Stuck Wrenches and Sockets

[njc41980]

Pet peeve here.

I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, but does everyone else get as annoyed as I do about tools that get stuck on fasteners?

It seems like everything I'm working on lately is one of those situations where you have to reverse the ratchet and give it a good pop just to get it to let go of the bolt or nut you've been wrenching on. Lug nuts, sockets, ratchet wrenches, everything.

Grrrrrr.

Rant over.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Pet peeve here.

I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, but does everyone else get as annoyed as I do about tools that get stuck on fasteners?

It seems like everything I'm working on lately is one of those situations where you have to reverse the ratchet and give it a good pop just to get it to let go of the bolt or nut you've been wrenching on. Lug nuts, sockets, ratchet wrenches, everything.

Grrrrrr.

Rant over.

No disrespect meant, but are you sure you are using the correct size wrench/socket for each respective fastener?
Some SAE and metric sizes can run close enough that you think you have the correct size.

Unless I know for a fact that a fastener is a given size, I always cross-check with the 'other team' sizes that are slightly smaller or larger, just to be sure.

No question that fastener quality control is generally worse these days, leading to many 'mis-fits' of the kind you are describing.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

2nd that. Lug nuts is where I get the issue. Years of the same lug nuts getting impacted but otherwise there's not an issue unless it's rusted or rounded

 

[shoggoth80]

Pet peeve? Sure. I get it... It's annoying. It mostly happens to me on old hardware. Beat up, a little squished, slightly rounded etc. It's part of wrenching though, especially wrenching on older cars. Doubly so if you've gotta snap something off. Then I grab a beater screwdriver or a punch. Lol.

Outside of that, I would be quicker to blame the fastener as being out of spec than a given tool, provided you're using the correct size.

 

[dchawk81]

Pet peeve here.

I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, but does everyone else get as annoyed as I do about tools that get stuck on fasteners?

It seems like everything I'm working on lately is one of those situations where you have to reverse the ratchet and give it a good pop just to get it to let go of the bolt or nut you've been wrenching on. Lug nuts, sockets, ratchet wrenches, everything.

Grrrrrr.

Rant over.

In Pennsylvania you get used to it. It's all pus.

 

[njc41980]

No disrespect meant, but are you sure you are using the correct size wrench/socket for each respective fastener?
Some SAE and metric sizes can run close enough that you think you have the correct size.

Unless I know for a fact that a fastener is a given size, I always cross-check with the 'other team' sizes that are slightly smaller or larger, just to be sure.

No question that fastener quality control is generally worse these days, leading to many 'mis-fits' of the kind you are describing.

Yeah. No. I know what you mean though.

Feels like everything is sloppy and sticking lately - even when it the correct size.

 

[Zewnten]

Minimally sized hardware is becoming the norm, I'm sure it's to save money. Add in tools probably no longer at or not made to a tight fit and you have sticking hardware.

 

[dchawk81]

Minimally sized hardware is becoming the norm, I'm sure it's to save money. Add in tools probably no longer at or not made to a tight fit and you have sticking hardware.

I prefer a tight fit to a loose one.

 

[drmarkr]

I prefer a tight fit to a loose one.

"That's what she said...."

 

[mikey03]

Last month I got a 22mm wrench stuck on an O2 sensor. I think it mighta been 7/8” which is a bit larger than 22 but I don’t own a long box end 7/8 so I used 22 and it worked but I had to smack it off when I was done.

anyome know if they’re supposed to be 7/8 even on metric cars?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Last month I got a 22mm wrench stuck on an O2 sensor. I think it mighta been 7/8” which is a bit larger than 22 but I don’t own a long box end 7/8 so I used 22 and it worked but I had to smack it off when I was done.

anyome know if they’re supposed to be 7/8 even on metric cars?

O2 sensors are 22mm by standard.


What OP is describing is very common in PA due to rust. One of the reasons I can't understand people saying you don't need a reversible torque wrench. How else can I rotate the socket back and pop it free?

 

[dchawk81]

O2 sensors are 22mm by standard.


