Chrome universal sockets and flopping

[spencerdiesel]

So I'm going to either buy SO or MAC (any opinions on Cornwell and does the chrome peel?) chrome universals in 1/4" and 3/8" drive. I was going to go the SO route but then got to thinking, is there NOTHING you can do once it wears and starts flopping? Do the current USA MAC universals have a screw so you can rebuild the socket?

What do you guys do when a universal becomes loose? I'd prefer not to tape the sockets

Thanks

 

[trackwelder]

Most of mine chrome are Snap On. I just get them replaced when they loosen up. Never any issue doing so

 

[Richard Cranium]

i have seen people take a punch and hit them in the joint to tighten them up, I have gotten used ones when I purchase a used tool box. But never a name brand one.

 

[KnurledNut]

O-ring method works good.

 

[KnurledNut]

Photo courtesy of GTA Matt:

 

[stage20]

you need those o rings for brand new gearwrench ones. lol. and kobalt models loose from the factory.

i just went through all my wobbles tonight. finally made some sets out of a box i had full of them.

out of all of them, the macs seem to have the most chrome chipping around the socket end, but this is mainly due to impact use. yea...i know.....

the snap ons are the best. period. youll get more angle out of them too. if you buy them off the truck warranty is cake. if you get them second hand, get a good enough deal it doesnt matter if they get floppy.

 

[APEowner]

Most of mine chrome are Snap On. I just get them replaced when they loosen up. Never any issue doing so

That's what I've always done as well.

 

[928'er]

TriAngle Tools "Superman" universals

German design, made in Taiwan. Used to be available through Sears, but seem to have disappeared....

 

[retDAC]

TriAngle Tools "Superman" universals

German design, made in Taiwan. Used to be available through Sears, but seem to have disappeared....

Maker went out of business.

 

[Skin]

Koken still makes a wide range with a joint screw (torx). Snap-On and MAC are both excellent also. To answer your question MAC got rid of the screw for a splined nickel coated pin about 5 years ago. The only bizarre thing with MAC is they don't offer a 5.5mm which has become a fairly common size for auto repair. Even more weird is Proto does offer the 5.5mm (like impacts the MAC and Proto universals are identical). Easy enough to fix but it bugs my OCD.

I wouldn't bother with Cornwell. Their universals look inferior due to the cheap pin and they also don't have scallops for a ratchet detent ball, only a hole.

 

[spencerdiesel]

Wow a lot of good info on this forum. So if my SO dealer refused to warranty a loose universal I could mail it in and expect a replacement?

O ring trick is pretty slick

 

[Ironhorse74]

For years I have just done a couple of wraps of electrical tape aroumd them. When it loosens up strip the old tape off and do it again.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

What's the benefit of universal sockets over having a universal that any regular socket can attach to? Also sometimes you need the universal to be further from the nut/bolt to clear obstructions. I've never had a set of universal sockets so thanks for entertaining the question.

 

[knobby]

Downmarket from the OP's brands but i have had good luck with a set of titan tools branded 1/4" chrome universals. Only use them for under dash work they do however have cap-screw type of pivot shafts so theoretically you could tighten them up if they loosen.

 

[mbshop]

Loved the older mac swivels as they had little spring or wavy washers that kept them tight. Otherwise tape seemed to always work and I really had things to worry about more than my swivel.

 

[Wamsutta]

If there's one thing that Snap-on does very very well, that's chrome flex sockets. I have a 1/4 drive SAE set and they're flat out awesome. I can lean them over to almost a full 90 and they'll still turn.

 

[four.cycle]

i have seen people take a punch and hit them in the joint to tighten them up

Okay... if the wobbly is put together with a rollpin, where would you strike it?
Give it a whack with a rollpin punch and hope it mushrooms the end of the rollpin enough to snug it back up?

If it's a wobbly with a solid pin, where would you strike it? And with what kind of punch? An 1/8" drift in the middle of the pin? A center punch and hope that mushrooms the pin out enough to snug it up?

I've got an otherwise perfectly good Thorsen 3/8" flex-head and at least three or four wobblies that are flippy-floppy.

Other than the old "black tape" or "O-ring" thing, give me your best advice. I've got no shortage of punches or hammers here.

Thanks!

 

[RedneckWelder]

What's the benefit of universal sockets over having a universal that any regular socket can attach to? Also sometimes you need the universal to be further from the nut/bolt to clear obstructions. I've never had a set of universal sockets so thanks for entertaining the question.

Height.

