Why would you or why would you not....

[Jsf721]

Buy open ended ratchets so that you would not need deep sockets.

I am really new at this and spent some time wandering the tool aisle looking at tools talking to sales people.

Thanks in advance for helping educate me. I need tool 101 please.

Thanks

 

[CWP1616L]

Open ended ratchets?

 

[87Pomona]

I think he means this

http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00929309000P&sid=&psid=

 

[Fj40cruzr]

Are you talking about something like this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000E1OUW

 

[firebox40dash5]

I've wondered the same thing.

For me, the times I need a deep socket, on a long extension for clearance, outnumber the times I just need a deep socket to clear a bolt. By a whole lot. That, and I'm not going to not own conventional square drive ratchets and sockets, so having the "Max Access" stuff just creates even more redundancy than plain old deep sockets. The number of times I've needed more depth than a deep socket, but couldn't get a flexy Gearwrench to work, could be counted on one hand.

If you tend more towards home stuff rather than automotive, YMMV.

 

[johnachak]

Buy open ended ratchets so that you would not need deep sockets.

I am really new at this and spent some time wandering the tool aisle looking at tools talking to sales people.

Thanks in advance for helping educate me. I need tool 101 please.

Thanks

I have, and use both.
If I can fit a deep socket,I will use it. If I can't, I'll use a wrench.

 

[slip knot]

They bought some of these POS' at work. they seem to work ok but you have to have the drive tool. once you misplace the drive ratchet you can throw the rest away.

I'll stick with the deep sockets and ratcheting box wrenchs.

 

[Jsf721]

Thanks for the info guys. I am shopping for a whole set and slowly I am figuring out what I want to include.

The more I read, the more questions I have.....

I have, and use both.
If I can fit a deep socket,I will use it. If I can't, I'll use a wrench.

I've wondered the same thing.

For me, the times I need a deep socket, on a long extension for clearance, outnumber the times I just need a deep socket to clear a bolt. By a whole lot. That, and I'm not going to not own conventional square drive ratchets and sockets, so having the "Max Access" stuff just creates even more redundancy than plain old deep sockets. The number of times I've needed more depth than a deep socket, but couldn't get a flexy Gearwrench to work, could be counted on one hand.

If you tend more towards home stuff rather than automotive, YMMV.

They bought some of these POS' at work. they seem to work ok but you have to have the drive tool. once you misplace the drive ratchet you can throw the rest away.

I'll stick with the deep sockets and ratcheting box wrenchs.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I think they would catch on (for myself specifically) if there was an industry standard drive system...so I could get a Snap-On Ratchet, use Harbor Freight or CMan Sockets, and mix & match anything in between.
The same thing would happen if some MFG released a 7/16 Square Drive ratchet & sockets...In the absense of Industry adoption (think Beta tape vs VHS and many other things) even the best ideas tend to lead short lives.

 

[Tack]

The only perk is you could use this on all thread. But you can still use other tools to the same efficiency. It is another tool gimmick.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

i thought they were an odd thing, just another thing sears wanted to cash in on.....then kobalt took a swing at it and i dont know about everywhere else, but all the "max axxess" stuff at lowes is clearanced out to be gone......and i still dont want to buy it

 

[Vvmvbb]

If you work a lot with threaded rod, I bet these are a godsend. Otherwise, you might need them 5 times your whole life. But it seems like for every car project I do I get bailed out of a bind by a deep socket somewhere along the way.

 

[young_buck]

I was given a set of pass thru ratchets and sockets that get used every so often, sometimes you will come across a bolt that its too long to fit your deep socket over and they come in handy

 

[NHBandit]

Someone tell me one thing these can do that you can't do with a gear wrench type of ratcheting box wrench. I'm retired from 40 years as a mechanic, have enough tools to put 5 guys to work, and can't think of a single reason to buy these.

 

[warmpancakes]

only time ive found them handy is exhause manifold studs saves a little time over breaking them loose with a wrench and then swapping to a ratchet

 

[firebox40dash5]

If you work a lot with threaded rod, I bet these are a godsend. Otherwise, you might need them 5 times your whole life. But it seems like for every car project I do I get bailed out of a bind by a deep socket somewhere along the way.

About the only unique thing they can really do is work on a long bolt, with a nut that's recessed enough you can't get a wrench onto it. I can't honestly say I've ever encountered that scenario, so...

 

[TjoFrasse]

I would agree to most saying it's not a high use tool. I have a Bahco set, with sockets 10-24mm and I've used it for suspension work (having a hex key in the opening). It does not replace deep sockets (at least didn't for me). If you're gonna get one, get a set that does not have a proprietary ratchet/socket coupling. The Bahco set I have is just standard 19mm hex, so the ratchet can be replaced with any 19mm ratcheting wrench.