What OP is describing is very common in PA due to rust. One of the reasons I can't understand people saying you don't need a reversible torque wrench. How else can I rotate the socket back and pop it free?

Beat it off with a hammer.

 

[BTL-A4]

Pet peeve here.

I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, but does everyone else get as annoyed as I do about tools that get stuck on fasteners?

It seems like everything I'm working on lately is one of those situations where you have to reverse the ratchet and give it a good pop just to get it to let go of the bolt or nut you've been wrenching on. Lug nuts, sockets, ratchet wrenches, everything.

Grrrrrr.

Rant over.

I usually check the fit before I start putting too much force on anything. I've worked on stuff that has a mix of metric and inch fasteners, so I need to make sure the tool fits. For example, 22mm is 0.866", 7/8" is 0.875, a difference of 0.009". It is my understanding that manufacturing tolerances are about 0.005", so it would be easy to mix these two tools up.

I replaced an O2 sensor on my truck. The socket size was spec'd at 1-1/16". When I removed the old one, the socket was stuck to the sensor. I used a 27mm socket to put it back on. Either one should have worked (27mm is 1.0699", and 1-1/16" is 1.0625", so they are pretty much the same size). The other issue I had with that sensor is that it's an odd shape; the 1-1/16" socket was 12-point, the impact that worked was 6-point.

 

[rust in the eye]

Last month I got a 22mm wrench stuck on an O2 sensor. I think it mighta been 7/8” which is a bit larger than 22 but I don’t own a long box end 7/8 so I used 22 and it worked but I had to smack it off when I was done.

anyome know if they’re supposed to be 7/8 even on metric cars?

While 7/8" is about ten thou larger than 22mm that doesn't guarantee that a brand A 7/8" wrench will be larger than brand B's 22mm. I've measured wrenches out of curiosity* and can state for certain there is significant variances, sometimes amongst the same brand. Tolerance stack up between a fastener and tool easily could account for your troubles. Lugnuts, the type with stainless steel covers are another issue and the subject of another recent thread. O2 sensore are alway(for me anyway) problematic. I've seen (O2 sensor sockets marked both 7/8 and 22mm). The O2 hex' seems to be made of softer than usual steel.
* as an example I measured 13 wrenches, 7 19mm and 6 3/4". 19mm is .002 smaller than 3/4"(.750) EVERY one of the 19mm wrenches were larger than the truest to size 3/4".

 

[FigN⋅m]

Beat it off with a hammer.

Hopefully that's NOT what she said...

 

[claymont]

Pet peeve here.

I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, but does everyone else get as annoyed as I do about tools that get stuck on fasteners?

It seems like everything I'm working on lately is one of those situations where you have to reverse the ratchet and give it a good pop just to get it to let go of the bolt or nut you've been wrenching on. Lug nuts, sockets, ratchet wrenches, everything.

Grrrrrr.

Rant over.

How old are your sockets? Are they 12 point? Twelve point tend to do that more than six point. The newer six point sockets contact further down on the flat of the nut, away from the hex point. This helps to prevent the socket sticking on the nut or rounding it over.

 

[njc41980]

How old are your sockets? Are they 12 point? Twelve point tend to do that more than six point. The newer six point sockets contact further down on the flat of the nut, away from the hex point. This helps to prevent the socket sticking on the nut or rounding it over.

Thanks.

I do need to get more six points. Now I have an excuse.

 

[dchawk81]

Thanks.

I do need to get more six points. Now I have an excuse.

That's what we're here for.

 

[whateg01]

Beat it off with a hammer.

There's a dry rub joke in there somewhere

 

[whateg01]

...
I'm an armature that doesn't get to wrench very often, ...

That would definitely get my rotor in a twist. And don't get me started on alternator ways to spend my time. That just generates more work. Anyway, keep motoring on.

 

[dchawk81]

That would definitely get my rotor in a twist. And don't get me started on alternator ways to spend my time. That just generates more work. Anyway, keep motoring on.

Very good!