Snap-On Locking Sockets

[DSLTRK]

Does Snap-On still make 1/2 dr locking impact sockets in SAE sizes? I can't seem to find them anywhere. If not, does any good USA made tool company make them? Thanks

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

never heard of locking sockets, what are those?

 

[DSLTRK]

never heard of locking sockets, what are those?

Instead of a ball-detent, they have a pin that you push in to disengage the socket.
They are used when tightening lugs, or for construction work such as millwright/tower assembly to protect workers below if a socket falls off a tool. Below is an extension with a locking pin. Can't seem to find any sockets though...

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

oh, those. you didn't say anything about extension, so I misunderstood.

Does Snap-On still make 1/2 dr locking impact sockets in SAE sizes? I can't seem to find them anywhere. If not, does any good USA made tool company make them? Thanks

you said SAE sockets.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

here are the pin locking extensions, but they are rated for power tools, not air (impact) tools?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=&Group_ID=674932&store=snapon-store

 

[DSLTRK]

No, I need the sockets, I just used the pic of the extension's locking device for clarification.

 

[byoungblood]

I did happen to see one or two in 3/4" drive at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. They have a small pin where the detent hole normally is, and were labeled "Locking Socket" or something similar. If I had need for some of those larger sizes I probably would have picked them up, since they were selling them for about $2 each.

I didn't look at the date code, but just based on the other sockets the guy was selling, I'd say they were probably 50s or 60s vintage.

 

[kunkernator]

I have never seen a detent-pin socket. Are you just referring to the sockets with the hole in them for the detent to seat?

I am just having a hard time picturing a socket with a pin. To help clarify, is the pin on the socket female or male?

 

[woody 73]

I have not seen the socket pin in donkey years (as my wife would say); I thought they stopped many years ago.

 

[dirtmister16]

i don't think ive seen any impacts without the hole in them for that. now chrome is hit or or miss, ive seen a few on and off but nothing in a set from any company.


are new impacts by snapon and so on, setup without the hole? ive never paid attention to it.

 

[DSLTRK]

I have never seen a detent-pin socket. Are you just referring to the sockets with the hole in them for the detent to seat?

I am just having a hard time picturing a socket with a pin. To help clarify, is the pin on the socket female or male?

The locking sockets are like a normal impact socket with a simple hole drilled through the side, but also have a small button crimped in the hole to facilitate easy removal of the socket. I've haven't seen many 1/2 drive locking sockets, but many 3/4 and 1 inch drive. Picture is below, courtesy of Alloy Artifacts

 

[snapmom]

 

[kunkernator]

Interesting sockets, do you push the pin in to unlock it? So it is locked on until you press it?

 

[DSLTRK]

Interesting sockets, do you push the pin in to unlock it? So it is locked on until you press it?

yes it locks on until you press the button.
I find it frustrating when a socket falls off the ratchet while you're up 100 foot in the air tightening structural bolts. It's also a safety issue.
It seems like the 1/2 drive locking sockets were abandoned due to costs involved in their manufacture. I may have to fab a tool to insert through a std impact socket hole to depress the pin.

 

[dirtmister16]

if you only need for a few sockets, can't you just drill the hole yourself? just another thought that popped into my head.

 

[kiatech]

All my cheap cr-v impact sockets have holes in them.

 

[TwoInch]

if you only need for a few sockets, can't you just drill the hole yourself? just another thought that popped into my head.

All my cheap cr-v impact sockets have holes in them.

they all have the hole...

he is looking for the sockets that will allow him to release the socket off a locking extension... which without those type of sockets, you would need a small punch type thing to insert through the hole in regular impact socket, to get it off the extension.

 

[nimbleVagrant]

I've got a couple old chrome 1/2 drive Blackhawk Lock-On sockets. I've never seen impact sockets with the same mechanism. The Snap-on Industrial catalog might have what you're looking for.

 

[DSLTRK]

they all have the hole...

he is looking for the sockets that will allow him to release the socket off a locking extension... which without those type of sockets, you would need a small punch type thing to insert through the hole in regular impact socket, to get it off the extension.

Exactly.
I also perused my Snap-on catalog from 1996 and didn't see any button lock sockets. It looks like I'll just need to make a tool from a small 10-32 or 8-32 bolt/or similar.

 

[Ironhorse]

Ok..that is a nice picture...what size is that socket?

 

[snapmom]

Its a 1/2 dr 1-1/4

 

[Ironhorse]

Its a 1/2 dr 1-1/4

so the L-400 1/2 on the socket means L=Locking, 400=? and the 1/2= 1/2 drive side...so what is the 400 for? I have never seen that on a socket

 

[byoungblood]

Yup, that's what the ones I saw looked like. Wish I had bought one now just for the novelty factor. Doubt I would have ever used them though, they were all 2"+.

 

[snapmom]

A quote from the AA site, yapping about the early numbering system for Snap on sockets.
"Models numbers for 1/2-drive 6-point sockets were given the form "NO. xx0", where ** is the size in 32nds, but a lack of foresight caused these numbers to collide with the numbers used for 5/8-drive sockets. Hence when the 1/2-drive 15/16 size (and larger) sockets were created, their model numbers were appended with a small "1/2" to make them distinct from the "NO. 300" (and up) models already in use. (This glitch in the numbering system persisted until 1950!)"

 

[supra90turbo]

My old craftsman impact sockets all have holes in then so you can insert a pin or awl to "unlock" the socket.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I believe they stop making the push button lock a long time ago and I only seen it on the 3/4 size, now they have the pin with the o-ring to lock the socket on. I think it's the european standard for impact tools or you can use the new style of locking extensions that have the push button on them.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I forgot to mention that the sockets got to have the groove in them.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The actual locking pin is always found on the male part of the drive, the anvil of an impact, the end of an extension (as shown above) or the end of a flex universal, etc. The socket has either a plain hole in it, or has a button to push which in turn depresses the locking pin on the impact, extension, etc.

The push button on the socket DOES NOT have any locking function itself, it only acts as an EASY RELEASE of the lock pin.

I think Williams still makes some sockets with the release button on them.

Charles