Older SK sockets splitting

[Mikefromcny]

Anyone have this issue? I just broke a 3/4, 1 1/8 socket on a service call today. Had a 36" snap on ratchet on it. no pipe . Fortunetly it was the last bolt on the mower I had to tighten. However this isn't my first split SK socket. None of them were used on an impact. I split the 1/4" one with one of those short 1/4" drive sk ratchets!

Has anyone else had this problem?

They are older, and have light rust due to them being in my road box I carry in my pickup, working out in the rain etc. I will clean them up first before attempting to warranty them. What are my odds of getting them warrantied? They have no signs of abuse as far as I can tell.

 

[bonneyman]

Never have had an SK socket fail. That you have had several is really unusual.

 

[sha]

never had that problem...

 

[1982fxr]

is that rust a lot worse than it looks and the chrome was just really good so it gives a misrepresentation of the condition?

 

[Hiball]

I've seen my fair share of split sockets, I've never seen a socket split completely from the drive end alll the way to the business end, that is bizarre and I'll just leave it at that.

 

[sk farmer]

those all appear to be pretty old. the 3/8 drive metric goes back to at least the 70's. i have cracked a few sockets of different brands but the few sk one have been replaced with no issue. i assume metal will fatigue over time and use.

 

[Mikefromcny]

is that rust a lot worse than it looks and the chrome was just really good so it gives a misrepresentation of the condition?

The rust is actually worse looking then it really is. Its light surface rust.

I've never cracked a craftsman or harbor freight socket though. I even have an 80's craftsman 3/4 set marked taiwan, which have seen some abuse and have been great. The sockets pictured above were all used with normal, short even, ratchets. The 1/4 drive pictured was broken with that size sk ratchet. I was pulling with both hands on a U-joint bolt.

 

[ChevyEFI]

If driven by a cheater, the square drive breaks before the socket does in my experience with SK.

Multiple splits like that and a full length split of a 1/4" drive socket aren't from non-impact use, nor is it from a 4.5" ratchet.

Your junk is what previous owners have made it with impacts. Sorry about your used sockets.

 

[454ragtop]

If driven by a cheater, the square drive breaks before the socket does in my experience with SK.

Multiple splits like that and a full length split of a 1/4" drive socket aren't from non-impact use, nor is it from a 4.5" ratchet.

Your junk is what previous owners have made it with impacts. Sorry about your used sockets.

Huh, really? I have a couple mid length 3/8" drive SK sockets here cracked, NEVER saw impact use. Not sure it's worth trying to get them warranteed. Have split most other brands at one time or another, non impact use, but the SK's do seem a little more brittle.
Jim

 

[2oolhound]

I've cracked a number of SK sockets when they were my go to tools in the 70's, 80's. They always cracked from the fastener end not the drive end. I used to jump up and down on my flex bar I know so I never worried about warranty issues, just replaced what I had to. All and all I had really good service out of those tools. Now a-days they're a dime a dozen for these old used sockets so who even cares about warranty? I've got so much of this cheap old stuff laying around I'll never break them all before I die anyway.

Took some photos of these that have been laying in the bottom of a box for 30 years. I'd bought my whole 1/2 set used and worked the hell out of them so they don't owe me anything. Also I wouldn't claim warranty on tools I bought used but that's just me. Pawn shop up the way sells this vintage at 50₵ a pop and they have plenty.

 

[Josey Wales]

I've seen my fair share of split sockets, I've never seen a socket split completely from the drive end alll the way to the business end, that is bizarre and I'll just leave it at that.

This

 

[Jerryrigged]

That is surprising. Never had an SK socket fail.

 

[Flivver250]

Return them for warranty. See what happens. Sockets get a lifetime of use and abuse. The scars will tell a story. If they had been on an impact in the past, they probably won't be warrantied. Replace them and treat the new ones a little nicer. Letting tools rust is a bad habit, road tools or not.

 

[uglyjacko]

I have 7 sockets that did exactly as yours, I sent them in for warranty last week, will keep you posted if SK will honor it.

 

[Ponchoguy]

SK should do the right thing, from what I've dealt with them so far, they are excellent.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

side loaded socket is more prone to failure...... often overlooked

 

[lightning02]

My father had this problem back in the 80s. Alot of his s-k sockets would just spit like that. He stopped using them. Not sure if they had a bad batch or what

 

[pauls_workshop]

I've got some old 70's or 60's SK sockets that split just like these. Not impact used. It did happen. Not alot, but I have a few. Haven't tried to warranty them but I may some time. I love SK in general. Super quality and design for decades. - Paul

 

[CNGsaves]

Likely a bad batch from back in the day. Never seen a clean crack like that end-to-end. Failures I've had on cheap sockets were jagged.

Should warranty them with SK as ultimately that's what help improve product. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I recently sent back 2 SK sockets that had cracked. These came to me through my dad's estate. I sent an email asking for instructions. Once mailed out the replacements were at my door in short order.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[markbugno]

I do a lot of picking and I do run into enough sk's split endo for it to stick out in my mind. Personally I've owned two.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[zcbauer89]

I've never seen a socket break like that. I've cracked sockets before, the last one was an old Thorsen, and it took a chunk out of the side, but didn't split. As 2oolhound pictures show, that what almost all of the cracked sockets I've ever seen look like. Coincidentally, those SK sockets are my favorite SK sockets, and I have never broken one.

 

[Thax]

The smaller sized sockets look like SK dresser sockets 72-76 ish. I have 3 sets from this era in 1/4 and 3/8 and no problems. Granted they are my backups at work so they dont get the majority of abuse but their doing ok. Send them into SK they will take care of you. Sockets split and ratchets guts break , its the nature of the beast.

 

[white 450]

I had to post and pile on here because the tags on this thread are hilarious! Too bad I don't have any HF to compare them too, only my Cman (which haven't cracked like this!)

I also have a couple cracked SK sockets, one from adjusting rockers on a SBC. After the hassle I went through to get a breaker bar repair kit I won't bother with these because I have too much of that old stuff to care about either.