What are "Wobble Plus" & "Locking" extensions

[sberry]

I have some in 3/8, bought them off the shelf at the parts stores, ATD for something like 12$ for 3 piece. They worked so good we got another set.

 

[ClineWrench]

What kind of work are you doing at your Ford dealer Wild?

I'm seriously looking at wobble plus, but can't quite justify it...yet.

 

[BFHtime]

I find that it is easier to get a socket on a nut with the wobble plus extensions, and some times when I apply force axially they do push all the way on , but if I can push it on by then, I usually have enough clearance to do such action. If it pushes on when I do not want them to, I will back out the extension to wobble mode, and then try again using two hands to keep from pushing the extension into the socket again.

I find the wobble plus to be an advantage in most situations, but there can be times when it makes it a bit more challenging.

 

[cheechi]

Am I right in assuming the wobble plus, when you push it, you don't need to be straight on (square) with it only one side can be used to drive so long as it's pushed into the socket's drive?

Kind of hard to describe, do all 4 sides of the square drive part need to be inside the socket's drive or can it work well without slipping on fewer than 4, even as little as 1 edge making contact?

 

[sberry]

What kind of work are you doing at your Ford dealer Wild?

I'm seriously looking at wobble plus, but can't quite justify it...yet.

This is a good case for looking for reasonable price, there is no need to do without and spending 12 or 15$ on a set takes so much of the pain out of it, if you find something super useful or demanding then upgrade it a little.

 

[franzdom]

Am I right in assuming the wobble plus, when you push it, you don't need to be straight on (square) with it only one side can be used to drive so long as it's pushed into the socket's drive?

Kind of hard to describe, do all 4 sides of the square drive part need to be inside the socket's drive or can it work well without slipping on fewer than 4, even as little as 1 edge making contact?

What you are asking about is actually how the wobble ones work, the plus part needs to be straight, all four sides go into the socket, just like a std extension.

 

[cheechi]

See that's what I was thinking. So how are you needing a wobble to get to something that a straight extension is too long, then suddenly have clearance to get at it straight on? I get some things don't have the length/depth but for that many people to be loving these, I'm clearly missing something.

 

[franzdom]

I think it's a matter of not having to have both types of extension sets, dual purpose.

 

[wildstyle]

What kind of work are you doing at your Ford dealer Wild?

I'm seriously looking at wobble plus, but can't quite justify it...yet.

Everything from front ends and brakes to engines and electrical

 

[sberry]

They are a cheap simple reliable tool and they do work good. A guy can find enough uses they are worth having and replace a lot of fooling with universals without adding length. In the long run I am not much of a gadget or special wrench guy, I can figure out how to do it with basics but these are worthy of a reasonable investment.
Its not money sitting on the sideline, if you are remotely busy will use them on occasion and they can be real problem solvers.
Like most extensions I am not fussy, kind of like screwdrivers, there end up being survivors, all the way from pieces left from 5$ socket sets of the 70's to the best but a guy probably uses only a few faves after a while. Cost doesn't have much to do with it.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I have the Tekton wobble plus and they aren't too bad. I wish the straight drive feature was a little more locking somehow but what do you expect from a cheaper tool and dual purpose at that.

 

[cheechi]

I think it's a matter of not having to have both types of extension sets, dual purpose.

Must be.

 

[unslow1]

Where I have found the wobble plus to be of most benefit is bellhousing bolts. Especially on rear wheel drive V8 cars. I used to try to get those out with a different extension/ujoint combination on each bolt. With the wobble plus it mostly eliminates the changing setup for each situation.

 

[sberry]

That came to mind for sure and last one I used that was perfect was a long one on air comp motor.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

The best setup is when you use a flex head ratchet with a universal joint and a wobble plus extension on that, then a universal joint with a wobble socket on the end of it. There's no bolt you can't reach!

 

[Adam.C]

So how are you needing a wobble to get to something that a straight extension is too long, then suddenly have clearance to get at it straight on? I get some things don't have the length/depth but for that many people to be loving these, I'm clearly missing something.

There are many different scenarios, but let me give you one:

If you are working in a restricted area, maybe very little access to a bolt head, can't see it from the side you are working, for example. Just getting a socket with a fixed extension on the bolt head can be challenging. The longer the extension, the harder it can be.

With a wobble plus, you attach the socket to the extension in wobble mode without having to worry about the extension, then attach the socket onto the bolt head. Once it is home, then you can align the extension and ratchet, and with a push, move into fixed mode.

Point I'm trying to make is, sometimes you use the wobble plus not just as a combination of 2 tools, but rather, using both capabilities on the same operation.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I find that whenever I am using the wobble plus as a straight extension, they always manage to somehow fall into the wobble part (especially when pulling off the socket from the bolt). Very annoying.

I still prefer having two separate sets, wobble and straight.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

this thread got me to go out and try mine with my impact sockets. With the detent in the hole of the socket the extension wouldn't lock straight, but with the detent ball out and touching the flat inside of the socket, it would. I believe my chromes didn't have an issue like that though.

