What are 8pt sockets for??

[Farmall450]

That's what I came to post. Used to mess with them a lot back when I was working in industry. I work on trucks now, and use my 8 points on drain plugs, hydraulics, and slack adjusters. Every once in a while I run across a budd nut. But those things are rare, at least on the trucks I see.

Also pretty common in plug applications are their male counterparts:

I have a partial set, but really only use 1/2", 3/8" and 10 mm with any frequency. If you're just using the business end of the ratchet or extension to bust these loose, do your knuckles a favor and pony up a couple bucks for a socket designed to sit in the plug recess.

Why not use an extension, they're the same specs?

 

[RedneckWelder]

Why not use an extension, they're the same specs?

While the socket and extension may be the same nominal size an external square socket will fit the drain plug hole a little better and this can make the difference when you are dealing with a damaged plug (I often see older drain plugs where the square is being stripped out due to some numbnuts sticking an impact gun anvil in there...nothing wrong with using an impact gun to remove a drain plug, just it's better to use an extension or socket that fits it because it will seat deeper) or when one is highly torqued (i.e., the last mechanic that worked on it was ******* King Kong and he torqued it to the high side of the German torque spec of gutentite). Basically it's just easier on you to use the proper socket for it vs. the extension if you do a lot of them.

 

[dsgreen3]

Where can you buy 8 pt sockets?

 

[Farmall450]

4 Point Square nuts and bolts, of course!

 

[LB-1911]

Where can you buy 8 pt sockets?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004WAO9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[oldgoat]

I've used them for square nut and bolt heads and some pipe/drain plugs have square heads.

 

[finn]

Also used for square bolts and nuts. I'm not sure when they disappeared but I have a couple of cans of them that my grandfather owned sometime in the 30's-50's.

I don't remember ever seeing one except for old farm equipment.

This: I "inherited" many cigar boxes full of old square head bolts and nuts that my father and probably my grandfather saved from the '20's through the '50s. The SK 1/4" drive set from grandpa includes a lot of square drive sockets too.

Pretty much obsolete now.

 

[bob15]

Where can you buy 8 pt sockets?

Wright tool:

3/8 drive: http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-379-3-8-Drive-11-Pc-Special-8-Pt-Std-Socket-Set-3344p51144.htm

1/2 drive: http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-450-1-2-Drive-13-Pc-8-Pt-Socket-Set-7-16-1-1-4-2715p51437.htm

 

[Jwych]

Slack adjusters on semi tractors and trailers have square heads sometimes 5/16 8 point sockets works for these. I also run into a lot of square plugs on air valves!

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

There are many square plugs used on heavy equipment. Probably transmission drain and fill plugs, hydraulic tanks, etc. I say this not so much from experience but a equipment mechanic bought some large 8 point sockets I had.

The drain/fill plugs on the Ford 9" rear end and the Jericho transmission on my Cup car use them. But rather than an 8 point socket, I use a very large adjustable wrench to loosen/tighten them. The flats are huge, should be impossible to round them off unless you're really, really stupid.

 

[billybudge]

There seem to be a big growth in manufacturers using square nuts on self locking bolts, very popular on metal shelving and other furniture,
Also lots of brake and hydraulic systems, use square plugs, manufacturers like Bendix Ltd etc.

 

[Big Vic]

Only use my 1/2 inch drive 5/8 8point on the square plug of semi- truck differentials. Its the only one I own.

 

[Farmall450]

Where can you buy 8 pt sockets?

Sears. Probably still US there too.