I need to add to my spark plug socket collection. I've got Gearwrench magnetic for 5/8 and they work very well - no complaints. But, it looks like they don't have what I need for modern German cars (modern and many older ones). Any thoughts on the Koken sockets? They look well designed, anyone have experience with these specifically on BMWs requiring the thin wall sockets?
Spark Plug Sockets
- Thread starter Pinne
- Start date
GJ convinced me the clip-type Ko-Ken sockets were great. They were right. For me, they made all my other spark plug sockets obsolete. They don't make a clip type for the 12 point spark plugs, but they do for the 6. WAY less frustrating than the rubber and doesnt attract detritus like the magnets eventually do. They sell them individually. Try one, you might like it.
They don't seem to make the 9/16 (aka 14mm) thin wall sockets that the last few generations of BMWs require. Otherwise I'd definitely buy them - price / quality is solid on the Gearwrench stuff.
Thanks for the Koken feedback, looks like maybe they don't have the 12pt option that I may need sometimes.
Perhaps I'll need to mix and match. I'll check out Hazet and see if they've got what I'm looking for - sounds like they probably will.
WWheeler
Well-known member
Gearwrench definitely makes a 9/16". I don't work on beamers, and haven't ever ran into anything any of the Gearwrenches weren't thin-walled enough. I did have to very slightly modify the innards for Ford's Triton plugs.
.They make 12 point sockets in 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.8(13/16)mm. Z series, regular, extended length, universal. Try the Ko-Ken website and search for 12 point spark plug, they'll come up.
Dave455
Well-known member
Been using KoKen tools for some years.
Sometimes they win on price, sometimes price for the quality, sometimes they make a product that’s just better than everything else out there. Spark plug sockets are the latter.
They make plug sockets with spring clips that are my all time favourites. I have these in 3 sizes.
The spring clips don’t really work with 12 point plugs, but they offer their magnetic sockets in a 12 point 14mm.
I love their extended sockets, as you don’t leave the socket behind while removing it from an installed plug. Again, there is a 12 point 14mm version.
And for difficult access there are universal plug sockets. Once again, there is a 12 point 14mm version.
They offer another range of plug sockets in their Z Series / Zeal range that offer a waisted design, but I have never encountered a situation where the regular ones don’t work.
For info, spark plugs are generally made with Imperial sized hex’s. 16mm are actually sized for 5/8 hex, and 20.8 for 13/16. What the problem is in giving the correct size, I don’t know.
14mm hex plugs are different. I believe they are actually sized to 14mm, so you won’t find a 9/16 plug socket.
Somebody above mentioned Hazet. They are nice too, nice spring clips, and Hazet will offer something for BMW, but I slightly prefer the KoKen.
I have two BMW’s, but none that use the newer plugs.
Sometimes they win on price, sometimes price for the quality, sometimes they make a product that’s just better than everything else out there. Spark plug sockets are the latter.
They make plug sockets with spring clips that are my all time favourites. I have these in 3 sizes.
The spring clips don’t really work with 12 point plugs, but they offer their magnetic sockets in a 12 point 14mm.
I love their extended sockets, as you don’t leave the socket behind while removing it from an installed plug. Again, there is a 12 point 14mm version.
And for difficult access there are universal plug sockets. Once again, there is a 12 point 14mm version.
They offer another range of plug sockets in their Z Series / Zeal range that offer a waisted design, but I have never encountered a situation where the regular ones don’t work.
For info, spark plugs are generally made with Imperial sized hex’s. 16mm are actually sized for 5/8 hex, and 20.8 for 13/16. What the problem is in giving the correct size, I don’t know.
14mm hex plugs are different. I believe they are actually sized to 14mm, so you won’t find a 9/16 plug socket.
Somebody above mentioned Hazet. They are nice too, nice spring clips, and Hazet will offer something for BMW, but I slightly prefer the KoKen.
I have two BMW’s, but none that use the newer plugs.
14mm hex plugs are different. I believe they are actually sized to 14mm, so you won’t find a 9/16 plug socket.
