What are odd size sockets used for?

[Private Lugnutz]

By the way, leg, I just picked up a very unique and unusual set of wrenches, made in 1905, with a very unusual marking having to do with the difference between the USS and SAE/HexCap/Am Std standards. I don't want to let too much of this cat out of the bag yet, but please consider this a warning order. You will be all over this. I am hoping you, humber, HeelSpur, and I and others can get our heads together and figure it out.

 

[Lassen Forge]

That's OK, I had a dodge that took an 18.5 mm for the lug nuts. They had some goofy chrome cover on them, and once the sheet metal crimped on cover fell off (after about the 3rd time you changed tires), nothing normal fit. Finally found one (in 1/2" drive), but that was a chase.

But yeah, I'll be happy to take those /32 sockets off your hands...

 

[leg17]

By the way, leg, I just picked up a very unique and unusual set of wrenches, made in 1905, with a very unusual marking having to do with the difference between the USS and SAE/HexCap/Am Std standards. I don't want to let too much of this cat out of the bag yet, but please consider this a warning order. You will be all over this. I am hoping you, humber, HeelSpur, and I and others can get our heads together and figure it out.

Lugz I am always on the lookout for A.L.A.M. wrenches but yours may pre-date A.L.A.M. Looking forward to what you have uncovered.

EDIT: Might want to start a new thread.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Might want to start a new thread.

Oh for sure. Probably this coming Thursday or so.

 

[leg17]

At one time USS indicated a heavy pattern bolt and SAE a lighter pattern using smaller heads.
Years later USS became known as coarse thread and SAE as fine thread, confusing the issue.
Lately they seem to use 'Heavy' as the designation for the heavier pattern with the larger heads.

I mis-spoke. Should have said:

"Years later UNC became known as coarse thread and SAE as fine thread, confusing the issue."

My bad. Sorry.

 

[ttpete]

Older Delco stuff had 11/32 terminal nuts. Everyone else had 3/8.

 

[Provincial]

Older Delco stuff had 11/32 terminal nuts. Everyone else had 3/8.

11/32" hex is standard for #8 aircraft nuts. I find it all the time in electrical terminal block nuts, too.

 

[C lectric]

I find some of those "odd sizes" in electrical equipment. Keep them. You never know when you will run into those sizes.
Also seen them in older cars and machinery.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Speaking as retired millwright, heavy bolts were just a standardized UNC with larger heads. One of the old time timber companies required that "heavy" bolts be used on their machinery, like decks and conveyors. My partner "Damm it, I have to pack my full set of wrenches!" We had to carry our tools with us. But I didn't run across any x/32".

 

[jgromada]

25/32 i got one of those sockets and even a wrench too! Don't think i will ever use it, but I'm ready.

Here's another obscure one: 6.3 mm SK socket. & you can probably mention 4.5 & 5.5 mm . Not just the SAE sizes that have weird sizes.....

 

[ttpete]

25/32 i got one of those sockets and even a wrench too! Don't think i will ever use it, but I'm ready.

Here's another obscure one: 6.3 mm SK socket. & you can probably mention 4.5 & 5.5 mm . Not just the SAE sizes that have weird sizes.....

6.3 mm = 1/4"

 

[thehorse13]

If you like dragging old stuff home like me, then you'll certainly want those odd 32 sizes in your tool box. Without fail, I will come across a fastener that requires one or more of the sizes mentioned in this thread. Automotive is just one place you find these sizes. They also turn up in old gas pumps for example.

 

[n8n]

That's OK, I had a dodge that took an 18.5 mm for the lug nuts. They had some goofy chrome cover on them, and once the sheet metal crimped on cover fell off (after about the 3rd time you changed tires), nothing normal fit. Finally found one (in 1/2" drive), but that was a chase.

But yeah, I'll be happy to take those /32 sockets off your hands...

I replaced all of those awful things on my Jeep with McGard normal chrome steel. Those are the worst idea in the history of fasteners.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I had a late 90's dodge van for work and my own 02' dakota that both had those hateful lug nuts. The work van I certainly wasn't going to put any money into and my dakota I had convinced myself that they were certain to eventually recall that abomination for proper lug nuts but they never did so I suffered through it from December 01' until April 18' when I finally sold it.

 

[n8n]

I had a late 90's dodge van for work and my own 02' dakota that both had those hateful lug nuts. The work van I certainly wasn't going to put any money into and my dakota I had convinced myself that they were certain to eventually recall that abomination for proper lug nuts but they never did so I suffered through it from December 01' until April 18' when I finally sold it.

I think they're here to stay. See a lot of them on both Fords and MoPars. However I have the proper method to deal with those down pat because I ran into so many of the damned things because my friend for a while owned an oil change and brake kind of shop. They'll eventually get "swollen" enough that you just can't get a socket on them and then if you do beat one on it'll spin. If you regularly have your tires rotated that only hastens this process sadly. What you do is take an old beat up flathead screwdriver and just drive it through the end of the cap, then use it like a chisel to peel the stainless cap off. Then use a 1mm smaller than the nominal size socket to remove the nut.

Unfortunately the local parts suppliers did not sell McGard nuts but OEM replacements which made me feel bad knowing that eventually the same thing would happen again and that there was a better replacement. I had to purchase my own McGards off Amazon because I could not find them anywhere locally.

 

[Robbie B]

Quick question here; I've come across some odd sizes, and have a few myself such as my 31/32 and 21/32. I know there's also 19/32 and 25/32.



What were these used for? And are they still useful?



Thanks!

Odd size nuts and bolts.
[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]


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[Semi-hole mechanic]

I have my dad's old NB made CMan 1/2 drive socket set and it has 1 or 2 x/32 sockets. I also have i also have most of a set of DOE CMan wrenches that have a bunch of x/32 sizes. The DOEs are -_v_- and -v-, but I think all of the x/32 are -_v_-. I will look next time I venture out to the garage.