Square drain plug sockets?

[CoogarXR]

I recently had to change the differential cover on my wife's blazer. The differential has the 3/8 recessed square cap screw for a drain plug. I read all kinds of horror stories about how some people had a ***** of a time getting it out. I was all ready for a rough time, but I put a 3/8-1/2 adapter on my 1/2" breaker bar and it came right out with no issue.

The thing I noticed was, the cap screw wasn't very deep, and the rim basically rested right on the detent ball on the socket adapter. So if you didn't keep downward force on it, it would push out, and you'd probably round out the cap screw (which is probably where most of the horror stories began).

So I was thinking about buying a set of the square sockets just in case I run into a tough one. I just wondered if you guys use an actual square socket, or do you just use extensions/adapters on square-recess plugs/caps?

I know it's a small investment. I'm just bored and felt like chatting about square sockets, lol.

 

[sberry]

The thing is with stuff like that,,, you got the job done and while its tempting to want to prepare for every what if soon you got a collection of stuff you never use again. I got it. Ease of shopping is different than it was decades ago,,, now I tend to let the store keep more of it till I really need it unless its a stop production issue or I know I will eventually use it.
I been working the last while trying to use a lot of that old stock up,,, missed one the other day and had a new water pump on the shelf. Hose clamps, threaded male adapters, sanding disks a different matter than some specialty tools. It I got a reasonable possible way to do it with a tool I already have then I do it. A bit different for a guy in his 20's and headed in to a career as a truck or ag mechanic etc.
Same for a lot of these tools,,, while a Metabo premium may get some long life out of it a retired exec working on a couple hobby cars cant wear out a black and decker.

 

[gungatim]

When I worked at an oil change shop in my youth, I probably checked 30-50 diffys a day.

all we ever used was just a plain old 3/8 ratchet. sometimes had to clean the junk out of the plug and tap the ratchet in, but we never used a square socket. maybe an extension once in a great while...

FWIW.

 

[matt_i]

I've had good luck tapping in a virgin HSS lathe square toolbit blank, then using an adjustable wrench.

The HSS is quite hard and not super brittle. The corners have a bare minimum radius just so you don't get sliced. I would guess .004" corner radius or less on the sides. I just try to keep the wrench up close and dont generate a bunch of elastic torsion in the square.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Most plugs that arent fucked i can just use a ratchet. The ones that are rusty and already been half stripped i have an extension thats chopped right below the detent ball, so i have a nice short square end to drive in with a hammer when needed. Sometimes you gotta jam a bolt in the square end and tack weld it on to get the plug out. A square socket wont be any help when you encounter high miles rust belt trucks.

 

[king nero]

I milled some square ends on 3/4" hexagonal bars, but that's only because I have easy access to bits and bobs of chromoly, and a milling machine.

 

[KnurledNut]

Some of these are actually 10mm pipe plugs which is slightly larger than 3/8.

 

[Bretny]

OP wants a 3/8 square adapter for his 3/8 ratchet...no one has a pic of one? Lol

 

[richfinn]

Facom are really good at this kind of thing, mine are from the 1980s probably

 

[matlok]

I haven’t had the issue come up yet, but when it does I’ll probably pick this set up:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2YGB06/?tag=atomicindus08-20


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[ex-x-fire]

HF used to have a really good plug socket, Been using it daily for nearly 10 years now. Never broke one but they don't sell it anymore.
Heres a trick on the internal square plugs, when they get stuck heat em and cool them quickly. This lets them break loose easily.

 

[RTM]

I've had good luck tapping in a virgin HSS lathe square toolbit blank, then using an adjustable wrench.

I did something similar a long time ago, but not with HSS, regular square stock from the local Ace. CleaNed the plug to get full depth, cut the bar off just past adj wrench depth to limit twist, and away we went. Forget what size now, but wasn’t 3/8”.

 

[Chucktin]

When I was a grease monkey we had a dog-bone wrench with multiple square (4 sizes?) male extensions on each end. Probably have to find one on eBay or at a flea market now.

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[dubdoc]

I have a full set.

 

[alfazer]

These can work quite well, especially on odd sizes or worn plugs.

EDIT: I just saw chucktin's post above

 

[neophyte]

I haven’t had the issue come up yet, but when it does I’ll probably pick this set up:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2YGB06/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

SK also manufactures at least a couple Pipe Plug socket sets, although the price is higher.

 

[Jacobson]

If the hole was shallow, how would square bits help? They will get the same shallow depth at a 3/8" ratchet. I agree with wire brushing the hole, pressing firmly while turning.

 

[BlitzcrankJapan]

I always use the proper tool. I have many square sockets.

One of the main issues with using the ratchet drive is that almost all are chamfered to help when putting a socket on. This chamfering on the front edge along with the fact that a lot of square cap bolts are shallow causes them to slip out. Obviously once it slips out you have damaged the edges.

I have 4 actual drain plug sets.
And a number of additional square sockets such as a 13.1mm for Subaru differentials. Note it is not listed as 13mm. This makes the 12.7mm (1/2") a very sloppy fit when used in them.

To Jacobson above. The square bits help because they don't have the chamfer like almost all ratchet drive ends do. Especially important when the 'hole' is shallow.

 

[Wrench97]

I bought a set years ago I needed a 3/16" square pipe plug socket for plugs in a Detroit Cylinder head, they are still in my top drawer and I see them almost every day probably have not touched any of them in close to 25 years................................................

 

[Chucktin]

It's not a popular (?) item for sure but somebody still fits them to differential covers.
That dog bone wrench is for drum plugs I think. Ours was similar.

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[plinker]

I have a set of pipe plug sockets, the main ones that get used are the 3/8 and 1/2, I should get a 10mm one of these days though. I do have S-K in both sizes plus a 3/8 drive Snap-on set. The 1/2 is/was mainly used on semi trucks.

I also frequently use the Grey penumatic impact versions I have (3/8 & 1/2) though they are more square, not rounded like the others, and dont always fit a rusted plug well, but on a worn plug they tend to fit better.