Snap-On Flank Drive Extra
- Thread starter johninct
- Start date
Wamsutta
Well-known member
They are made for rounded off fasteners. That one guy on YouTube who took a grinder to a nut and said the Flank Drive Extra doesn't work - is an idiot. You guys know who I'm talking about.
He did a follow up video with rounding them off with wrenches, it was more realistic, and they still didn’t work
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Snap-on has never put out a product that doesn't work.
I'd like to tie that guy down with ratcheting cargo straps and then take the electric clippers to that stupid beard of his. Then wash his mouth out with soap.
kythri
Well-known member
I don't. Link to the video?
Htscheg
Well-known member
That guy is a tool!
Non-scientific testing aside; I’m not sure what problem these sockets were designed to solve. As daily use sockets they will become maddening since the bolt / nut is likely to stay in the socket and need to be coerced out. If you have a damaged fastener Turbo sockets or Astro flank bite are likely to work as well or better and don’t cost $400.
I appreciate Snap-on’s continuous efforts to build a better mousetrap and make mechanical work easier. Many of their tools (BJP1) are innovative and far better than the competition. This idea isn’t a clear winner though.
I appreciate Snap-on’s continuous efforts to build a better mousetrap and make mechanical work easier. Many of their tools (BJP1) are innovative and far better than the competition. This idea isn’t a clear winner though.
Yeah, you're supposed to round your bolts to exact Snap-On Specifications before using these, duh.
kelpaso1
MEMBER EMERITUS
Why would you say that? Seems like a pretty simple real world test. Round the nut with a wrench and see if the sockets can take them off. Sounds like someone else is the tool.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
I use my $10 Irwin Bolt-Grips extractors and yes something will move. Usually the nut and stud together in one piece.... https://www.irwin.com/tools/screw-bolt-extractors/5-pc-bolt-grip-expansion-set
Joel is a pretty unabashed Snap-on fanboy and he couldn’t really say anything good about them. If I ever had a need for a very tight tolerance fit I would buy that size. It’s hard to justify owning a set.
For real--he's honest, he's not a shill, and he's a member here. Whats not to like?
I thought the video was reasonable and realistic. The Flank Drive Extra didn't work. I am glad he did the video so we don't waste our money.
He rounded the bolts off too much. In the real world you would have gone to the Flank Drive Extra before the bolts were rounded off that bad. Now he needs to go the the Flank Drive 2X sockets or the new Flank Drive 3X set. (after that you just drop down a size)
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I didn't need the video to save me money because the regular Flank Drive sockets prevent rounding off the corners anyway.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
My toolman has shown me these socket 3 times and I've passed. I'm sure they work in the very specific circumstance they where designed for, but I just don't see rounded off stuff that requires the fastener be un-threaded that way. In my mechanical world, stuff that rounded is generally trashed and I'll cut 'em off with a whizzer wheel, torch em, or use the mini-ductor and then spin the fastener off with whatever with grab them even lightly after being red-hot....Ive got plenty of other tools I'd rather spend the money on.
Snap On isn't in the game to make gimmicky products that don't work. They take R&D seriously so that what's sold in their catalogue DOES work. These sockets are not a substitute for regular sockets, they are a 'specialty socket' to be used on specific ocaisions. Most decent tool co's have a similar product available. The design has merit whether some get it or don't.
plinker
Well-known member
This.
I noted that bolt outs/turbo sockets are considerably more useful doing automotive repair then when I was doing truck/equipment repairs.
Once something is rounded to a certain degree not much is going to remove it. The Matco non-slip sockets, spline or hammering a smaller socket on may or may not help. Turbo sockets can work, but not always. At that point you may have to just heat it or weld a nut on it and/or re-assess the repair method.
To me, a real world test would be to have a regular 6 or 12pt socket half engaged or sitting cockeyed on a corroded fastener that's been on the vehicle 10+ years and slip off. A spline wrench would work as well.
Before I handed over the money for flank drive extra sockets in a full set I'd look at other options that are specifically made for the same purpose by a tool co that specializes in the area. For instance I can get a full metric set of Metrinch deep 1/2" impact sockets for $80 delivered. They have a patented design that folks who own/use them say they do what they are designed too. They really put torque close to the middle of the flank on a fastener so rounded corners ain't so much of an issue and they don't cause further damage to 'grip' a fastener like the ribbed designs.
