I what scenario do you prefer or need a locking extension?
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Use them all the time. Usual locations are when reaching thru multiple obstructions and where losing the socket or crows foot would result in significant time lost to recovering the tool. We have locations on the jets where losing a item in certain areas could result in hundreds of manhours of work to recover the item.
The other main time is where one is working on top of the aircraft and a loss of the socket would require going all the way down to the hangar floor to retrieve it.
The only size we use locking extensions and ratchets, is 1/4" drive.
The other main time is where one is working on top of the aircraft and a loss of the socket would require going all the way down to the hangar floor to retrieve it.
The only size we use locking extensions and ratchets, is 1/4" drive.
Kurt4440
Well-known member
Spark plug sockets on locking extensions are the first specific application that comes to mind.
I noticed that Snap on’s spark plug service kit included 1 extension. It is a locking extension.
I’ve never actually had a problem with a normal extension.
But if they use that locking extension in their kit, then it must be common for folks to prefer that.
richfinn
Well-known member
Spark plugs at the bottom of tubes on 16v inline 4 cylinder engines (With Ko-ken plug sockets)
Battery hold down clamps on VW/Audi/BMW/Mercedes/Ford (with a Ko-ken nutgrip socket)
Anywhere you are close to wiring harnesses or coolant pipes that might knock your socket off the extension
If you are dealing with corroded fasteners that might hang on to the socket tight enough to pull it off the extension they are very useful
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Proto sells them, even in metric. And yes, usually I have a locking extension if I'm doing 1/4 crowfoot activities. As others said, when you're in a deep area snaking past BS is where they shine. Also if you have very rotten/worn fasteners and your tooling wants to stick/lock onto it.
rct
Well-known member
100% with spark plug sockets due to the deep recesses filled with coil on plug ignitions. My Toyota 4runner 4.0 for example.
Theronswanson
Well-known member
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Longer reach applications when you're underneath a vehicle. Catalytic converter/exhaust flanges, transmissions etc.
My usual method is to get beat red pissed off and scream curse words while I fish around blindly for 30 minutes with a magnet to find my socket. Don't forget to throw other tools so you can look for those later too. The most important step is to chain smoke Camels...you know....so you remain calm during the whole process.
Electrical tape if I'm thinking ahead.
Electrical tape if I'm thinking ahead.
On certain John Deere tractors, adjustment to the 3 point hitch is done through a hole over top the differential housing. I want to make sure the socket stays on the extension and not drop in oil. I use to use electrical tape and a locking extension makes it easier.
This is the only real reason I have a set, though they have come in handy a few other times over the years.
johnre
Well-known member
Subaru boxer engines - replacing spark plugs in the deep spark plug wells that have a seal at the valve cover entrance that tends to "capture" the socket as everything is pulled back out. Access is very poor to begin with because of the boxer layout, and it's hard enough just to remove and reinstall the plugs, let alone retrieve a loose socket that fell off down in there.
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bcradio
Well-known member
What brand are your 1/4" drive crowsfoot wrenches?
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Snap On 106TMCO set, but without the case... We also have a few that look like they were stamped from .125" sheet. They are thin enough, that when you snap them on, the will flop around a little due to space between the stop in the extension and the ball or the lock. Not sure who those are from, I'll have to look tonight.
Most of our stuff at work is Snap On, Stahlwille or Mac, with a few Proto items. We've also got a lot of specialized stuff from various vendors.
rlitman
Well-known member
I thought pin retention sockets were made for FOD and drop safety. At least those require a punch to depress the pin to release. If dropping a socket required hundreds of manhours of work (or was a life-safety issue), I'd insist on safety wire...
My experience with locking socket wrenches and extensions is limited to Craftsman, so not much, but more often than not I end up bumping the button and dropping the socket when I'm using one, so at least for me those locks seem to make the issue worse rather than better.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Rlitman: Pin lock stuff is for FOD prevention and other reasons. You find it mostly on impact stuff and for 3/8" drive and larger. We don't have a lot of pin lock stuff, as it's simply not available in the 1/4" and 3/8" standard drive world. We do have pin lock drives for our screw gun adapters, but the only thing we can use those on, is some of the manual drive gear boxes. We do have the button locking stuff for 1/4" drive, and some of the 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets have button locks as well. No real way to safety wire a straight socket to an extension.....
Here's one of the little shortys that we have. It takes keeping the button pushed to remove the socket. Simply bumping it, will not release.
www.kctool.com
There are locations on the airframe, that a loss of a socket or part can be extremely hard to retrieve. We used to have some borescopes with working channels, so we could use surgical instruments to find and grab stuff down in those locations.