 

[DodgeMech]

Where I have found the wobble plus to be of most benefit is bellhousing bolts. Especially on rear wheel drive V8 cars. I used to try to get those out with a different extension/ujoint combination on each bolt. With the wobble plus it mostly eliminates the changing setup for each situation.

a wobble socket and a 6 and 3 inch wobble plus extension hooked together is my go to for bell housing bolts...can get to all of em no problem...just got to feed the whole contraption in just right else it wants to fall apart and hit ya in the head

this thread got me to go out and try mine with my impact sockets. With the detent in the hole of the socket the extension wouldn't lock straight, but with the detent ball out and touching the flat inside of the socket, it would. I believe my chromes didn't have an issue like that though.

fwiw, it seems to me that my snappy wobble plus extensions seem to work best with my snappy sockets...i may just be imagining it, but yeah

 

[Mohawk Dave]

fwiw, it seems to me that my snappy wobble plus extensions seem to work best with my snappy sockets...i may just be imagining it, but yeah

I thought I was the only one... Do these guys have proprietary tolerances or somethin?

 

[superautobacs]

fwiw, it seems to me that my snappy wobble plus extensions seem to work best with my snappy sockets...i may just be imagining it, but yeah

Are you talking about how a SO socket actually seats itself all the way down when using it in the straight position, but when you use a different brand, the socket doesn't seat all the way down?

If so, that happens with my 1/4" Ko-ken wobble-fix extensions when I use a really shallow socket. When the socket and extension is of the same brand, the socket seats itself properly, fully engaged.

That all has to do with the construction of the socket--how deep the square forming die is pressed during manufacturing.

Nepros, on the left, has the most shallow square portion (SO has the deepest). I believe Nepros designed it that way so that a socket doesn't get pushed into the fixed position. To use it in the fixed position you have to apply forward pressure to maintain engagement onto the square. This alleviates the frustration that can arise from using the more "standard" design of wobble-plus extensions.

I recall Ko-ken has the patent for the wobble-fix design, and that any brand using the design is paying royalties to Ko-ken. ....but this was years ago.

 

[cheechi]

There are many different scenarios, but let me give you one:

If you are working in a restricted area, maybe very little access to a bolt head, can't see it from the side you are working, for example. Just getting a socket with a fixed extension on the bolt head can be challenging. The longer the extension, the harder it can be.

With a wobble plus, you attach the socket to the extension in wobble mode without having to worry about the extension, then attach the socket onto the bolt head. Once it is home, then you can align the extension and ratchet, and with a push, move into fixed mode.

Point I'm trying to make is, sometimes you use the wobble plus not just as a combination of 2 tools, but rather, using both capabilities on the same operation.

Every time I come across that situation, I usually fix it with this below, minus the wobble part.

The best setup is when you use a flex head ratchet with a universal joint and a wobble plus extension on that, then a universal joint with a wobble socket on the end of it. There's no bolt you can't reach!

I didn't mean to come off as argumentative, I just only work on smaller imports and I think that has a lot to do with why I haven't come across the need for one of these. I'm glad a solution exists for those that do need them.

 

[DodgeMech]

Are you talking about how a SO socket actually seats itself all the way down when using it in the straight position, but when you use a different brand, the socket doesn't seat all the way down?

If so, that happens with my 1/4" Ko-ken wobble-fix extensions when I use a really shallow socket. When the socket and extension is of the same brand, the socket seats itself properly, fully engaged.

That all has to do with the construction of the socket--how deep the square forming die is pressed during manufacturing.

Nepros, on the left, has the most shallow square portion (SO has the deepest). I believe Nepros designed it that way so that a socket doesn't get pushed into the fixed position. To use it in the fixed position you have to apply forward pressure to maintain engagement onto the square. This alleviates the frustration that can arise from using the more "standard" design of wobble-plus extensions.

I recall Ko-ken has the patent for the wobble-fix design, and that any brand using the design is paying royalties to Ko-ken. ....but this was years ago.

Using the snappy sockets and extensions seems to work best in that if you push down to engage the "lock", it stays there and doesn't push out as soon as you let go

 

[BFHtime]

There are many different scenarios, but let me give you one:

If you are working in a restricted area, maybe very little access to a bolt head, can't see it from the side you are working, for example. Just getting a socket with a fixed extension on the bolt head can be challenging. The longer the extension, the harder it can be.

With a wobble plus, you attach the socket to the extension in wobble mode without having to worry about the extension, then attach the socket onto the bolt head. Once it is home, then you can align the extension and ratchet, and with a push, move into fixed mode.

Point I'm trying to make is, sometimes you use the wobble plus not just as a combination of 2 tools, but rather, using both capabilities on the same operation.

Adam C this is what I meant and you explained it well. Save me some time and energy because I am tired right now. An example, I was taking of the intake on a naturally aspirated engine, where the runners are long and make a giant C shape across the top of the engine. Putting the socket on the bolts and nuts was quicker, easier, and faster to put on, because of clearance, in wobble mode and then when force was needed to break them free, it went into standard extension mode. This seemed to make a bigger difference, during reassembly, than it did while disassembling.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Every time I come across that situation, I usually fix it with this below, minus the wobble part.



I didn't mean to come off as argumentative, I just only work on smaller imports and I think that has a lot to do with why I haven't come across the need for one of these. I'm glad a solution exists for those that do need them.

I hope you don't think I was being rude, I was trying to be funny lol. I reach for a standard extension more than a wobble. But at work my boss has standard and wobble extensions and sometimes when I'm not paying attention I'll grab a wobble and put a universal on it not realizing. That *****.

 

[cheechi]

Nope we're good.

 

[Sonny2010]

Does anyone use there locking extension?