| Author | Message | ||
     Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 224 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Quick question, which is probably aimed at John. Snap-on sell sockets such as A136 and I was wondering will this fit the OME shocks in my truck. I have measured but I am confused as the oval dimensions seem back to front. Might make it easier to remove or will it just snap off? Pete S | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 497 Registered: 03-2003 |
Hmmm, that's a really good question. I didn't even know sockets like that existed. Now I'm dying to get some of these for the shop. But as you say, the problem lies in getting the correct socket. I just pulled some N115 and N44 shocks from the shelf and test fitted some wrenches onto the oval studs. Both 5/16" and 8mm seemed to fit equally well. It was really hard to tell which one fit better using the Flank Drive Plus open ends. With parallel ends or a proper socket, it might be easier to discern which size fits better. Then I reread your post and realized that I had merely repeated your efforts and didn't realize the oval dimensions might be listed front to back instead of flat to flat. I tried fitting both 3/8" and 10mm wrenches onto the tips of the ovals. 3/8" wouldn't fit and 10mm fit but was a little loose. I have no clue which socket, if any, might fit on the OME shocks. I wish our Snap-on guy had a bunch of these sockets lying around so that we could do a test fit, but I very much doubt he has these in his truck. Those sockets, assuming they fit, might help with a shock replacement. For sure, they would be useless on the front lower shock studs, but they might help on the front tops and lower rears. It's very possible that the oval tip on the shock could shear off when trying to remove a rusted shock. I don't know though because I've never used one of these sockets. The most I've used was an open-ended wrench and the result was usually that the oval tip got rounded under load. But on non-rusted shocks, the open-ended wrench holding the oval tip of the shock has always worked, so I would think the socket would work even better. For sure, this socket would help with the installation of a brand new shock, where you don't want to use things like Cobra pliers to hold the shock body stationary while you tighten the nylock nuts. So I think having this socket would definitely be worth the $12 pricetag, assuming you could get the correct size socket. Speaking of fitting sockets, we took delivery of this last week: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/pro_det.asp?search=true&item_ID=3898&PartNo=imfs6 62&group_id=435&store=snapon-store&tool=all I was so sick of using that POS factory hub nut tool that I ordered the IMFS662 without knowing for sure that it would be deep enough to fit over the stub axle while tightening the inner hub nut. Well, it does. Just barely but it fits for sure. So for those of you who are sick and tired of using the POS hub nut tool, the solution is out there. | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 225 Registered: 02-2003 |
John I will get my dealer to get one of each size in and borrow them to be sure, looks as though there is just three sizes.I just burned my way through �90 yesterday, and came out into daylight with just three bits. A 6pt 32mm socket a torx 1/2 T55 and a A286 socket tray. I just got fed up trying to stand all my loose sockets up every day, this tray fits into my roll cab with a squeeze. I got a matco catalogue today, and as you previously mentioned, you use the proswings, are you happy with the service? We have no roaming dealers for matco here, and need to rely upon the internet. I had a flick through and they seem to be a snap-on wannabe! Like the look of the proswings though, and as you rightly say, those blue point ratchet wrenches are hopeless. Funny thing those oval sockets, when you look in the back section of the snap-on book, you find all sorts of things, not sure what half of them are for, as they are really aimed at the American market. I will let you now on Thursday what size fits! Pete S | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 500 Registered: 03-2003 |
Our Matco guy Rene Pauer is really good to us, so yes, we're very happy with the Matco's service. It's really no better than the service from the Snap-on guy though. Both are very good to us and we're very happy. It's true what you say about Matco being a Snap-on wannabe. Matco's catalog is not nearly as sexy or well organized as the Snap-on catalog, and the tools aren't as sexy either. For almost every tool that is produced by both Snap-on and Matco, I prefer the Snap-on. Whether it's ratcheting screwdrivers or ratchets or sockets or whatever, I prefer the Snap-on to the Matco for various reasons. I just think Snap-on is hard to beat. Snap-on's products are usually the best of their kind and their service is just top notch as well. Almost all of our Matco stuff is stuff that is rebadged stuff that both Snap-on and Matco sell, or items that Snap-on does not offer at all. For example, our socket rails are Matco: http://www.matcotools.com/ProductImages/socketrails.jpg I like these a lot more than the socket rails that Snap-on offers. These rails come in red (SAE) and blue (metric) and come in various lengths. They are wide enough that even our largest and heaviest 1/2" drive sockets will not tip over in the drawer, and they don't have sharp edges. They are molded from what looks like the Pelican Products plastic material, so they are very strong and resilient. Those detented socket studs are also very nice. They hold the sockets securely but not too securely. Matco even offers screwdriver bit holders for these rails: http://www.matcotools.com/ProductImages/bhmrbhpr.jpg We also buy stuff like UNIBIT bits from Rene, even though the Snap-on guy sells them. And we bought non-Matco stuff like our Drill Doctor from Rene. I would much rather buy this stuff from Rene than from the local Lowe's or Home Depot, as I want Rene to stay in business and Rene gives better service in any case. The Proswing wrenches are very nice. I like them a lot and I think they blow away every other ratcheting wrench currently on the market. The Opti-Torque profile on the open end is also very nice to use as it more grip than parallel jaws, but it doesn't mark up the fasteners the way that Flank Drive Plus open ends do. The ratcheting box ends are very nicely made as well, and the selector's action is very smooth and positive. You will find these to be a world apart from your Blue-Point ratcheting combinations, which both of us agree are junk. I don't like a few things about the Proswing's. I wish they were marked on all four "sides" of the wrench like the Flank Drive Plus wrenches: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/snap-on/DSC05889.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/snap-on/DSC05890.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/snap-on/DSC05891.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/snap-on/DSC05892.jpg The Proswing is marked only on one "side": http://www.expeditionexchange.com/snap-on/DSC05888.jpg To me a wrench that isn't marked on all four "sides" is sort of like a ratchet extension that isn't knurled. It's incomplete. My ultimate combination wrenches unfortunatly don't exist. I'm still waiting for Snap-on to produce a ratcheting combination wrench with a reversible ratcheting box end and a Flank Drive Plus profile on the open end. That would be just superb. It's too bad you don't have a Matco guy in your area. Matco and Snap-on are intensely competitive, at least here, and they will often do a lot for you if you dumping, say, a Snap-on or Blue-Point item for a Matco item, or vice versa. If you told your Matco guy that you were dumping your Blue-Points and wanted to replace them with Proswing's, I think his eyes would light up and he would take care of you. | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 226 Registered: 02-2003 |
John Such is life, I suppose. Snap-on has such a strangle hold here, that I wonder if Matco would make it, I know the Mac man struggles. I am happy with my socket tray, but as you say they do have a few sharp edges, what is nice is I just grab the whole lot, and have it on the floor next to me, I just don`t have to keep going back to the roll cab. We use trollies at work, although not Snap-on, we make our own, out of wood and some angle, 4 castors and away you go, pretty they are not! But they are cheap! Anyway I am about to change the oil in my front diff, so I`m out of here! Pete S | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Senior Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 251 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi John The biggest 1/2" drive socket won`t fit the OME shocks. I have given up with this and just grip the shock body with an oil filter strap. I spoke to my Snap-on man and he was not even aware of the new catalogue, takes time to get over here I suppose. Pete | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 622 Registered: 03-2003 |
Damn, that's too bad. Thanks for trying though. |
