make square end, like the socket on the left.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

OCG's San Francisco photos include some 4-point fasteners in a cable car. Still useful and needed tools!

Photo #6:
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18780

I believe they're still commonly used in railways. i know that over here tube train lines use them a lot.

 

[chad s]

I have a 7/8" - 1/2" drive 4 point but it was made more than 30 years ago.

Is it a Snap on?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I always thought a pipe plug socket was a make square end, like the socket on the left.

They make both internal and external pipe plug sockets.

 

[wilbilt]

Automotive plugs are usually an internal square, plumbing plugs generally are an external square.

 

[dxdexter]

They make both internal and external pipe plug sockets.

The drain plug on my lawn tractor is an external pipe plug.

 

[MarkH]

Lots of our older ag equipment when I started had square nuts on them. We do not use 8 pts much anymore, but at one time we had to have them all over.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I find it funny that Snap-on sells a 1/2" square external (male) drain plug socket for Cummins drain plugs.

they didn't think to just stick an extension in there?








i'll probably still buy one..

 

[krusty the clown]

I find it funny that Snap-on sells a 1/2" square external (male) drain plug socket for Cummins drain plugs.

they didn't think to just stick an extension in there?








i'll probably still buy one..

some pipe plugs are not deep enough for an extension to go in past where the hole is bored for the ball. i tried it once years ago, the plug was tight and the extension twisted off right at the detent.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have them to about an 1" and every now and then something comes up and I use one or another of them.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

some pipe plugs are not deep enough for an extension to go in past where the hole is bored for the ball. i tried it once years ago, the plug was tight and the extension twisted off right at the detent.

I did once come across that problem. it was the drain plug for an old Jaguar diff. it had a little surface rust and the extension didn't want to go in because of the ball.

The solution? i stuck the square drive of my IR 2135 impact gun in there. a little tap from a soft-faced dead-blow helped it in and i rattled it out gently. worked a treat.

 

[wilbilt]

I have one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vint...rench-G17_W0QQitemZ300229661003QQcmdZViewItem

 

[eschoendorff]

Snap on make 4-point sockets. (Pipe plug sockets.)

They also make some big ones for budd wheels or something. maybe 3/4" or 1" drive.

Yup... just bought a 6mm for teh lugs on drums (secure the hoop that holds the drum head on). the Snap On was pricey, but not as expensive as the POS made in China Ludwig ratcheting tool (that freezes up) made especially for the job.... what a load of ****.

 

[Merkava_4]

I've got a 3/8" 8pt. socket that's designated for removing Briggs & Stratton oil drain plugs, but I always grab a 12pt. 7/16" because I think it's more fun; is that freaking strange or what?

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

We only have a few 8 point sockets on the farm. We use them to quickly take off drain plugs on various pieces of ag equipment. For example, our fold up Bush Hog shredder has 3 gear boxes on it that drive all of the blades. Each box has the square drain plug for adding or draining fluid.

We could use an adjustable wrench, but the sockets are quicker.

 

[Abodyracer]

At one time I had locking lug nuts on one of my vehicles and I lost the key. A tch at a tire store hammered an 8 point socket onto the lug to remove it. A hammer and a punch drove the lug ourt of the socket after removal.

Lots of antique equipment used square fastners.

Craftsman still makes 8 point sockets. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/s_10153_12605_Tools_Mechanics+Tools_Sockets?keyword=sockets&filter=Brand%7CCraftsman&viewItems=20&pageNum=1&sortOption=ORIGINAL_SORT_ORDER#viewItems=20&pageNum=1&sortOption=ORIGINAL_SORT_ORDER&&filter=Brand|Craftsman^Contact+Points|8+point&lastFilter=Contact+Points

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I've got a 3/8" 8pt. socket that's designated for removing Briggs & Stratton oil drain plugs, but I always grab a 12pt. 7/16" because I think it's more fun; is that freaking strange or what?

That blows my mind.

I'm more one of those "right tool for the job" guys, i love to have all the special sockets for stuff. I always use them over other alternatives. I've spent this much on them, i'm gonna get my money's worth!

At one time I had locking lug nuts on one of my vehicles and I lost the key. A tch at a tire store hammered an 8 point socket onto the lug to remove it. A hammer and a punch drove the lug ourt of the socket after removal.

One of many tyre shop tricks to remove locking nuts. Usually, we just hammer on a 12-point because they're readily available and they do the job just as well. You can also "stretch" locking nuts/bolts to get them off. But i can't share all my secrets.

 

[Merkava_4]

That blows my mind.

12 divided by 4 = 3.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

12 divided by 4 = 3.

Wowza..

 

[Merkava_4]

Wowza..

Try a 12pt. 7/16" Flank Drive socket on a 3/8" square male pipe plug and you'd be amazed at how well it fits.

 

[wilbilt]

Try a 12pt. 7/16" Flank Drive socket on a 3/8" square male pipe plug and you'd be amazed at how well it fits.

But do you have anything to fit a 5-sided fire hydrant nut?

10-point socket, maybe?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I believe McMaster-Carr sells them.

I have a 5-point socket with 12.5mm flats for Bendix caliper carrier bolts.

 

[Merkava_4]

But do you have anything to fit a 5-sided fire hydrant nut?

10-point socket, maybe?

Or a 15pt. socket ...

 

[Uncle Buck]

But do you have anything to fit a 5-sided fire hydrant nut?

10-point socket, maybe?

If you are wrenching out of my box that would be vise grips, or a pipe wrench!

 

[rhandwor]

http://www.ntxtools.com sells a GPC 5 sided socket for this purpose. SK and Snap on make one. OTC makes one for airbags. http://www.lasertools.co.uk/ sells two for a couple of car brakes. http://www.blacksmithbolt.com/gpage19.html sells 8 point sockets.