Extra long extensions. 24 inches and up. Do you use them?

[impactims]

1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive.

How often do you use extensions in those drive sizes about 24 inches in length?

I use the surprisingly often. Am I alone?

 

[The Cobbler]

about the only thing can remember using my long 3/8 extensions for is winding garage door springs

 

[ToolmanGary]

When works on vehicles, I use them all the time, especially for transmission bellhousing bolts.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

1/2 female to 3/8 male reducer extension weekly. Nothing works better for transmission removals!

 

[geneg]

1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive.

How often do you use extensions in those drive sizes about 24 inches in length?

I use the surprisingly often. Am I alone?

Top bolts on rear shocks- 60s thru 80s GM cars. Not as often as I used to, but I still have them available if needed.
Manifold to y pipe nuts (after heating with a torch)

 

[whateg01]

When works on vehicles, I use them all the time, especially for transmission bellhousing bolts.

I made my own 30-ish" long 1/2 drive extension just for Bell housing bolts. Nicer than solid because it doesn't twist.

 

[merkyworks]

Transmission bellhousing or motor mount work is only time I have ever needed extensions in the +24" range.

 

[badmatt]

Duramax upper starter bolt.

And the typical bell housing bolts.

 

[impactims]

Steering rack and pinion to chassis bolts when going from the top, exhaust manifold to downpipe, spark plugs on transverse v6 engines...

 

[Jgaz]

As said above, bell housing bolts, y pipe to exhaust manifold bolts, GM upper shock bolts.
Used long extensions a lot while I was in the dealership.

I have one long extension that allows use of 3/8” drive sockets without an adapter and drive the extension with a 1/2” impact.

 

[rsanter]

Removing the top bolts from the transmission or some applications the top starter bolt

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

The 3/8 24 inch extension I have is super handy for reaching oil filters on 4 cylinder Tacomas when I can’t break them loose by hand.

 

[jsaw]

****** bell housing bolts. Steering shaft pinch bolts, with crow foot adapter
To loosen lines from steering gearbox

1/4" drive x24" to remove fan shroud bolts on GM trucks, sometimes with a universal socket to remove worm hose clamps.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Transmission bellhousings bolts.
With a flare crowsfoot to loosen steering pump lines.
Oil drain plug from the side of a truck.

 

[finn]

Starter bolts. Lets you place the ratchet in front of the exhaust, motor mount, and crossmember on some cars.

 

[KnurledNut]

Use them to keep my face away from a diesel bath when removing filters.
Great for accessing square drive spare tire carrier winches.
Buried oil filters R&R like the Nissan KA24E.
Mechanics "stethoscope" many times.

 

[Schurkey]

I bought my Made-In-USA SK 1/2" female, 3/8 male extension/adapters in ~24" and 35" before SK was debased by the Communists.

Example: SK 46175

35" 1/2"Female-3/8"Male Long Impact Adapter/Extension

35" 1/2"Female-3/8"Male Long Impact Adapter/Extension

sktools.com

Snap-On also sells 1/2 F, 3/8 M extension/adapters. The problem with the Snappys is that they have a 1/2" F on the end of a 3/8" extension. The thing is weak in torsion due to the small diameter of the shaft.

Example: GAX36

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

The SK is a 3/8 M end on a 1/2" extension--thicker shaft, more torque transmitted by an impact wrench.

If there are other brands of these extension/adapters, I haven't seen 'em...but watch out for thin shafts.

 

[cvairwerks]

F-16 engine change...takes two 36" extensions stacked to torque the thrust pin mount bolts...Have to remember to wait for the windup to let go when torquing.

 

[seber]

Oil filter on Cummins 6.7 diesel.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Handy for removing seat mounting and floor plates on dozers and scrapers. Most heavy equipment

 

[AC-WC]

Bought mine just for the rear plugs on BBC/C20 truck. I could get it to fit behind the steering column and ratchet away.

