Pass through sockets are they worth it?

[rapid robert]

I just sold my original made in the USA o-ratchet set on eBay because I had used the set a total of about 3 times in the 20 years it took up space in my toolbox.

 

[Loscaldazar]

What did they use to use before these?

Often a specialty 90 degree offset box (there are a few pictures of them in this thread). The specialty tool can cost as much as an entire set of pass through sockets, and will be slower compared to the ratcheting pass through set.

I find that pass through sockets are also excellent at installing sensors on vehicles. I had to install a oil pressure and oil temp senders into the block of my car a year ago. The senders already had long wires on them, and there was no way a deep well socket would have worked. The galleys were the senders were being installed into were also recessed on the engine (below the intake manifold, this is a subaru boxer 4 I'm talking about), so a ratcheting wrench wouldn't work or even a deep offset box end. Pulled out my pass through set, put a 12in extension on the ratchet and the socket I needed. Insatlled in a few minutes. Saved me from either cutting off the wires to screw them in, or remove the intake manifold (which is a pain....) to be able to use a box end wrench. The $20 I spent on the craftsman set was completely worth it in time saved. I've also used it to do Subaru struts (which are similar to the VW struts).

I will say that if you need a pass through set, you probably already know you need one. Once I started working on Subarus, that was one of the first sets I bought, because you just can't do Subaru struts without them (or the expensive specialty tool).

 

[kctyphoon]

I wouldn't call these necessary - more of a universal set to take along with you to help condense tools.. Pass through ratchets have been used in line work for decades - I think they just got adapted to the automotive market.. They can offer some more clearence with having the ratchet fit around the socket instead of above it with these auto sets..

On another note - if you ever want to make yourselves an indestructible ratchet or break bar, just search ebay for a vintage Lowell wrench, and weld a short 1/2" extension into it..

Here is a vintage "pass through" line ratchet with interchanging sockets.. Most don't have the sockets sizes to change.. It's usually, 1 size to a wrench

 

[kctyphoon]

Here's one I have in my basement that I bought and refurbed.. This one would be a great candidate for a 1/2" extension welded into it.. It's a 3/4" male ratcheting wrench, instead of the female that would not have the nut driver protrude out of the wrench head.

 

[kctyphoon]

What's cool about these is the selector switch.. It offer forward, reverse, and "lock" so the socket does not turn in either direction

 

[HairMetal]

I know my dad had those offset box wrenches for some automotive stuff.I've never needed them that I could remember.

 

[ClineWrench]

Channellock has the 39100 Ultra-Access 16 piece pass-through set. Very small case and price; good to keep on hand for those special applications.

Sweet find Tool Pro. I think I'm going to make this one of my purchases in the next month or two. I like the look better than the craftsman version.

Thanks!

 

[HairMetal]

Well SO's making them so...shame on you for even asking such a ******* question.

 

[ImportTuner]

I was just looking at this pass through for use with a 1/4" air ratchet ...
https://spectools.com/shop/powerbox-combination-set/

 

[kctyphoon]

Husky makes a 3/8 (comparable) and 1/4" (comparable) set.. Only thing I thing HD fucked up with is they don't come with a case.. I hate tool sets with no real storage options. HF and gearwrench make sets as well.

 

[nicksnothereman]

They're like 20 bucks for the taiwan sets. You still won't use them. But hey, they're there right!?!

This is one of the things I got from kobalt for free...sitting in my garage for over a year. Look well made though. I don't think they're the 12 point kobalt style but they might be; shows how much I care about them.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I have used the craftsman and the hf sets. They are ok. I only really use them for working with threaded rod. That channellock set looks like exact same thing as HF.

Eventually I wanna grab this set for the larger sizes.

http://www.amazon.com/BOSTITCH-BTMT72287-Through-Socket-65-Piece/dp/B00F3ZY4Y0

Avoid the ''universal'' sets that aren't sae or metric. They are junk unless you spend a lot of money on spline drive stuff from a good company.

 

[neophyte]

I have used the craftsman and the hf sets. They are ok. I only really use them for working with threaded rod. That channellock set looks like exact same thing as HF.

Eventually I wanna grab this set for the larger sizes.

http://www.amazon.com/BOSTITCH-BTMT72287-Through-Socket-65-Piece/dp/B00F3ZY4Y0

Avoid the ''universal'' sets that aren't sae or metric. They are junk unless you spend a lot of money on spline drive stuff from a good company.

The advantage to the "universal" sets is they can be use on triangular, square, and other weird drives the average person might not have the correct socket for. I also presume they do less damage than vise grips or channellocks.

 

[neophyte]

One of the advantages with the pass thru sockets that was mentioned when Armstrong was selling their version, was that the drive design is actually capable of higher torque than a regular square drive. Armstrong was referring to their drive design, but twisting the square drive off breaker bars and ratchets does happen, so they may be better for higher torque situations.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[neophyte]

I think he's referring specifically to the style like these Kobalt sets, where the sizes are "in-betweener" sizes designed to "fit" both SAE and metric (but in reality, sloppily fitting both).

A lot of manufacturers have combined this idea with spline drive (which fits different fastener shapes) so they can advertise their tools as fitting a million different fasteners.

I figured this was the issue. Having universal sockets that fit sloppily isn't as nice as one that fit like a glove, but there are times were the "universal" sockets can help get something off that otherwise would need a more damaging tool to remove. Since the universal spline type sockets can be used with some of the same ratchets and accessories as the regular hex pass thru sockets, buying a spline set in addition can help with those "oh f**k" instances. You shouldn't purchase the universal type thinking it will work as well as a set of SAE and metric though.

 

[hangfirew8]

Avoid the ''universal'' sets that aren't sae or metric. They are junk unless you spend a lot of money on spline drive stuff from a good company.

Another way of looking at them is as disposable tools. Hammer a splined socket on a rusted fastener, remove, toss them both together, not worth the time to get them apart.

 

[Hammer1963]

To answer the original question, if you use them, then they are worth it. Personally, I have some specific uses for them with collision work so to me they are worth the investment.

 

[jahanger]

Where pass through sockets shine is with an extension doing valve adjustments on diesel engines, stick it on and stick a screwdriver or allen wrench through the opening and have at it

 

[chusett]

Pulled out my pass through set, put a 12in extension on the ratchet and the socket I needed. Insatlled in a few minute.

Can anyone here direct me to where I could find a 12 in hollow/pass through
extension?? Most I can find is 6in

 

[Loscaldazar]

Can anyone here direct me to where I could find a 12 in hollow/pass through
extension?? Most I can find is 6in

My bad with saying 12," I used two 6" extension for this.