need a hex socket set

[Iridium rand]

I’d absolutely recommend proto, I use the 5/16 the most and in a 1/2 ratchet no less for years now and I’m amazed it hasn’t broken or twisted at all, every other key or insert bit used on these particular loctited set screws hasn’t lasted very long until I picked the protos up.

also worth mentioning is wera hex plus sockets (and keys for that matter) that design seriously works well at preventing rounding out hex screws and even when they already are it’s still good at getting a grip and removing them. I have the 1/4 set with the ball detents in the tips to hold the screws and they’re my go to for anything on smaller side.

 

[dstblj52]

I’d absolutely recommend proto, I use the 5/16 the most and in a 1/2 ratchet no less for years now and I’m amazed it hasn’t broken or twisted at all, every other key or insert bit used on these particular loctited set screws hasn’t lasted very long until I picked the protos up.

also worth mentioning is wera hex plus sockets (and keys for that matter) that design seriously works well at preventing rounding out hex screws and even when they already are it’s still good at getting a grip and removing them. I have the 1/4 set with the ball detents in the tips to hold the screws and they’re my go to for anything on smaller side.

Wera Hex plus is a close second to the rbrt stuff in my experience but they do work on fasteners they shouldn't be able to work on

 

[n8n]

So this is really annoying... after obsessing over what to buy (and purchasing the impact set mentioned above as well as the metric Proto set) I went out yesterday to clean up and snug up the fill plug with a regular old Allen key so I could run some errands in the Jeep. Just for shiggles, I took a standard Tekton allen key (so maybe 5" long) and was able to loosen the drain plug! Dunno if the Craftsman socket happened to break just as it broke loose the drain plug or if it was really just super weak or what.

Seeing as it was SNOWING outside I did not drain the xfer case however, I came back inside and did some hockey appreciation lessons with the cats. And, I have better tools coming, so there's that.

 

[uratool]

I'd take that and call it a win!

 

[rancherbill]

Take the 10mm hex out of the broken socket and put it in a 10mm socket.

To make sure it really works put it in an impact socket - not need to use a breaker bar. If you can't get the hex out, cut up a hex from another set. You have lots of GJ posts so I know you have lots of tools.

 

[n8n]

Follow up to this -

just on principle, I found a Lowe's that listed online that said they had a replacement for my busted socket so I went ahead and warrantied it. That experience doesn't really bring me back to the Craftsman fold, because a) only three of the 10 closest stores to me showed any stock at all and b) the one I went to showed 4 in stock online but their drawer of loosies was completely disorganized and there was only one 10mm 3/8" socket in the spot allocated for same. So, based on this, I don't really see the same level of warranty service that people came to expect from Sears stores back in the day.

That said, the socket itself is made in Taiwan, not China, and actually looks better than the busted "G" series Made in USA that I traded in. Note that the USA socket's bit is smaller where it is inserted into the chrome socket whereas the new Taiwan one is a straight bit as you would expect.

Now the frustration. Before I'd discovered that I apparently had busted loose the drain plug, I'd gone ahead and ordered the Proto set. I got one off eBay as it appeared that that would be the best way to ensure that I'd have it before the weekend. It showed up last night, and the seller sent a SAE set... I sent a nice message saying that I actually wanted both sets so I'd be happy to keep the SAE set and pay a similar price for a metric set in addition, got a response saying I must be confused, seller only had one set and it was definitely metric... AARGH. good thing it turns out I didn't really need it. Anyway, attached is a pic of the Craftsman sockets.