 

[charger 73]

24 inch 3/8 drive for replacing turbo on IO 540 Lycoming.

 

[Steve_P]

I also have both of the SK extensions noted above- I think Gearwrench and/or Sunex also make these. The 36" one is the tool to use on bellhousing bolts with a 3/8 drive impact swivel socket. 4-cylinder Tacoma oil filters are pretty high up like Blake said. Transfer case oil change on an Outback takes a fairly long extension to use an impact gun on the plugs, but maybe less than 24" is ok.

 

[Kent_B]

I used to use them on #8 sparkplug on Chevy vans. (P30?) I'd go in through the wheel well. Not much since but ya never know...

 

[KnurledNut]

I have a Snap-on F4N 3/8" speeder handle that is around 36" long. Unique tool, don't know of another manufacturer that offered that configuration.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have had to combine my 12" and my 6", but that is it.

 

[Chipm]

Use a long one for getting to the starter bolt on a Honda through the wheel well.

 

[finn]

F-16 engine change...takes two 36" extensions stacked to torque the thrust pin mount bolts...Have to remember to wait for the windup to let go when torquing.

I haven’t had occasion to change the engine on my personal F16, and seriously doubt if I’ll ever have to.

 

[lolaetype]

I don't use them much, but they are really nice to have for the rare occasion when you do need them.

I used a 24" with a 12" for the bellhousing bolts when I did the clutch on the F150. and I use a 24" to tighten the exhaust manifold to downpipe nuts from below on the Jaguar.

 

[micromind]

Bus splices in electrical switchgear.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like many others have said transmission bolts..... Well worth their price for that job alone.

 

[bonneyman]

I used a 20" extension in 3/8" with a 6" extension added on to remove/install the starter motor on my old Toyota P/U. No real room around the starter itself, so would use the extensions on a ratchet by the front of the engine to reach back there. Worked nice.

And I grabbed a trio of Bonney 20 inch 1/2" extensions to add up to reach compressor bolts on the newer high eff condensing units. They are like 5 feet tall now, and hanging upside down while unsoldering ain't happening. The three 20 inchers gave me the 60" (5 feet) I would have needed. But never actually did a compressor in any of those. The few I condemned went for a new condensor instead.

 

[kbeefy]

I have a 24" and a 36" 1/2 extension, bellhousing bolts is about the only thing I use them for.

 

[Callelle]

Top bellhousing bolt on my XJ gets a 36" extension. Also will use it to reach over Eatons at work if I don't feel like pulling a dog house for pulling a trans.

 

[charbar]

All the time with 3/8 and 1/2". The older and more crippled I get it's amazing how many times a day I will use a 2-3ft extension instead of standing on my head in an engine bay or trying to contort into some shape to get to a fastener.

Bellhousing bolts, starters, shocks, motor mounts, torque converter bolts, glow plugs through the wheel wells, CV axles if the inner joint has a bolt on flange (GM and Ford trucks), PS lines, turbo mounting nuts, block mount trans coolers on some Dodge Cummins, brake master cylinders, absolutely have to have one for certain differential carrier bearing preload adjusters, etc.

 

[lardy1]

Removing and installing the reverse drive motor on my wife's Harley Tri-Glide.

 

[BWWgarage]

I could have used yesterday ... bottom of fork bolt wasn’t biting on crf110 ... macgypher’d 18” to H14 with an odd collection of extensions and screwdriver/hex extensions. 24” extensions are on my tool list.

 

[lotus_esprit]

I have the Snap On FX36 36” 3/8 drive extension, bought for doing up the front towing / mooring U bolts up under the bow on small boats

 

[richfinn]

VW/Audi driveshaft bolts

 

[NHtoolguy]

VW/Audi driveshaft bolts

I use a long 3/8 extension for the axle flange bolts on my 2005 Passat TDI. I add a short wobble joint to the end and connect to a VIM M10 XZN bit.