What's the biggest socket size you have ?

[John McA]

Story: A while ago we were demolishing a 1930s locomotive shed at an old rocket factory. There was a plethora of 1 inch plvmp sockets and wrenches that seemed out of scale of the human factors required to operate. I was intially interested in salvaging these and realized that I would never use them. They were used to service a couple of 50t diesel switch engines. Same location - a huge Starret pink marble surface stone was sighted - it too, was interesting. It was 3ft thick and 8ft by 10ft! Calibrated. Huge. Just sitting on a few pallets outside, next to a hefty steel support table. . in the rain. Made me feel like our humanity stands on the shoulders of giants before us..

Good Luck,
John McA

 

[DAustin]

My biggest nuts are 36mm.

Put some ice on them.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Just checked mine is a 3/4" drive 1 13/16" cheap chrome socket that I have used to put hitch balls on a ball mount a few times. I didn't have any 3/4" drive tools at the time I bought it so I had to buy a 1/2" to 3/4" adapter too.

 

[FMB4]

Story: A while ago we were demolishing a 1930s locomotive shed at an old rocket factory. There was a plethora of 1 inch plvmp sockets and wrenches that seemed out of scale of the human factors required to operate. I was intially interested in salvaging these and realized that I would never use them. They were used to service a couple of 50t diesel switch engines. Same location - a huge Starret pink marble surface stone was sighted - it too, was interesting. It was 3ft thick and 8ft by 10ft! Calibrated. Huge. Just sitting on a few pallets outside, next to a hefty steel support table. . in the rain. Made me feel like our humanity stands on the shoulders of giants before us..

Good Luck,
John McA

Cool story John! Reminds me of when I attended a motorcycle mechanic trade school in Phx AZ in 1981. Had 5 or 6 fellow students that were from the Chicago area. Most of them worked for a big name locomotive manufacturer (can't remember the name tho). They showed us some photos of some of them stooping/sitting in the horizontal cylinder of a huge diesel locomotive. Pretty unbelievable until you see it.

 

[cannuck]

Cool story John! Reminds me of when I attended a motorcycle mechanic trade school in Phx AZ in 1981. Had 5 or 6 fellow students that were from the Chicago area. Most of them worked for a big name locomotive manufacturer (can't remember the name tho). They showed us some photos of some of them stooping/sitting in the horizontal cylinder of a huge diesel locomotive. Pretty unbelievable until you see it.

I think that would have to have been a marine or stationary engine. AFAIK no railway locos used anything with that much bore. Now, I not an RR type, so let's ask the incredible knowledge and experience base of GJ to sort this one out.

 

[2oolhound]

These are pretty big:





Oh yeah, one more:

 

[Shelbylex]

CbassB, what do you use it for?

Can not compete with you, guys...

My biggest is 2 1/8 PLVMB in 3/4drive . Never used it - had a chance to buy PLVMB (A5500 set) and Bon-E-Con 3/4 sets for $100. Bought unseen (friend delivered). Another rabbit hole opened up: PLVMB is missing 3 sockets (15/16; 1 and 1 11/16) and apparently 5 of them are from a different period. Can not complain though - the price was right and this set covers the sizes which I would not otherwise have ...

I think this thread needs more pictures - makes it more interesting. Add yours!

 

[PoorUB]

Until a couple years ago I had up to 2-3/8". I have a 3/4" drive Proto socket set that I had not taken out of the box for twenty years. I offered a friend that is into tractors a great deal on it and sold it.

This set here. Proto 3/4 drive set

Oh, currently, 1-7/8".

 

[rlitman]

Oh yeah, one more:

I have that 5/8" much socket as a pen cup on my desk. I also have two "10mm" metal trash cans (not my picture, but you get the idea).

 

[Kaline74]

36mm which is used on the rear axle nut on a vintage Volkswagen

 

[charbar]

I have that 5/8" much socket as a pen cup on my desk. I also have two "10mm" metal trash cans (not my picture, but you get the idea).

The only 10mm known to man to not get lost.


I had to go look at my sockets. 2 15/16 is my biggest. No idea where it came from...its 1" drive....I don't even own a 1" ratchet or impact.....


With automotive I rarely use anything bigger than 1 7/16. Ag equipment/implement is where I use the bigger stuff, but that's probably only 15% of my business.

 

[Sgtboz]

I bought one of those big (approx 400 pc) Craftsman sets when I started working on cars a couple of years ago. It came with metric, SAE, 6pt, 12pt, shallow and deep sockets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2". However, my only grip has been the 1/2" socket set that only came with 12 point sockets in fact I can't even find any 1/2" 6 pt shallow sockets at Craftsman.com

I found a SK shallow 6 pt socket set that goes from 10mm to 28mm. However, my 3/8" set (which is what I use the most) already covers me up to 21mm. I'm wondering if there's a better option out there for e.g. 18mm-36mm or something.

Aside from the axle nuts I haven't had to use a bigger socket than a 21mm but just for the sake of completency I want to have a set up to 32mm if not 36mm

What's the biggest socket you guys have (or use) ?

I own a 3" slugging wrench. It's in great shape but the only thing I'll ever use it for is a boat anchor.

 

[Vwpower]

 

[Harry Oh]

My largest is A 4 inch. No name stated on it but the part # does Google to a caterpillar socket part #. 1 inch drive, 12 1/8 #.

 

[Harry Oh]

These pictures were supposed to tag along with above.

 

[Gurp]

1 1/2 for water heater elements and i think 36mm for axle nuts.