A dedicated universal socket from a quiality maker is shallower than an adapter I-joint.

Personally I have both sockets and adapters to make up combinations as needed. As mentioned before quality brands definitely make a difference in angle too.

I also have Snap On and Sunex impact swivel sockets. They don't go nearly as far in angle as the chrome universals do but are still good for access

 

[bob15]

A couple wraps of electrical tape works for stiffing up up the joint just fine.

 

[Mr_B]

ones with machined recess so has small spring to retain tension is best design, I have socket swivel spanners that use this concept too and it the best solution .
If sockets use bolts would be possible strip them & machine recess for spring, bt of hassle and should be done at manufacture (surprised snapon didn't go that route, mac design close with the spring shim)

 

[6PTsocket]

What's the benefit of universal sockets over having a universal that any regular socket can attach to? Also sometimes you need the universal to be further from the nut/bolt to clear obstructions. I've never had a set of universal sockets so thanks for entertaining the question.

I do and I can't remember the last time I used them. They are inch so the chance of being used are not high.

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[Fedwrench]

I'll throw this out to muddy the waters a bit. Are you going to use your chrome universal sockets on the end of an air ratchet or cordless power tool?

If so, you may want to consider impact swivel sockets. I used to wear out truck brand 8 & 10mm chrome universal sockets rather quickly until I switched to the impact swivel sockets.

I very rarely use the chrome versions now.

 

[MN_Runner]

I have Mac Tools 3/8", SK 1/2" and 1/4". I would buy either Mac Tools or Snap On and stay away from SK. The fitment on a brand new 1/2" SK had some flaws so I had it warrantied.

 

[Skin]

Biggest problem with SK is they're often extremely loose even when new. I bought a few to test a couple years ago so they were new stock Ideal. Nicely machined but the joint slack is unacceptable.

 

[spencerdiesel]

Great info, I do plan on getting impact swivels as well. They will most likely be SO and I'll try and get both 3/8 and 1/2 drive.

How many of ya'll have good luck with warrantying worn universals? Does that work like warrantying worn impact sockets?

 

[stage20]

Great info, I do plan on getting impact swivels as well. They will most likely be SO and I'll try and get both 3/8 and 1/2 drive.

How many of ya'll have good luck with warrantying worn universals? Does that work like warrantying worn impact sockets?

i would ask your specific driver and be clear before purchasing anything.
snap on impact wobbles are a FORTUNE. if you use them everyday great. if you buy them to sit you got deep wallet. lol

 

[spencerdiesel]

I hear you, even with a student discount it's gonna hurt buying swivels

 

[bcradio]

TriAngle Tools "Superman" universals

German design, made in Taiwan. Used to be available through Sears, but seem to have disappeared....

They went under I think... it's a shame because they made absolutely top notch tools.

 

[bcradio]

Great info, I do plan on getting impact swivels as well. They will most likely be SO and I'll try and get both 3/8 and 1/2 drive.

How many of ya'll have good luck with warrantying worn universals? Does that work like warrantying worn impact sockets?

Don't get snap on impact swivels, get matco pinless.

 

[spencerdiesel]

Does Matco make the higher tier impact swivels? I was back and forth between Matco and SO on that for a while

 

[MN_Runner]

Does Matco make the higher tier impact swivels? I was back and forth between Matco and SO on that for a while

I would not buy Matco as the quality of Matco is not as good (IMHO) as Snap On. I rank 1) Snap On, 2) Mac Tools, 3) Cornwell, 4) Matco-SK.

 

[spencerdiesel]

I've gathered that most matco tools are rebranded apex/Danaher? Do they really only make toolboxes?

Can a matco truck dealer warranty sk?

 

[6PTsocket]

I've gathered that most matco tools are rebranded apex/Danaher? Do they really only make toolboxes?

Can a matco truck dealer warranty sk?

And Williams is rebranded SnapOn.CDI and Baho are Snap Industrial companies and the same stuff often passes between brands. Danaher's interest in any hand tool ended in 2010. They formed and co owned Apex with Cooper tool group and then sold it to the current owner Bain Capital. The tool truck brands are owned by companies that manufactute tools under other brand names Look at the Truck eqivalent thread. Stuff is passed around all over the industry often with very uneven pricing.

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[stage20]

Does Matco make the higher tier impact swivels? I was back and forth between Matco and SO on that for a while

they are made by armstrong. if you can find the craftsman branded ones, they are MUCH cheaper.... no warranty though. they are discontinued. at least with the matco branded ones you can swap them out when you wear them.