Socket Length?

[jeejay]

Was fastening a spare tire bracket that I halfway fabricated for a vehicle roof rack, using a tiny 1/4 drive sliding T handle to get under and hold a bolt head, but the 7/16" socket was 1" long, which was a litte too much for the handle to fit over some of the raised areas on the roof. So I had to just hold the socket alone, and get two of the four bolts not quite as tight. Anyone have sockets that size closer to 1/2" in length?

Maybe I can find a tiny wrench to use otherwise. I think it's okay for now, but that's kind of annoying after making a bracket and all not to have a small enough tool handy (I had to slide the T-handle around to get in between 3" squares, but its extended handle length was necessary also for a good enough grip, so a socket would be nice). Wait a minute, forgot I had crowfoot wrenches... well since I typed this out, what about other sockets? Saw something about low profile ones here, didn't see a length given.

Besides, I didn't have 1/4 drive crowfeet, so I'll look for those (they are definitely lower profile sockets for this kind of thing).

 

[popparoach]

http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/22976-9-piece-low-profile-socket-set-sae-oem.html
10 bucks.

 

[jeejay]

Good deal, so 50% more clearance compared to standard size would be 1/2" length it seems. Do you know if they fit the standard size drive?

 

[popparoach]

yes.3/8 drive.i bought a set to check the quality and they seem good.made in taiwan.

 

[popparoach]

http://m.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-dual-head-ratchet-67993.html with this type of ratchet you would have room to spare.if you do order the sockets ,the code "save10" takes 10 percent off.

 

[jeejay]

Thanks for the info, I checked one out the other day too. My little T handle is only 119mm long, and has to be slid back and forth between squares to drop it down in there, so I'm thinking that's the largest handle I can use (and a fixed-length one would have to be micro stubby).

 

[popparoach]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22482

 

[jeejay]

Oh yeah, and I'm thinking maybe a reducing sleeve adapter could allow me to use a 3/8 drive piece on the 1/4 drive handle without increasing its profile too much.

Whereas 1/4 drive crowfoot wrenches are rather eccentric (3/8 are the standard drive size for those).

 

[T45]

You can get 1/4 inch sockets in 18mm and 22mm tall heights from snap on. or use their p/n to find off label copies. A cman used to be also 22mm tal (7/8 inch) for example. The 18mm sockets are low profile models, so search for those specifically. the fit a normal sq drive so can use with your t-handle.

(You can't use low profile 3/8 on a 1/4 t handle wihout an adapter which adds un-necessary hassle cost and stack height.)

 

[619DioFan]

http://m.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-dual-head-ratchet-67993.html with this type of ratchet you would have room to spare.if you do order the sockets ,the code "save10" takes 10 percent off.

I have that ratchet and the longer flex head one. they have made many jobs easier. well worth the money IMO.

 

[619DioFan]

Some other options - a gear wrench or trim down an existing socket to fit.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Use a lock washer, hold the bolt head with your pinkie till it starts to grab, then blast the nut with an impact.

Or this

Or lop a little off the socket with a cutoff wheel

Or maybe

 

[jeejay]

(You can't use low profile 3/8 on a 1/4 t handle wihout an adapter which adds un-necessary hassle cost and stack height.)

I think the reducing sleeve type of adapter (which only goes from smaller to larger drive, because the smaller one fits inside) adds just a couple millimeters extra, there's a pic comparing one to a standard length adapter side by side. Saw that OEM Tools make a couple of those (and other low profile adapters) too. The thinner ones use a magnet to connect them (and looks like there's a hole on the sleeve for the friction ball also).

You can get 1/4 inch sockets in 18mm and 22mm tall heights from snap on.

Nice that they list dimensions.

 

[MDK22]

Ratcheting flex wrenches, stubby wrenches, stubby/low profile sockets, low profile ratchets, breaker bar (often the thinest), and crows feet. All of them are viable options.

 

[jeejay]

Yeah I don't know what all would work, the only problem with a 3x3 inch square grid (which is also low profile in clearance, yet over an inch deep with steel rod layers) is that a handle short enough to fit within from a sharp angle is not necessarily long enough to get a good grip on (I can't get my hand fully inside it, so the handling is more about getting mid-finger resistance than finger tips on it, whereas if the bolt is toward the middle of a square, I can't get to a stubby handle very well, as the grid borders block part of it). The sliding T might techically be considered stubby, but one that doesn't slide would not drop in and around there unless it was half its length (which has to do with getting it under the bracket, and over elevations on the roof, not simply in the grid). Part of this had to do with the socket being too long, of course.

I had initially mocked it up with wing screws and wing nuts, but wanted to use high grade nuts and bolts with more strength and tension (almost there).

 

[BK13]

Maybe KoKen Zeal sockets?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gdocktor3]

Some pictures would help.

Remember this next time you fab something up. Make sure you have access to the fasteners. Perhaps some flex head ratchet wrenches would work?

 

[jeejay]

Yeah, I mocked it up with wing nuts and screws, so I had enough access to tighten better bolts as much. I'll take a snapshot when I go back and do the final torquing on that though.