 

[Vvmvbb]

...now I kinda want that Bahco... ;-)

 

[shoturtle]

If you are talking about pass through ratchet. It is a good compromise. It does give you the advantage of not needing deep sockets. But they are limited in the reach right now. There are really long extensions out there. Or breaker bars. And for big fastener there is no 1/2 drive.

I have the 81pc sears craftsman max axxess and they are hand for allot of things, with torx and hex ontop of 6 point sockets.

 

[shoturtle]

I would agree to most saying it's not a high use tool. I have a Bahco set, with sockets 10-24mm and I've used it for suspension work (having a hex key in the opening). It does not replace deep sockets (at least didn't for me). If you're gonna get one, get a set that does not have a proprietary ratchet/socket coupling. The Bahco set I have is just standard 19mm hex, so the ratchet can be replaced with any 19mm ratcheting wrench.

I like the look of that set, nice they put 6pt on the ratchet head vs what some other brands do with a 12pt ratchet head for their pass through. Love the spline drives as well.

 

[e30bradley]

I would only buy those to remove / install struts instead of buying the 'special' VW tools.

 

[egnorant]

Tools evolve over time. Pass thru design may be the standard someday or it may be a semi useful odd tool or it may even pass into obscure oblivion.

I grew up with ratcheting wrenches as a poorly built oddity until I saw Gearwrenches version.
Changeable bit screwdrivers used to be replacing the whole shaft, cordless tools? You could easily ask why would anyone have a corded drill when the cordless are so good!

If you check back on all the designs of socket driving tools you see some unusual pieces that were once standard.

As for the deepwall...I sometimes use them just for the knuckle room.

Bruce

 

[CWP1616L]

I think he means this
http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00929309000P&sid=&psid=

Ok thanks, I forgot all about those.

If you work a lot with threaded rod, I bet these are a godsend.

Yeah, that's the only application I can think of for those things.

 

[shoturtle]

i thought they were an odd thing, just another thing sears wanted to cash in on.....then kobalt took a swing at it and i dont know about everywhere else, but all the "max axxess" stuff at lowes is clearanced out to be gone......and i still dont want to buy it

The lowes set is crappy compare to the craftsman and gearwrench set. They came with universal size socket one socket for metric and sae. You will strip the smaller size of the 2 that the socket was meant for. And they used a standard 12pt head on the ratchet. Gw,cmans has the vortex drive when which is more secure. Also they have dedicated sae and metric socket. Even the universal drive cmans has have dedicated sae and metric. All pass troughs are not created equally.

I really like the cmans set I have, it is the set I keep in my truck for work now.

 

[87FoRunner]

I picked up a harbor freight set to see if I had "any" use of it. For $15 it's nifty I just don't like the horrible bulky case it's in.

I may get a set of Bahco's after seeing that post, they look beautiful.

 

[jetmech09]

I've run into situations where I've had to borrow sets like this. Limited/low clearance and a recessed fastener. The overall height is much less than a standard ratchet/socket combo, and with a fastener set in a hole, you can't get to it with a wrench.

 

[andywander]

I think they would catch on (for myself specifically) if there was an industry standard drive system...so I could get a Snap-On Ratchet, use Harbor Freight or CMan Sockets, and mix & match anything in between.
The same thing would happen if some MFG released a 7/16 Square Drive ratchet & sockets...In the absense of Industry adoption (think Beta tape vs VHS and many other things) even the best ideas tend to lead short lives.

7/16" drive was already done, by Blackhawk back in the 1930s.

 

[mmack66]

i thought they were an odd thing, just another thing sears wanted to cash in on.....then kobalt took a swing at it and i dont know about everywhere else, but all the "max axxess" stuff at lowes is clearanced out to be gone......and i still dont want to buy it

Pass through ratchets/sockets aren't a new concept. Armstrong used to make some, and I have an O-Ratchet set that is more than a few years old.

For some applications, they likely make more sense than using a deep socket, because the ratchet head is closer to the fastener. I know that sometimes using a deep socket feels a little squirrely.

 

[jmm]

It really depends on your skill and level patience if you're strictly a home mechanic. If you don't go much further than regular PM and tune-ups, I would say bypass the max access stuff at Sears. I feel like a regular socket set is more versatile. Years back, all I had at home, in addition to a set of metric and standard wrenches, was a 3/8" set of shallow sockets, and a few deep sockets I knew I needed for certain jobs on my Jeep. As my interest picked up and my skill level advanced, I branched out as necessary. **** on the Haynes manuals all you want (though I don't really hear it too much on GJ), they served me well as an inexperienced weekend mechanic -- reading up on a job before I did it gave me a good idea of what tools would be necessary. Over the years, I've actually needed a pass-through ratchet ONCE at home. I couldn't wait to get mine from work, so I borrowed a friend's.