 

[mailpup]

In 1/2" drive my largest is 46mm.

 

[Mikeybc]

Ive got a 1 1/2" i bought for swapping out my trailer ball. And a 38 mm in my axle nut set.

 

[FMB4]

​

Question: What is the biggest socket size you have?
Answer: Smaller than the fastener hex size I need to loosen/tighten next.

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[alfazer]

My biggest one is actually for my motorcycle, believe it or not.

A 46mm for the single side swingarm rear wheel spindle. It's a 3/4" drive with 1/2" adaptor for my torque wrench.

 

[hitnmiss]

I bought one of those big (approx 400 pc) Craftsman sets when I started working on cars a couple of years ago. It came with metric, SAE, 6pt, 12pt, shallow and deep sockets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2". However, my only grip has been the 1/2" socket set that only came with 12 point sockets in fact I can't even find any 1/2" 6 pt shallow sockets at Craftsman.com

I found a SK shallow 6 pt socket set that goes from 10mm to 28mm. However, my 3/8" set (which is what I use the most) already covers me up to 21mm. I'm wondering if there's a better option out there for e.g. 18mm-36mm or something.

Aside from the axle nuts I haven't had to use a bigger socket than a 21mm but just for the sake of completency I want to have a set up to 32mm if not 36mm

What's the biggest socket you guys have (or use) ?

2 3/8

 

[LucienShao]

220mm.

 

[n8n]

​

Question: What is the biggest socket size you have?
Answer: Smaller than the fastener hex size I need to loosen/tighten next.

​

​

​

That's the truth! I'm waiting on Amazon to deliver me a 28mm socket so I can use my new exhaust expander... I had 10-27, 30, 32 36 now my biggest is probably around 2" 3/4" drive but that box is in the back of my storage locker.

 

[KariFS]

Inch and a half. Glad I found a used one for cheep as it’s only used for one specific purpose, and hopefully not often. It’s a Stahlwille I think. I don’t work on heavy machinery, I think my 1/2” Bahco set only goes up to 32mm metric and 1-1/4” SAE.

 

[619DioFan]

220mm.

Holy **** that equals 8 1/2 inches. what is the drive size ? I think you win.

 

[BigLeagueSmoes]

220mm.

What are you doing with that, taking apart a skyscraper??

 

[LucienShao]

What are you doing with that, taking apart a skyscraper??

Something like that, but surely big projects.

 

[JRPAviator]

10-1/4" - 3-1/2" Dr. Standard Impact Stockets (86882WR)

10-1/4" - 3-1/2" Dr. Standard Impact Stockets///brand_for_product_detail=Wright Tool,close_out=No,companydescription=Wright Tool - Made in the USA,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=6159.600000,countrymade=Wright Tool - Made in the USA,distributionprice=6804.31,instock=in...

www.harryepstein.com

I just want to see one of these in person…

 

[andersen24]

50mm and 2”

 

[Lucid Moments]

10-1/4" - 3-1/2" Dr. Standard Impact Stockets (86882WR)

10-1/4" - 3-1/2" Dr. Standard Impact Stockets///brand_for_product_detail=Wright Tool,close_out=No,companydescription=Wright Tool - Made in the USA,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=6159.600000,countrymade=Wright Tool - Made in the USA,distributionprice=6804.31,instock=in...

www.harryepstein.com

I just want to see one of these in person…

You should buy one just to see it. It's just $8,100.

 

[Orangina]

only a 46mm (~ 1.8") used at the rear axle of my old 1979 VW bus (with rear engine and rear wheel drive and up to 2.5t weight):
at the restoration I danced on a 2m (~6.5ft) long pole to unscrew it after more than 30 years - cleaned now works much easier



a pencil sharpener in front

 

[rlitman]

only a 46mm (~ 1.8") used at the rear axle of my old 1979 VW bus ...

I spy the original Kong dog toy there!

 

[PugetDude]

You should buy one just to see it. It's just $8,100.

Inflation ... Price has gone up $523.

 

[engineer2]

...Chicago area. Most of them worked for a big name locomotive manufacturer...

Electromotive in LaGrange.

Electro-Motive Diesel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Apparently closed last year and move to Winston-Salem, N.C.

Digest: Progress Rail ends manufacturing at La Grange, Ill., plant - Trains

Progress Rail closes La Grange engine plant Progress Rail has closed its La Grange, Ill., engine facility, ending manufacturing at a site that had been part of locomotive production since EMD broke ground for its main plant there in 1935. Progress, which announced plans to close the plant in...

www.trains.com

 

[saltwater4life]

36mm for several boat motor fly wheels.

 

[GW Butch]

2-3/8 3/4 drive from a Craftsman set I bought for $99 about 45 years ago. I haven’t turned many bolts or nuts with them, but they make good adapters on the hydraulic press.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

34mm for axle nuts.

 

[64C10]

Got a 4 1/4” Proto that I use as a doorstop…..biggest 1/2” drive is a 55mm, up to 2 1/2” in 3/4” drive.

 

[Gurp]

1 and 1/2 inches of chrome steel

Stepping into the lead.
I know I will get blown out when the pro mech. check in.

This is a real socket not a stamped Water Heater one.

I've got an inch and a half Cobalt I use just for my water heater elements LOL

I had one of the stamped ones but I broke it....
Stuck element in a house I was working on for someone. So I went to Lowe's matched the other element and grabbed a chrome socket.
Hit the house for a can of PB and a breaker bar. It came out but it was a hell of a battle lol.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

That jackstand makes me nervous.