Biggest 1/4in drive socket?

[spanimal]

I'm noticing that now that my 3/8" sets go up to 27mm I use my 1/2" tools extremely rarely (with the exception of my digital torque wrenches). It's all situational.

I took a crank bolt off the other day with this and a hammer:

I don't get it...was it because it was just convenient at the time...was your tool box too far away at the time and you had these exact 3 piece tool on hand when you somehow came across an unexpected crank pulley you needed to remove?

I always worked on a hoist with my toolbox a few feet away. So I am curious. I only need to reach for two pieces, the socket and a longer lever (a twelve point and a breaker bar...a 3/4 inch if space is available), I would save time by not opening the hammer draw. I would save wear and tear from impacting the teeth of the ratchet... remember, applying steady torque is what the teeth of a ratchet are designed for... impacting the teeth will significantly prematurely wear out your ratchet.

I save on fatigue so I can continue doing crank bolts all day long if necessary. And I only put two pieces back when all is said and done.

I guess you may have been laying underneath the vehicle and no clearance for a longer lever...or perhaps you had no way of jamming the rotation of the engine (another reason I use a long lever because my other hand is holding another long lever of sorts jamming the flywheel)...I can see that happening perhaps...still, hammering a 3/8 ratchet, why? A T-bar sure, a breaker bar if necessary...unless you only had a six point socket and couldn't get the angle you needed...I think maybe you just needed a twelve point socket...leave the six points for impact sockets. I mean no one ever thought a six point spanner was more useful than a 12 point spanner in general.

I need an explanation here.

 

[Xcursion88]

/

 

[Wrench97]

It's been covered but the main use for larger sockets in smaller drive sizes is space issues, I used a 14mm on 1/4" today just for the clearance of the smaller ratchet broke it loose with a 14mm combo wrench and ran it out with the ratchet.

 

[krzyimprt]

Thanks to everyone who posted. I enjoyed reading everyone's replies and knowledge on this topic. I apologize in advance for not being more active. I'm just getting over covid and caught cow itch the other day. The fun never ends!

 

[nbpt100]

I don't get it...was it because it was just convenient at the time...was your tool box too far away at the time and you had these exact 3 piece tool on hand when you somehow came across an unexpected crank pulley you needed to remove?

I always worked on a hoist with my toolbox a few feet away. So I am curious. I only need to reach for two pieces, the socket and a longer lever (a twelve point and a breaker bar...a 3/4 inch if space is available), I would save time by not opening the hammer draw. I would save wear and tear from impacting the teeth of the ratchet... remember, applying steady torque is what the teeth of a ratchet are designed for... impacting the teeth will significantly prematurely wear out your ratchet.

I save on fatigue so I can continue doing crank bolts all day long if necessary. And I only put two pieces back when all is said and done.

I guess you may have been laying underneath the vehicle and no clearance for a longer lever...or perhaps you had no way of jamming the rotation of the engine (another reason I use a long lever because my other hand is holding another long lever of sorts jamming the flywheel)...I can see that happening perhaps...still, hammering a 3/8 ratchet, why? A T-bar sure, a breaker bar if necessary...unless you only had a six point socket and couldn't get the angle you needed...I think maybe you just needed a twelve point socket...leave the six points for impact sockets. I mean no one ever thought a six point spanner was more useful than a 12 point spanner in general.

I need an explanation here.

An explanation would remove any speculation but in absence of that I will speculate. When people have lifetime warranty tools they do not mind abusing them to save time. If it saved a minute or two of time they take the shortest path. In the US, mechanics in many shops are pressured to get things done fast. Unfortunately short cuts that cost the customer can happen too. I assume you are not in the US from your reference to a box wrench as a "Spanner."

 

[BlackHorseSaga]

I don't get it...was it because it was just convenient at the time...was your tool box too far away at the time and you had these exact 3 piece tool on hand when you somehow came across an unexpected crank pulley you needed to remove?

I always worked on a hoist with my toolbox a few feet away. So I am curious. I only need to reach for two pieces, the socket and a longer lever (a twelve point and a breaker bar...a 3/4 inch if space is available), I would save time by not opening the hammer draw. I would save wear and tear from impacting the teeth of the ratchet... remember, applying steady torque is what the teeth of a ratchet are designed for... impacting the teeth will significantly prematurely wear out your ratchet.

I save on fatigue so I can continue doing crank bolts all day long if necessary. And I only put two pieces back when all is said and done.

I guess you may have been laying underneath the vehicle and no clearance for a longer lever...or perhaps you had no way of jamming the rotation of the engine (another reason I use a long lever because my other hand is holding another long lever of sorts jamming the flywheel)...I can see that happening perhaps...still, hammering a 3/8 ratchet, why? A T-bar sure, a breaker bar if necessary...unless you only had a six point socket and couldn't get the angle you needed...I think maybe you just needed a twelve point socket...leave the six points for impact sockets. I mean no one ever thought a six point spanner was more useful than a 12 point spanner in general.

I need an explanation here.

An explanation would remove any speculation but in absence of that I will speculate. When people have lifetime warranty tools they do not mind abusing them to save time. If it saved a minute or two of time they take the shortest path. In the US, mechanics in many shops are pressured to get things done fast. Unfortunately short cuts that cost the customer can happen too. I assume you are not in the US from your reference to a box wrench as a "Spanner."

For reference, it was just a joke. You guys are way too serious.

 

[JradM]

For reference, it was just a joke. You guys are way too serious.

We don't tolerate tool abuse on this forum. Not even as a joke...