Socket Ball Detent Groove

[haneyrm]

I have a rail of both SAE and metric sockets that I’ve had sitting in the box for at least 15 years. No idea where I got them from and they have no name stamped on them.

I was doing a little cleaning yesterday and decided to add those sockets to a truck bag I’m putting together. Grabbed one of the sockets and popped it on a 3/8 ratchet and it came right back off. Tried another and same thing.

Upon closer look, none of these sockets have any type of a groove or indentation for the ratchet ball to lock into.

Are these just supposed to be friction fit or is there a type of ratchet they work with?

I have no recollection of where they came from or why I have them. My guess is they are junk from an old tool kit and I could not throw them away for some reason.

 

[Fedwrench]

They could be really old low-grade stuff that didn't come with cutouts for a drive tool's detent ball

It's been more than a while but, I've seen older sockets with four smooth sides on the square drive end.

 

[willf650]

I have a bunch of craftsman sockets that don’t have the detents. I warrantied some of them years ago when I noticed it but they are probably 20 years old.

 

[haneyrm]

Just went and checked again. The 3/8 rail is no name and just says Taiwan on them. No detents.

To my surprise, the 1/4 rail is made in USA Craftsman. No detents.

I may have gotten that Craftsman rail back in 1988 as a birthday gift. Got a big set for my b’day one year and I think these may have been included.

 

[Chipm]

I have some old Craftsman with no detents that came in a toolbox I picked up. For some reason I can't throw them away.

 

[rust in the eye]

These sound like ballast for the nearest wastebasket. Or, for fun, scatter them around the parking lot at your local builder's supply or hardware store.

 

[haneyrm]

Oddly enough, I’ve owned these sockets for roughly 37 years and it was just today that they started bothering me. I can barely stand the thought of using them.

I got round head ratchets with that kit back in the 80’s. I still have the ratchets and like them.

My dad got them for me at Sears Surplus so they have value to me that extends far beyond their functional purpose.

 

[KnurledNut]

Oddly enough, I’ve owned these sockets for roughly 37 years and it was just today that they started bothering me. I can barely stand the thought of using them.

I got round head ratchets with that kit back in the 80’s. I still have the ratchets and like them.

My dad got them for me at Sears Surplus so they have value to me that extends far beyond their functional purpose.

Could always drill a hole for retention.

 

[retDAC]

Or use a Dremel type with a ball end to make detentes.

 

[willf650]

Just went and checked again. The 3/8 rail is no name and just says Taiwan on them. No detents.

To my surprise, the 1/4 rail is made in USA Craftsman. No detents.

I may have gotten that Craftsman rail back in 1988 as a birthday gift. Got a big set for my b’day one year and I think these may have been included.

I believe the ones I have without a detent are all 1/4" Craftsman and they may date back to sometime in the 90s. I'm not sure but they certainly aren't recent production.

 

[rooster59]

Head scratcher, all my Craftsman dating back to ‘70 have holes or detents, sockets, extensions, ujoints, ¼, 3/8, ½.

 

[Mr_B]

wasn't uncommon come across 1/4 drive sockets without detent grooves, I guess they thought the ball drag would do on smaller/lighter sockets .
I guess it was production effort cost cut, I got some 1/4 Koken which possibly early 90's and they had a through hole on side of socket to catch detent (although this could be just a series for push pin retention like do on impact sockets) .
I would happily keep the Craftsman USA, totally understand sentimental value, have a few less than ideal tools that love using purely for that reason .

 

[cody1325]

I just checked two sockets I had laying around that I'd misplaced doing stuff around the house.

Challenger 3/8 drive 1/2 socket--no detent. 1970s?

Craftsman "V" 1/4 drive 3/8--no detent. Late '60s.

I think all of my old SKs are the same--no detents. 1950s era.

 

[Professor Gascan]

The 1/4 drive sockets from my 90's Husky USA set don't have detents, but the 3/8 and 1/2 all do.

 

[haneyrm]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds more common on older tools than I realized and I never noticed it. I checked my Gearwrench, Kobalt, Quinn, Crescent, modern Craftsman, Dewalt and Husky sets and they all have detents on all sizes. I also noticed that the no detent sockets hold better on some ratchets and fall off of others. The Husky 144’s seem to grab them the best so the sockets will be teamed with the Husky.

Definitely keeping them and they're going to ride out the rest of their days in my truck bag.

 

[KnurledNut]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds more common on older tools than I realized and I never noticed it. I checked my Gearwrench, Kobalt, Quinn, Crescent, modern Craftsman, Dewalt and Husky sets and they all have detents on all sizes. I also noticed that the no detent sockets hold better on some ratchets and fall off of others. The Husky 144’s seem to grab them the best so the sockets will be teamed with the Husky.

Definitely keeping them and they're going to ride out the rest of their days in my truck bag.

Look on the bright side, they wont get stuck on your impact anvil hog ring...