Just like the title says. Seems like all the ratcheting wrenches I've been looking at are spline drive; EZ-Red, Proto, Matco. Why is this drive so popular with manufactures? I've used the test ones on the trucks and frankly they don't impress me. They chew up the fastener and the ones one the truck seem to wear down and lose their bite.
Why is Everything Spline Drive
- Thread starter Zewnten
- Start date
I tried a spline drive wrench once that swore it fit 6 point fasteners better than standard hex wrenches. Nope. It damaged the fastener and had more slop than I like in a tool. I won't own any spline tools until I encounter actual spline fasteners. (unlikely) No idea the fascination with them; perhaps I missed something and someone can help me see the light.
The SK ratcheting wrenches are not splined. I'm really hoping that SK makes double box with one ending ratcheting soon. That is the type of wrench that I really want (& would made in U.S.A.).
I'd looked into Proto, too. I didn't get those ratcheting because they are splined. I'm not a fan of angled ratcheting wrenches. I have finally come around to ratcheting wrenches that don't reverse.
I'd looked into Proto, too. I didn't get those ratcheting because they are splined. I'm not a fan of angled ratcheting wrenches. I have finally come around to ratcheting wrenches that don't reverse.
General Geoff
Well-known member
I use Proto ASD spline drive ratcheting wrenches on stuff pretty regularly and haven't encountered more than superficial scratching on fasteners I break loose with them. They work great, haven't stripped a head yet with them. Same with an out-of-production set of SK 3/8" spline drive sockets (product # 94545) I've been using for years.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I refuse to buy any of it. I'm dedicated to 12 point.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Proto doesn't build tools that lack a purpose; but the ASD and spline drive are useful tools I simply don't care to own or use.
Carquest
Well-known member
When I sold SK, I believe the selling point on spline drive was that it would (supposedly) fit many different types of heads, I.e. e-torx, 12 point, 6 point, even square heads I believe. Never used them to know how well they work, but if they do work well, one set would replace 2-3 sets in other brands.
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Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Splined saved my *** on a stupid Ford capped lug nut the other day, but I would not use them exclusively.
mudflap
Well-known member
Are there any torture test vids.. comparing grip/failure between spilne/12pt/6pt..on a regular hex head..? Guess that would settle it..?
i have said it before and will say it again. quality made spline drive tools are just fine. they grip better than 12 point. it is nothing more than an extreme off corner engagement like is on almost all modern drive tools and box end wrenches. a quality spline drive tool will have a size on it such as 1/2/, 3/4, 11mm, 15mm, etc, they may not be as good as a 6 point on severely damaged fasteners but they will do as well as 12 point. don't blame the tool for a damaged fastener.
people confuse real spline tools with the cheap one size fits all sets that give you a tool that is "close enough" to work on multiple sizes. even they will work on many sizes but it is **** shoot to know what sizes fit what and how well.
the bonus of spline drive is that the design also allow it to work on many other types of fasteners but may or may not work as well as the tool designed to work with them. i find them most handy when encountering square fasteners such as on set screws.
people confuse real spline tools with the cheap one size fits all sets that give you a tool that is "close enough" to work on multiple sizes. even they will work on many sizes but it is **** shoot to know what sizes fit what and how well.
the bonus of spline drive is that the design also allow it to work on many other types of fasteners but may or may not work as well as the tool designed to work with them. i find them most handy when encountering square fasteners such as on set screws.
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
The actual answer to the question is the KABO, a major hand tool manufacturer in Taiwan, likes spline drive and that's what they provide their many customers most of which are listed above. I find them no different than anything else. As to the damaging fasteners argument unless you're working on a show car who gives a **** which wrench removes a rusty fastener from a salt-belt car?
plinker
Well-known member
What I've found with spline drive is they can slip off much easier then a 12pt and round stuff off at the same time, Therefore they need to be solidly engaged to the fastener. That said I'd prefer 12pt. Matco seems to have gone to spline on a number of their wrenches since they are sourced from Kabo.
I have used the spline sockets on E-torx in a pinch, worked fine.
I have used the spline sockets on E-torx in a pinch, worked fine.
Between bolt manufacturers making bolt heads to the minimum size and the wear I've seen on the demo units for spline, I haven't had a spline tool ever fit snug like I have with 12pt. I'm sure they better quality coming from Kabo than Chinese Craftsman but the fit doesn't seem much better.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Stick your finger into a spline drive wrench and see how it feels. Now imagine what the fasteners have to go through.
Looking over Snap On's website the only spline drive options I find are SAE sockets, up to 5/8 and one 10mm deep, and matching SAE wrenches up to 5/8. And their website is the only one that says their spline drive meets the aerospace standard AS954, Military Specification MS-33787 and MIL-W-8982, at least I can't find what ANSI standard on Proto, Matco or Kabo meets, their websites only says they exceed ANSI.
IUEC Medic
Well-known member
I pretty much exclusively use proto spline drive ratchet wrenches on everything...
I didn’t choose them specifically BECAUSE they’re spline drives... they’re just overall great wrenches... I haven’t ever encountered a spline drive fastener, but I use them on standard hex fasteners every day, and I have used them on square fasteners.
I’ve never had any issues whatsoever.
I didn’t choose them specifically BECAUSE they’re spline drives... they’re just overall great wrenches... I haven’t ever encountered a spline drive fastener, but I use them on standard hex fasteners every day, and I have used them on square fasteners.
I’ve never had any issues whatsoever.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
what he said
I will add though that you need to be using the correct size wrench though to prevent excessive fastener damage. Kabo makes tools for a lot of the truck brands and i don't think spline is going away any time soon.
High quality spline drive tools are great. The Kabo built Matco ratcheting wrenches are fantastic. So are the Snap-ons. I get into actual spline drive fasteners sometimes but use the sockets and wrenches on just about everything lately.
davidgreams
Member
I see there is some confusion here. Eclat originally made the Onyx cranks in 22mm for approximately a year, until they realized that people were actually buying Fits 24mm Indent cranks. They then scaled up the Onyx cranks to be 24mm, because why not.
If your bike is indeed the same as the bike in the link, then you won't be able to use a spline drive sprocket on the right side. That version of the Onyx cranks are '2' piece.
If your bike is indeed the same as the bike in the link, then you won't be able to use a spline drive sprocket on the right side. That version of the Onyx cranks are '2' piece.
davidgreams
Member
I see there is some confusion here. Eclat originally made the Onyx cranks in 22mm for approximately a year, until they realized that people were actually buying Fits 24mm Indent cranks. They then scaled up the Onyx cranks to be 24mm, because why not.
If your bike is indeed the same as the bike in the link, then you won't be able to use a spline drive sprocket on the right side. That version of the Onyx cranks are '2' piece.
If your bike is indeed the same as the bike in the link, then you won't be able to use a spline drive sprocket on the right side. That version of the Onyx cranks are '2' piece.
This seems like it was posted in the wrong thread. The wrong website, even.
buckwheat_la
Well-known member
You should start a humanitarian movement
RETRD
Realized Equitable Treatment of Rusted and Difficult fasteners
guppymech
Active member
Spline drive nuts and bolts are used on Jet engines and that's what Snap-On designed their tools for. The wrenches work on regular hardware also but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy them for that purpose.
Not all spline drives are created equal. My Proto spline ratcheting wrenches have never rounded a fastener and I often forget that they're not a normal 12 point box end. The Craftsman universal spline drive wrenches I bought are a dumpster fire. They seem to have been perfectly broached so that they don't actually fit any fastener size correctly. Normally I would give away a tool like that but I wouldn't wish those wrenches on anyone in my life.
