Extension ends orientation/alignment

[Tuc04]

This started with an O2 sensor replacement using a crowfoot. I ended up using the Snap On FZ1 pieces to make an extension to get around the exhaust pipe that was in the way.

The thing I noticed was many of my extensions did not have the male and female ends aligned which causes a problem with the FZ1 parts. It appears from online pictures that Snap On does align the ends, but other makers seem to be random.

I have extensions in various sizes from Craftsman, Mac, SK, Proto and Koken. I have one Mac and one Craftsman that line up, but the others are all over the place.

Does anyone know why this is and can anyone confirm that all Snap On extensions are aligned male to female? I'd like to get a few more extension for future FZ1 uses.

 

[superautobacs]

I only have a couple Snap-On extensions and they match.

MAC: I have a 24" and 33" long, and they both don't match.

I have about a dozen Ko-ken in a mixture of 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4. All but 3 are not aligned (they are all long ones 10-12").

I have about a dozen Nepros in 3/8 and 1/4 and they all line up.

KTC: in 1/2 drive, I have two. The longer of the two was not lined up.

I have 3/8 Sunex impact extensions and they all DO NOT line up (totally random). My two Wera extensions also don't line up. All three of my Toptuls don't line up either.

I have a single Triangle 3/8 drive and it lines up.

One vintage Plomb 3/8 drive aligns.

 

[Pipe]

I just checked my box and 15 out of 16 of my snap on extensions are aligned. The only one that isnt is a long 3/8 impact extension(imx111) that could very well be twisted from use.

 

[Stevenn1]

I have every Snap-on 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" Drive chrome extension that's available, except the 36" long ones. They are all aligned.

My Snap on 3/4" drive chrome ones,
2 of the 4 are aligned.

All 4 (1/4" - 3/4" drive) of my Snap-on chrome U-Joints are aligned.

I have 1 SK 3/8"x36" (#45149) chrome extension and it's not aligned.

 

[franzdom]

Wow you learn things here. I need to check my extensions now!
I have also had to resort to using crowfoot for oxygen sensors, not fun.

 

[gonmad54]

19 of 19 SO extensions are aligned. never would have thought about this.

 

[Stevenn1]

Not to get off topic here, but...
If you do a lot of O2 Sensors, look into getting the Snap-on SWR1.
Since I got mine I have never went back to a Crowsfoot.

 

[superautobacs]

Not to get off topic here, but...
If you do a lot of O2 Sensors, look into getting the Snap-on SWR1.
Since I got mine I have never went back to a Crowsfoot.

....but, that will not work where only a crowsfoot type would.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Less cost of tooling during production. One end would likely be done as a secondary operation, not needing aligned orientation to perform.

 

[Tuc04]

Thanks for the feedback. I've never really paid much attention to it in the past and I really can't think of any other situation where it would matter, but in this one ( fz1 adapters with a crowfoot) only extensions the were aligned would work.

I guess I'll either look for a deal on a few Snap On extensions or look for other extensions locally that I can confirm alignment.

 

[superautobacs]

Thanks to your thread, I'm now aware of potential issues that will arise from using two or more of those adaptors with unaligned extensions. So far I've only used them solo and not as a pair or more.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I would never have thunk it. My Snappys are all aligned, the others.... not so much

 

[Fedwrench]

Once again, tool issues turn up in these pages that no one else has even considered I'll never ne able to look at my extensions the same way again now.

 

[Qualitytools]

I can't seem to follow what you guys are talking about, would one of you please post a photo? I need to see now that you started talking about it.
Thanks!

 

[L.Cheapo]

I can't seem to follow what you guys are talking about, would one of you please post a photo? I need to see now that you started talking about it.
Thanks!

Theyre saying that if you hold the extension so that youre looking down it from end to end, like youre about to shoot a rifle, looking at the female square drive end down the length of the extension and comparing it to the male square drive end, the two are not in alignment--off by some matter of degrees. Normally this is a non issue, but when you're using something like a Snap On FZ1 adaptor, whos use is predicated on 90* angles, you need extensions that keep the socket exactly (or close to it) aligned in the same position it would be in if it were directly on the ratchet.

Apparently, from what's posted above, it appears Snap On is the only manufacturer to consistently get this right. I guess there really "is a difference".

 

[CNGsaves]

Another great TOOL EDUCATION discovery on GJ !!!

With only Craftsman, SK or Proto tools . . . mine are likely "Non Compliant" alignment !!

Now have one more reason or "Need" to get Snappy ratchets & extensions !!

 

[superautobacs]

I can't seem to follow what you guys are talking about, would one of you please post a photo? I need to see now that you started talking about it.
Thanks!

L.Cheapo above explained it well.

Just this past week, I used one with an O2 sensor socket and I just happened to take a photo of it. In this case I'm only using one, so alignment doesn't become an issue.

The issue that the OP is talking about happens when using 2 or more adaptors. Imagine the "90* socket wrench" illustration here:

 

[Tuc04]

Here are a few pictures showing correct alignment vs. incorrect.

The issue I had was there wasn't enough room to get any kind of a wrench in there. A crowfoot worked, but it wasn't quite long enough to clear the exhaust. So I put a rig together like this so I could get on the sensor, clear the exhaust and drop below the transmission. Once I got it all together it worked really nice.

The extension that worked was a craftsman and the one I have shown not working is a Mac. I wanted to get a few more various extension lengths that are aligned in case something like this comes up again.

Of all my extensions one Mac and one Craftsman work, but I guess that was just luck.

 

[Qualitytools]

Here are a few pictures showing correct alignment vs. incorrect.

The issue I had was there wasn't enough room to get any kind of a wrench in there. A crowfoot worked, but it wasn't quite long enough to clear the exhaust. So I put a rig together like this so I could get on the sensor, clear the exhaust and drop below the transmission. Once I got it all together it worked really nice.

The extension that worked was a craftsman and the one I have shown not working is a Mac. I wanted to get a few more various extension lengths that are aligned in case something like this comes up again.

Of all my extensions one Mac and one Craftsman work, but I guess that was just luck.

Thanks all and Tuc04 as the last illustration clearly defines what you guys are talking about. I never even thought to check but now I will. I can also see on that set up how that would matter.
Always Learning Something New, I Love it!
Thanks

 

[kunkernator]

I never really thought about this. As you could always use your ratchet teeth to compensate back and forth on the first extension (unless you are using a breaker bar), but the second one MUST be aligned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WWheeler]

I'm reviving this thread (that got linked to today in a "What Purpose Does A Snap-On TZ1 Serve?" thread) just to report that curiosity got the better of me and after checking all my chrome Craftsman extensions I've found that all but one out of a dozen of my 'V' era Craftsman extensions are perfectly aligned (only one 3" 3/8dr was not - but it's pretty close - probably close enough) but all the rest of my USA made Craftsmans and newer ('S-AD' China?) wobble Craftsmans are not aligned/random.

My newer (L-AE ??) Craftsman impact extensions, 3 ea of varying lengths in 3/8dr and 1/2dr, are all aligned.

I have two old S-K Diamond logo 1/2" extensions that are not aligned.

I have two 3pc sets (3/8 & 1/2dr) of gearwrench locking impact extensions and they are not aligned/random.

I have two sets of Tekton 9-pc wobble extensions and surprisingly to me they are all aligned.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I have several snap on that are not aligned, but most of them are.

 

[shockwave]

My go to on 02 sensors is the deep Asian sockets with 3/8 female end for some reason name brands are always 1/2 drive on these which is too bulky most of the time

And my schley sensor wrench