We have one bay, where the only access is from the top and it's almost 6' to the bottom, with lots of nooks and crannies where things can hide or get hung up. To pull the piece of equipment installed in that bay, it requires significant support equipment, and a large number of people. Even with a very experienced crew working it, there is a considerable amount of time required to setup, and gain access and actually pull the equipment. Once it's back in, it requires many hours of regression checks to verify that the installation is complete and flight worthy. In this one bay, we have to deal with structure, electrical, pneumatic, fuel, hydraulic and liquid cooling systems.
For those that don't play airplanes, think having to gut the complete interior of a car, down to the sheet metal, including all the wiring, so that you could recover a lost item, then putting it all back. Oh, and don't forget that you have to have inspections prior to installation of each item as well as one after it is installed and that there is a bunch of paperwork that has to be accomplished at the same time.
Here's one of the little shortys that we have. It takes keeping the button pushed to remove the socket. Simply bumping it, will not release.
Stahlwille 405QR QuickRelease Extension, 1/4", 54 mm | Stahlwille at KC Tool
Stahlwille 405QR QuickRelease Extension, 1/4", 54 mm Patented design DIN 3123/ISO 3316...
www.kctool.com
There are locations on the airframe, that a loss of a socket or part can be extremely hard to retrieve. We used to have some borescopes with working channels, so we could use surgical instruments to find and grab stuff down in those locations.
We have one bay, where the only access is from the top and it's almost 6' to the bottom, with lots of nooks and crannies where things can hide or get hung up. To pull the piece of equipment installed in that bay, it requires significant support equipment, and a large number of people. Even with a very experienced crew working it, there is a considerable amount of time required to setup, and gain access and actually pull the equipment. Once it's back in, it requires many hours of regression checks to verify that the installation is complete and flight worthy. In this one bay, we have to deal with structure, electrical, pneumatic, fuel, hydraulic and liquid cooling systems.
For those that don't play airplanes, think having to gut the complete interior of a car, down to the sheet metal, including all the wiring, so that you could recover a lost item, then putting it all back. Oh, and don't forget that you have to have inspections prior to installation of each item as well as one after it is installed and that there is a bunch of paperwork that has to be accomplished at the same time.
What size 1/4 drive crowfoot do you find yourself actually using? I’d guess just 8 and 10? Snap on goes 7 to 14
the 3/8 crowfoot is just too big sometimes?
rlitman
Well-known member
I thought chrome was a FOD issue anyway, so that might help explain why pin lock is impact only. Safety wire a joke, but picturing a safety wired socket still makes me laugh.Rlitman: Pin lock stuff is for FOD prevention and other reasons. You find it mostly on impact stuff and for 3/8" drive and larger. We don't have a lot of pin lock stuff, as it's simply not available in the 1/4" and 3/8" standard drive world. We do have pin lock drives for our screw gun adapters, but the only thing we can use those on, is some of the manual drive gear boxes. We do have the button locking stuff for 1/4" drive, and some of the 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets have button locks as well. No real way to safety wire a straight socket to an extension.....
Here's one of the little shortys that we have. It takes keeping the button pushed to remove the socket. Simply bumping it, will not release.
Stahlwille 405QR QuickRelease Extension, 1/4", 54 mm | Stahlwille at KC Tool
Stahlwille 405QR QuickRelease Extension, 1/4", 54 mm Patented design DIN 3123/ISO 3316...
There are locations on the airframe, that a loss of a socket or part can be extremely hard to retrieve. We used to have some borescopes with working channels, so we could use surgical instruments to find and grab stuff down in those locations....
Stahlwille has never let me down, but gladly I don't have the same needs for tool retention as you do.
Last week I was searching for an affordable intrinsically safe or explosion proof borescope (as-if it exists), and found that the 2024 market is flooded with pocket change cheap WiFi video borescopes now with articulated heads two (or more) cameras (one side facing). Just a hook today, but maybe they'll have pincers in 2025.
Rebuild the interior through the sunroof and engine through the gas cap.
dcg9381
Well-known member
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Ever since I bought Snap-on drive tools that actually snap together tightly, I haven't needed any locking extensions. Back in the days when I was using Craftsman tools, the socket would always get caught on something while pulling it out of the engine bay and fall off the extension.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
For those that have never seen a borescope with a working channel, here's a 3 minute demo, and then after that one, another that show various tools that can be used.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
10/12/13/14 are mostly what I use. It's a space issue, usually a socket can't get a straight shot but I can get two flats on the fastener.
They're rarely used. Toyota 3.5L with the oil cooler lines that break/crack and spew oil are one of the number one uses. Something is in the way of 1 of the 3 bolts on the upper flange, and getting it out of the way isn't simple.