If, however, you're aiming at a full set and want to save some money, you're making a mistake. Those kits are handy, but they won't do it all. I've got the old Armstrong set, and while I swear by it when it's absolutely necessary, it's just not practical to always use.


PS: redundant? tools? Come on now, this is garage journal.

 

[young_buck]

a little off topic but are all of these pass thru sockets splice sockets? my mastercraft set and i see the bahco is just curious to see if they all are. Thanks

 

[jmm]

Someone tell me one thing these can do that you can't do with a gear wrench type of ratcheting box wrench. I'm retired from 40 years as a mechanic, have enough tools to put 5 guys to work, and can't think of a single reason to buy these.

I use my Eliminator set most often when I'm wrenching on pulleys with a nut so far recessed that I can't get a wrench to it. The nut is affixed to a threaded shaft that has to be held in place with a 10 mm bit to hold the pulley in place while torquing down. Just like pulleys on some cars, except the nuts on these are loctite-ed and torqued so much you rarely break the nut with an impact.

 

[jmm]

a little off topic but are all of these pass thru sockets splice sockets? my mastercraft set and i see the bahco is just curious to see if they all are. Thanks

The Armstrong offering is 6 point.

 

[ChevyEFI]

a little off topic but are all of these pass thru sockets splice sockets? my mastercraft set and i see the bahco is just curious to see if they all are. Thanks

No, there are some made in 12pt, some in spline.

Some of the sets are marketed to people who want a convenient "kit" around the house, so smaller / fewer is better (in their mind / situation) so they "combine" sizes in spline offerings. If you read post #23 by shoturtle, you'll see that's not the best solution for persons such as yourself who are a little more serious about the function of their tools.

That's not intended as a slight towards spline tools. Just that there are times when a 13mm shouldn't be used on a 1/2 bolthead.

 

[Maexle]

got the gearwrench, and i use them more than i thought i would...the low profile is really a nice feature

 

[richfinn]

The Gearwrench serpentine belt kit is passthrough, lets you get into some very tight belt tensioners.

Other uses might be.

Alternator pulleys (a lot of Euro cars have a freewheeling clutch arrangement in the pulley).

McPherson Strut top mounts where the fastener is in a cup type arrangement and you need a hex key to hold the piston rod.

 

[scouting]

We have an old set at work, the only use it sees is struts. The nut is often recessed, so a wrench won't work, but you need to hold the rod from turning. Other than that, I've never needed one.

 

[bobcatdan]

Pass threw sockets are a fad tool companies keep digging up. One company comes out real big just to drop it and a year later somebody eles brings them out as the next big thing. I have a gear ratchet set which was the about the first thing after the wrenches gearwrench came out with. Used it maybe 5 times in 15 years. Early 2000's matco went head long into this ****. Complete sets in all drive sizes, torque wrenches and even air tools. Two years later, all gone. I don't think you can ever get replacments anymore. Once a gimick, always a gimick. There are dogbone wrenches in 1950's craftsman catalogs.

 

[smothers33]

Someone tell me one thing these can do that you can't do with a gear wrench type of ratcheting box wrench. I'm retired from 40 years as a mechanic, have enough tools to put 5 guys to work, and can't think of a single reason to buy these.

i use my set alot one 1 specific transmission. the forward/reverse solenoids are on a shaft that goes into the valve body and the shaft has a fastener head on it that is recessed into the valve body. you cant get a deep socket on it or a boxed/ratcheting wrench in the recess. you can barely get a open end in the recess if you have it at an angle but defintely run the risk of stripping the fastener. i have the gearwrench version of max acess and they are the only way to get a good solid grip on it.
with that said this is the only instance ive run into where nothing else would really work. but i work on these specific trans often enough so its worth the set

 

[2oolhound]

I can't see them ever replacing deep sockets. Most fasteners around automobiles can be gotten on or off with standard or deep sockets. There are too many times an extension is needed because you have to go in a hole to get at the fastener. Although they make a few hollow extensions for those pass through sets they aren't very long. We all have some really long extensions because we need long ones often enough. How often do you need to place a universal joint in front of your long extension? I'd like to see a universal for a pass through set.

I'm not saying they don't have a good use, I just think they are a long way from replacing deep sockets.

 

[Roland-5.0]

I've only ever used mine a few times for sway base links. Maybe 4 times in 6 years I might of "needed" them.