I know this is an older thread, but just wanted to add one thought that I didn't see anyone mention. I have the FDX mids, and even though it is a little annoying that the fasteners tend to stick in there at times, but there is an advantage in terms of installing as well as removing fasteners that are a deeper reach, in that you are prevented from dropping them due to the tight hold. I realize people may not buy a $200+ set of sockets just for this, but it is a nice advantage. Otherwise you need magnetic sockets or tape or rubber hose or just good luck. I personally bought them because I got the indexible ratchet free with it so I figured what the heck.
trpearcy
Well-known member
They’re poop. I bought a set, and hated them. Traded them in for a set of normal snap on sockets.
They’re good extractors, but they grip a little too tight, and I always ended up using a punch to knock the bolt/nut out of the socket
They’re good extractors, but they grip a little too tight, and I always ended up using a punch to knock the bolt/nut out of the socket
I think often where the problem lies with this type of socket is in the marketing claims. They set you up for disapointment or you feel the product doesn't work because they make huge claims like they will remove a fastener that's 80% or 90% rounded off. That's not the time to use these type of specialty sockets, your better off using them when the bolt is 10%-30% rounded off. But companies like big numbers as they drive sales, but in this case it ruins the design engineers intention of how the tool should work. With honest realistic marketing this type of tool would meet expectations. If Snap On said they work on bolts up to 50% rounded then Matco claimed 80%...what would folks buy??...this drives the false expectations & warped ideas of how such a tool should be used. It would really piss off the guys who designed them in the first place.
See I watched that video again & the sockets had better tolerance, had the most grip but the problem lies in folks 'expect' the tool to meet what's written on the pack & what the marketing claims are...and they judge them solely on just THAT. I don't think that guys a tool, I just think like everyone else who sees these sockets as a failure are doing so on the complete wrong basis. If the marketing claims were brought into line, the tool WOULD meet expectations and WOULD be the better option compared to the other socket styles tested. Average Joe believes marketing and takes it seriously which is why these sockets will always have a dark cloud over their head.
Maybe their marketing should be more realistic and truthful. Manage expectations.
They're a professional tool brand, not hocking a Roto Wrench on late night infomercials...
Absolutely, your right. But its a broader problem as EVERY manufacturer selling that design is doing the same, making huge unrealistic claims. And the problem lies in into the fact 'marketing' works and delivers sales results. So often a blind eye is turned with regard to a department that delivers so well. As I mentioned, the original designers of this tool design must shake their heads in disbelief when reading the rubbish attached tho the product. Big claims may deliver sales but industry techs want truth, facts & consistency in their brand choices. But as it appears mechanics with decades of experience have trouble working all this out, like in the video review where its suggested the product should be put in the trash bin when infact its a perfectly credible quality & legitimate product, no socket design would meet the ridiculous advertising sales slogans many co's use selling this type of socket. I have these sockets made by Kincrome (Taiwan) and they too claim it will remove 80% rounded off fasteners. I know from testing that its more inline with up to 40% in which they work well. Finally their is a crowd that loves cutting the legs off a top dog, will look for any reason to bash a high end brand, and until more honesty is put into marketing people will remain confused & disappointed.
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I bought that same set and the price seemed reasonable since they threw in the indexable 3/8 ratchet. I haven’t had much use out of the fdx sockets yet.. but I did get frustrated a few times trying to get them to fit on NON rounded fasteners
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CrazyTools
Banned
They actually do work for what they're designed for but they really aren't useful for rounded off fasteners. They're just a couple thousand clearance better than the normal socket. The whole point of using a Snap-on socket is you won't round off the bolt unless you're using an impact.
Much better off with a regular bolt extractor socket (or turbo socket? I think people call them) at that point like:
If the bolt is rounded you're going to replace it anyway. Nothing grips like an extractor socket.
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Handyandy23
Well-known member
So we've learned so far that these aren't meant for fasteners that are too stripped, but they also don't fit on non-stripped fasteners. So theoretically they're great on anything that's between 23.5% stripped and 34.25% stripped.
You just have to make sure you keep your stripping in that range and these will work perfectly!
You just have to make sure you keep your stripping in that range and these will work perfectly!
i wasnt impressed with them when they came out, with that being said i purchased the 3/8 metric set month or so ago, like them enough i bought the 1/4 set last week. I am using them on bolts everyday. Do a lot of work on new vehicles and on fasteners that are not painted they work great.