Socket Puller Thrown Together - success!

[3baygarage]

Just something kind of ridiculous but it did the trick.

So yesterday going through a mystery box I’d forgotten about, I discovered a battered KD 3/8 ratchet with a Snap On 10mm socket completely frozen to it.

Well, there was a small gap between the ratchet and socket due to the design. After plenty of failed attemps trying to pry the socket off at the gap with tiny pry bars and rolling head bar, clamping and re-clamping in the vise, beating both tools with plastic tip mallet, numerous attemps to clamp socket in the vise and knock the ratchet out with a punch, everything failed.

Today I decided to put some PB blaster in the socket and let it soak. It was so rusted it wouldn’t even penetrate around the drive square during the short time I left it, and about said screw it.

Then it dawned on me, how about the tiny bearing splitter. I couldn’t believe it just fit behind the socket! All I needed was something small in the socket, for the pressure screw to push against the drive square. I thought of what tiny odds and ends were around. Ahah! Nut driver bit.

Thought for sure the nut driver bit would snap or the puller would walk out but no. What a fight but I took my time. There was a loud pop and I thought the bit must have broke, but it had to be the detent ball when it eventually popped free from the socket. It scored the socket wall all the way up!

Not the most conventional use of these tools, but it got the job done.
What a tool, bearing splitters. And pullers, as well.

Some pics after I got it. Sorry about the lighting. The ratchet was clearly used as a hammer quite badly. No selector, and the QR button is mangled and won’t budge.

 

[3baygarage]

Pics cont.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I do a similar thing removing wheel locks. Pound on a 12 point, pull the wheel lock, press/splitter to push out the lock and on to the next one.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

All you had to do was use it regularly. I have no doubt that one day you will reach for it and the 10mm socket will have disappeared.

 

[Tallpilot]

All you had to do was use it regularly. I have no doubt that one day you will reach for it and the 10mm socket will have disappeared.

I think the last guy purposely stuck it on there to keep from losing it now it will join the rest of the "may they never be forgotten" 10mms.

Well, there was a small gap between the ratchet and socket due to the design.

Thank God for a crappy detent in the wrong place; otherwise you would have been screwed! But now you can get the socket warrantied over the incorrect detent.

Then it dawned on me, how about the tiny bearing splitter. I couldn’t believe it just fit behind the socket! All I needed was something small in the socket, for the pressure screw to push against the drive square. I thought of what tiny odds and ends were around. Ahah! Nut driver bit.

Cool story though; very ingenious.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Excellent work. I also thought about the hammer and punch. Glad you go did it your way, as I would have destroyed both tools, lost the punch and thrown the hammer. (I've had a few Thor moments in the garage).

 

[KnurledNut]

Good job.
You have more patience than me.
I would have beat the tar out of it with a brass hammer.

 

[Ipassgas]

Good job, and great thinking.

But . . . why? Because it's there is the only answer I can think of.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks guys, yes it helped to have the items there on hand.

All you had to do was use it regularly. I have no doubt that one day you will reach for it and the 10mm socket will have disappeared.

Lol, how did I know someone would say that. Isn’t that the law. I’ve lost more 3/8 or 5/16 personally.

Thank God for a crappy detent in the wrong place; otherwise you would have been screwed! But now you can get the socket warrantied over the incorrect detent.
.

Hah. Not SO detents. The good thing is it’s still usable.

Excellent work. I also thought about the hammer and punch. Glad you go did it your way, as I would have destroyed both tools, lost the punch and thrown the hammer. (I've had a few Thor moments in the garage).

There was a time a launched a sledge down the driveway (long story and bad move on my part) and luckily it skidded under my car without harm.


Perhaps I will cleanup the button and attempt to remove the ratchet guts. That looks like a couple hour project. If I get lucky and find a cheap rebuild kit.

 

[ssdave]

My question would be WHY? I'd have thrown that whole mess in the scrap iron or garbage instantly. Neither piece is in the condition I would want to use, after you got them apart. And, at the best case, you have a $10 ratchet and $16.40 socket, retail, new condition but in extremely poor condition.

Now, if you just want the challenge, I understand that, and have at it!

 

[3baygarage]

for the challenge I guess. I sure didn’t need either. A quick file over the notch the ball caused and it works fine for a 1990 made socket.

 

[MikeF2316]

My question would be WHY? I'd have thrown that whole mess in the scrap iron or garbage instantly. Neither piece is in the condition I would want to use, after you got them apart. And, at the best case, you have a $10 ratchet and $16.40 socket, retail, new condition but in extremely poor condition.

Now, if you just want the challenge, I understand that, and have at it!

I fix stuff I know I'll never use too. I guess it's just for the challenge.