I have a 10-15 year-old SK 9/16 spark plug socket that came in their plug socket master set; the across flats dimension is something like .010" larger than nominal, so it appears to be sized for 9/16 for whatever reason. I'm old, and in the US, and have never seen a 9/16 plug as you said. I went thru this years ago when changing the plugs on an Outback? as I didn't have a 14mm. The problem with the 9/16 SK was that it was barely long enough to fit the plug inside it; the 14mm Koken that I purchased after doing the job is long enough. I don't know if there was some rare application for a 9/16 plug, or if it was just a case of "9/16 is close enough to 14mm", but it isn't really long enough for modern spark plugs. 3/4" isn't a common spark plug hex size, but it's used on some lawn mowers for whatever reason, and even the modern NGK equivalent use the same hex size as the OE Champion from 40 years ago.
I have a 10-15 year-old SK 9/16 spark plug socket that came in their plug socket master set; the across flats dimension is something like .010" larger than nominal, so it appears to be sized for 9/16 for whatever reason. I'm old, and in the US, and have never seen a 9/16 plug as you said. I went thru this years ago when changing the plugs on an Outback? as I didn't have a 14mm. The problem with the 9/16 SK was that it was barely long enough to fit the plug inside it; the 14mm Koken that I purchased after doing the job is long enough. I don't know if there was some rare application for a 9/16 plug, or if it was just a case of "9/16 is close enough to 14mm", but it isn't really long enough for modern spark plugs. 3/4" isn't a common spark plug hex size, but it's used on some lawn mowers for whatever reason, and even the modern NGK equivalent use the same hex size as the OE Champion from 40 years ago.
Dave455
Well-known member
That’s interesting.
All these things evolve over the years.
A lot of older British plugs that folks assume are 13/16 SAE are actually 7/16 Whitworth.
You never know exactly what’s out there either. Not impossible that someone has made plugs with a 9/16 hex, especially if your set is older.
As far as I am aware, the 14mm / 12 point plugs were a BMW thing, The plugs are only offered by Bosch and NGK (BMW OEM’s) and only used on later BMW’s. BMW won’t have introduced something with an SAE size any more than with a Whitworth, so I’m certain they will be 14mm.
I say “later “ but they’ve got to have been around for a few years now. Be a few more years before I start seeing them in my part of the world though..
I rant into an issue like that. The attached pictures show two Snap On 14mm sockets and in front a Gearwrench 9/16" socket. All 3 NGK spark plugs are 14mm and the same model. As you can see the plug cannot fit deep enough into the Gearwrench socket to engage the flats.
That said, I've used this GW 9/16" socket in the past without isues. So it's not a problem with every plug, but these plugs for some reason don't fit properly.
Not pictured and I haven't used it yet, but I picked up a Koken Z-Series socket with the clip retention and it will fit those same plugs without issue just like the Snap On versions do.
It definitely is good to have multiple options for sockets for multiple reasons.
That said, I've used this GW 9/16" socket in the past without isues. So it's not a problem with every plug, but these plugs for some reason don't fit properly.
Not pictured and I haven't used it yet, but I picked up a Koken Z-Series socket with the clip retention and it will fit those same plugs without issue just like the Snap On versions do.
It definitely is good to have multiple options for sockets for multiple reasons.
Attachments
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I believe that the BMW Specific plugs by Bosch and NGK are used in the modular B58 and B48 engines. They may also be for the S58 in the M cars.
I just purchased the KOKEN plug socket for that reason.
I just purchased the KOKEN plug socket for that reason.
Ha! Glad I'm not the only person with a 9/16 plug socket that was too short for at least some modern plugs. Mine doesn't have a built-in extension so I was able to make it work by living with half of the total engagement of the ratchet. It was either that or almost no engagement on the hex of the plug. It worked out fine for me, no issues; but it was a lesson to get some proper 14mm plug sockets that were longer. I went thru all the measuring nonsense which is why I remembered that the SK were apparently 9/16 size; so maybe there was some miniscule application at one point that used a 9/16 hex?
WWheeler
Well-known member
Like I mentioned above, I just chucked my Gearwrench 9/16" magnetic swivel into a vise on my drill press and gently removed what was keeping me from fitting Ford Triton plugs all the way. I think someone here at the time said I'd ruined it and was going to have magnet breaking or falling out or some such, but that had to have been at least 5 years ago and I couldn't count how many Tritons got brought to me to do. Many Many. Word spread around I was regularly managing to get all eight out without breaking any and I suddenly became pretty popular. Wish I could claim I kept up that 100% success record. Close, but no, and for the few that tried to ruin my day the Lisle kit worked like a champ. Anywho, haven't seen any of those in a good while now and I've still never had any issue with that socket.
