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Koken Z-series 3/8" Drive 8-pc Socket Set $44

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Caa311

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
758
Location
Virginia
Got me a 12 piece! Damn yall are killing me. That's my third rack of Ko-ken 3/8 sockets. First set of zeal. We'll see how they compare.
 
OP
O

Outahere

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2021
Messages
870
Location
Idaho
In the product page from OP link click on "Pack of 12" rather than "8 pack". Amazon Japan is under Other Sellers.
Interesting that Amazon was trying to hide this deal a little bit. Why doesn't it appear when you first click on "pack of 12" ? Instead, you see a price of $78. Also odd that it doesn't seem possible to post a direct link to the $52.65 deal.
It looks like the 12pc set is now on backorder for4-6 weeks.
 
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LWB

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Joined
Oct 6, 2019
Messages
1,214
Location
ON, Canada
Mine came and i was hoping they would fit more of my ratchets than they did. I was really hoping they would fit my Snappy ratchet. They didn't so they went back. Nice sockets and rail though.
 

JDR50

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2023
Messages
11
Mine came and i was hoping they would fit more of my ratchets than they did. I was really hoping they would fit my Snappy ratchet. They didn't so they went back. Nice sockets and rail though.
Why didn’t they fit your ratchet?
 

LWB

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 6, 2019
Messages
1,214
Location
ON, Canada
Why didn’t they fit your ratchet?

The ball on the anvil didn't reach the detent on the socket. The Z series are a new patented design. I knew it could potentially be a problem but didn't realize how many they wouldn't seat on.

FWIW it they fit sung as a bug on my Astro wrench.
 

Joe Mamma

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
339
The ball on the anvil didn't reach the detent on the socket. The Z series are a new patented design. I knew it could potentially be a problem but didn't realize how many they wouldn't seat on.

FWIW it they fit sung as a bug on my Astro wrench.
Thanks for letting us know. I had no idea this could be a problem.

Joe Mamma
 

moto_ridah

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Messages
88
Location
PNW
My 12pc set came in today, was a bit concerned about the above fitment issues but feel a bit better now. Rounded up most of the accessible ratchets in the garage for a fitting. I arranged them from least (bottom) to most (top) clearance. The only one that was really an issue is the Williams B52 on the bottom, the socket base was touch the ratchet head. The KTC swivel head technically bottomed the socket but the whole anvil base turns so I'm ok with it. The Snappy FL721 had just a sliver of light under the socket. I could see how som newer Snap Ones could have issues pending the drive design. Sockets seated on all of the ratchets and had very strong retention.

Koken 1.jpgKoken 2.jpgKoken 3.jpgKoken 3 (1).jpg
 

kngelv

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
2,214
Location
Detroit, MI
My 12 piece set showed up yesterday. I was very impressed by the packaging from Amazon Japan. This is my first set of Koken sockets but certainly will not be my last. The broaching and finish are top notch and I'm very impressed with the socket rail. There is a very satisfying click when removing and seating the sockets plus I like that the magnetic rail has felt backing so as not to mar the finish of anything the rail is mounted on. The attention to detail by Koken is noted and appreciated.

James
 

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Caa311

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
758
Location
Virginia
My 12 piece is supposed to arrive today! I can't wait to compare them to the regular ones.
 

cbracer

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
637
Location
Costa Mesa, CA
I had a similar fit issue on my Z-series 1/4" hex and torx bit sockets.... using a Ko-ken ratchet none the less! Some companies have a lot of variance in their detent such as Proto, and others like the older USA made Craftsman sockets I had didn't have any variance. Sometimes the same socket will have some when you turn it 90 degrees the detent will be different. Here is the email I sent off to Ko-ken and have not seen a reply yet from Ko-ken Japan:

bit socket vs deep socket.png
I went back through testing the fit on all of my 1/4" drive Z-series stuff and I would conclude the issue is based on "tolerance" of the detent cut depth & location placement. The best correction would be to fix the detent cut location. See attached picture. Both of these sockets are a Ko-ken 1/4" Z-series. On the left is the newer hex bit socket, and on the right is an older deep socket, both Z-series. You can clearly see the detent is less deep on the newer bit socket, which causes the width and height to be less. The height of it in this picture is the important part. The start of the detent angle is too low into the square drive - and this is why I am not feeling any detent engagement. Here are some notes:

-The bottom image shows half of the deep socket detent moved over to compare exactly with the newer bit socket.
-The detent is clearly deeper cut on the right than the left. See the blue lines.
-The vertical purple arrow is the distance to the start of the detent which is too long on the left socket. The green lines point to the top of the detent cut which is too far on the left for the ball to engage the detent.
-You can see where the ball rests on the deep socket (right side) by the dark round spot.
-On both sockets you can see the dark vertical line where the ball rolls up and down. On the left socket the line is longer! This is the problem.

Ko-ken should fix the location of the detent to be higher, and /or a deeper cut like the older long socket. Then any tolerances would not create a problem.
 

Caa311

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
758
Location
Virginia
My 12 piece is supposed to arrive today! I can't wait to compare them to the regular ones.
They are sweet. My proto sockets fit my ko-ken ratchet very good but they are o ly a few years old.
 

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12ptSocketsAreDumb

Active member
Joined
Sep 1, 2021
Messages
31
I bought a set, I wish the deep sockets and impact sockets were as well discounted as these. I can't complain though. I may also grab the 1/4 ones at $52.
 
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