I work on lots of bike/motorcycle/snowmobile suspension where I run into shallow aluminum fasteners. I have quite a few inexpensive sockets where I've ground the chamfer off completely to get better engagement. I'd like to get a complete metric 6pt set of sockets with very low or no chamfer. Does such a thing exist? Is there a brand with lower chamfer?
non chamfered sockets
- Thread starter 4130rb
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bwringer
Well-known member
This is a mother-scratchin' freaking GREAT idea. The universal chamfer makes me crazy.
I've ground down several sockets in my day, but I'd love to be able to buy a nice metric set.
I've ground down several sockets in my day, but I'd love to be able to buy a nice metric set.
I take cheapie spare sockets and grind the working end flat.
The thin brass nuts on cooler floats are notorious for getting seriously corroding, seizing, and rounding off with normal sockets. Chamfer-free sockets get them off in a jiffy.
The thin brass nuts on cooler floats are notorious for getting seriously corroding, seizing, and rounding off with normal sockets. Chamfer-free sockets get them off in a jiffy.
Ditto BMW swingarm pin locknuts. I've made suitable sockets on my little cheapie lathe. Cut the sockets to the shallowest possible to minimize tipping, and turn the face flat. Most have to have the walls thinned down a bit too. Grinding would be very tedious and imprecise, and hey, you needed an excuse to buy a lathe anyway, ri i i i ight?
ran into this with tapcon concrete screws. sockets would slip off because of the chamfer. ended up grinding hex bit to remove the chamfer
Some of the sockets from these guys seem to be that way. I'm having trouble operating their site to get better pics. Mostly I see just ones ground or filed.
http://www.torcup.com/ac_features_sockets.html
http://www.torcup.com/ac_features_sockets.html
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JDon99
Well-known member
The Snap On low profile 3/8" sockets have little to no chamfer on them, only bad thing is they don't seem to have a large range of sizes and the metric is available in 6pt and SAE in 12pt.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Glad I read this... gonna make a few sizes I might need. Ran into this problem b4 and used open end wrenches to solve it. Grinding off the socket rim is so much smarter.
Thanks
Thanks
Here's my little no-chamfer socket set. With a modified ratchet.
The problem is that the chamfer was designed to help slide the socket over the fastener if it wasn't perfectly lined up. But on thin or soft nuts, the chamfer (which is actually missing metal) means that there's very little "meat" of the broaching contacting the fastener. If it's thin and soft, it just rounds out. Getting rid of the chamfer allows a significant increase in socket to fastener contact.
I originally made 3 SAE sizes (9/16", 5/8", and 11/16"), and they worked so well I made another set for a buddy. (He likes them as well).
Then I started running into metric thin nuts, and made a couple of the sockets in metric (with the blue band). 15 and 16mm.
Don't use them everyday, but when I need em, they work.
The problem is that the chamfer was designed to help slide the socket over the fastener if it wasn't perfectly lined up. But on thin or soft nuts, the chamfer (which is actually missing metal) means that there's very little "meat" of the broaching contacting the fastener. If it's thin and soft, it just rounds out. Getting rid of the chamfer allows a significant increase in socket to fastener contact.
I originally made 3 SAE sizes (9/16", 5/8", and 11/16"), and they worked so well I made another set for a buddy. (He likes them as well).
Then I started running into metric thin nuts, and made a couple of the sockets in metric (with the blue band). 15 and 16mm.
Don't use them everyday, but when I need em, they work.
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bwringer
Well-known member
Same as whatever we work on.
Personally, I mostly work on Japanese motorycles and cars, so 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, and 24mm would cover most things (American/Euro machinery would need to add 13, 15, 16, and 18). I've also needed 27, 30, 32, 34(?) and 36mm at various times -- fork caps, triple trees, etc.
stovebolt6
Well-known member
Don't know about sockets, but my set of metric wrenches from Napa don't have a chamfer on the box end and they have actually saved my *** a couple times.
I little pricey, and limited sizes, but I hear they are tough as nails and fit snugly:
http://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/best-sellers/products/suspension-top-cap-sockets
There's also this option if you have the clearance and don't need to worry about torque:
http://lunarbikes.com/tools.htm
http://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/best-sellers/products/suspension-top-cap-sockets
There's also this option if you have the clearance and don't need to worry about torque:
http://lunarbikes.com/tools.htm
wolf_from_wv
Well-known member
I made my own and cold blued the ends.
white91formula
Well-known member
I would get a set to dedicate to this and have someone with a lathe turn them down for you.