Really appreciate all the feedback and the Koken catalog pages posted here. I'm gonna see if I can fill out what I'd like to have from Koken first, seems like I was incorrect and they do have the full range I'd want. Otherwise, Hazet definitely has the euro specific tools.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
I was looking at this just the other day. I was surprised they don’t make a 19mm (3/4”) clip spark plug socket. Was wanting a set and outdoor power equipment uses 19mm a lot. where are you folks buying your koken here in the US?
Depends on the sale. Ko-Ken had a 20 or 25% sale for SEMA or Black Friday, can't remember which, and that was a decent deal. Zoro does not seem to have linear pricing among KoKen products so some outliers can be cheaper there with a 20% off coupon, but not everything.
Koken seems to mostly focus on what's common in Japan, so it's not surprising there's no 3/4 plug socket as I guess that's a US OPE thing. And they've really had no presence in the US until the last few years.
I've purchased most of my Koken from Palmac. DRPD is now another good source. There is also a Koken USA website, but it seems to be related to Palmac and is typically much more expensive. But they do have a few items that Palmac doesn't, or at least they did for me; for whatever reason.
SwissMetric
Well-known member
14 mm socket tolerance: 14.05 to 14.27 mm
9/16" (approx. 14.29 mm) socket tolerance: 14.38 to 14.55 mm
Unfortunately in most cases no match.
Koken is not commom in Switzerland, so bad as they manufacture lots of interesting tools without Stahlwille, Gedore (Blue, the Red line is low cost) or Hazet equivalent. I still like to have tools in my hand before deciding.
9/16" (approx. 14.29 mm) socket tolerance: 14.38 to 14.55 mm
Unfortunately in most cases no match.
Koken is not commom in Switzerland, so bad as they manufacture lots of interesting tools without Stahlwille, Gedore (Blue, the Red line is low cost) or Hazet equivalent. I still like to have tools in my hand before deciding.
Hazet 4766-2 is 3/8” drive, 14mm, 12 point and Hazet states that it has the spring clip.
4766-2 - HAZET – Das Werkzeug
www.hazet.de
There's a good chance I'll be needing a socket for the B58 soon......can you post p/n please?
Dave455
Well-known member
In 3/8 drive - 3305P for the regular socket
3305P - 250 for the extended
and 3345P for the universal.
These are all 14mm / 12 point / magnetic, which I think you need.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Tomstir, I checked on the socket I purchased and it shows 3305PZ / 239. Which if I remember is for the Z series socket. Dave455 provided a very good post and reply above.
HTH, Happy New Year!
Not clip style but magnetic, and seems to be well made compared to others that use a really thin "washer" style magnet (see drawing detail of magnet ring that holds the body of the plug rather than the edge of the hex).
3/8 Sq. Dr. Magnetic 6 point Spark Plug Socket 19mm
Input Drive Size: 3/8" Drive Shape: Square Length: 65mm Type: 6 Point Sparkplug Socket with Magnet Output Size: 19mm Opening: 6pt Magnet: Yes Product Dimension (Refer Line Drawing Image): D Size: 24.8mm H1 Size: 5mm H2 Size: 17mm L Size: 65mm
kokenusa.com
In 3/8 drive - 3305P for the regular socket
3305P - 250 for the extended
and 3345P for the universal.
These are all 14mm / 12 point / magnetic, which I think you need.
Thanks guys! Agreed that Dave455 nailed the info
Dave455
Well-known member
Thanks!
I should stress that while I own 2 BMW’s, neither has the B58 engine, so I’m not sure which plug socket is best for it.
The socket I use the most is the 16mm extended version (the long one - 250mm).
KnurledNut
Well-known member
3/4 plugs on some Japanese Honda or Kawasaki small engines, cant remember which right off. I work on both and keep a socket on hand. Also some Suzuki generators and common on Stihl.
I too am surprised Koken doesnt offer this size in a spring clip version.
Ruination Fan
Well-known member
I'm a fan of the Hazet 4766-3 for use on the newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
www.hazet.de
4766-3 - HAZET – Das Werkzeug
www.hazet.de