Most used socket sizes?

[Mark 37]

Hi all,

Im starting to put a tool box together for the bike and after getting a torque wrench at Christmas I'm starting to look at socket sets.

I have a small set 4.5mm-10mm.

I'm wanting to find what sizes are most useful for the bike. Also how needed are deep sockets?

I've seen numerous sets 4-10,8-17,8-23mm, shallow, standard and deep sockets.

Depending on answers to my question I have three routes I could go.

1, buy a set, say 8-21mm and replace when required with better make sets or. (cheapest initial outlay) I've seen a set of sealey 3/8 drive 8-21 in sale at just over a tenner.

2, cherry pick the sizes you tell me from one or more reputable makers.

3, buy a 1/2 & 3/8 drive set of standard and deep sockets. (from £45-£150+).

What do you think?
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[Hetzer]

10, 12 and 14mm.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[andyscooter]

8mm 10mm 11mm 12mm 13mm and 17 and 19mm are the ones i use most
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[cimbian]

It is the perennial dilemma.

I would suggest a medium quality set that takes you from 8mm to 17mm deep and add to it as necessary.

Avoid the bottom-end because they have two effects: they stretch & slip (or weren't accurate in the first place) and damage the nut/bolt head or split and damage your knuckles.

Before I get slated (again) I'm not suggesting you flag-down the Snap-On van and spend a fortune.

You can get some good tools at automotive tooling suppliers and at good prices. Ask the guys at your local garage where they buy their tools.

Halfords, of course, has their Pro range but on an industrial estate six miles from me is a company that supplies garage tooling and there may well be one near you.
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22PlusY
Current: Moto Guzzi 1100 Breva. Previous: Honda XL650V TransAlp
Bearded, Balding, Born again Buddhist Biker

[AlexW]

Machine mart would be a good place to look too.

[stuartt]

mark you should visit bills tool store at the barras , don't buy barra brand though !

[Drake]

standard sizes in engineering are 10mm for a M6, 13mm for M8, 17mm for M10, then 19mm for M12.

automotive sizes can vary by one or two MM
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[Kickstart]

Hi

For Japanese bikes 8, 10, 12, 14 and 17 are the main ones. European bikes tend to require a 13 instead of a 12. After that comes down to specific sizes for the bike. Ie, rear wheel spindle can be anything from a 19 upwards. Aprilia RS125 uses an 11mm spanner for the nuts on the bottom of the barrel.

Worth getting decent quality tools for exactly the reasons Cimbian mentions. And once you have damaged the head of a nut or bolt then you have a pig of a job getting it off.

Hex sockets tend to have less chance of slipping / damaging the fasteners, but don't give you the flexibility on how you position then that is occasionally require.

Lots of odd tools can be useful, such as T bar sockets or ratchet spanners, but can generally be done without. Better to spend the money on decent basic tools rather than anything flash.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Sload]

Whatever you get, you will find you don't have something when you need it. I have a lot of tools, best being a full automotive tool cabinet that cost 4 figures, I never use it. I use the general stuff I accumulated before spending silly money as I don't mind damaging them

Probably the most used tool(s) I have at present are these: https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_177537_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

Brilliant little set that is very compact. I got it free a few years back with an oil deal they ran. If you can grab one cheap they are brilliant for most jobs.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Alpha-9]

And a 24mm

don't forget the 24mm


I also bougth a giant adjustable to which I said that's not a spanner, it's a murder weapon! I'll take it!
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Fzr-600 1999

[Sload]

[TheSmiler]

[Sload]

[andym]

You don't need many tools.... my tool box consists of the following:

3 hammers, several screw drivers (and bits), a list of choice swear words for all sizes of nuts bolts and screws (I've never found a nut, bolt or screw that will not loosen after 10 minutes of politely swearing at it at the top of my voice.... usually while pounding it mercilessly with a claw hammer), several rolls of duct tape and several cans of WD40.... Oh and white spirit.

All the other stuff has usually been the cheapest tools I could find and so far I've only ever broken 1 socket (trying to loosen a seized wheel nut which had snapped the wheel key a few seconds before)

[Mark 37]

Thanks for all the input so far.

I've spent the day looking at just about every make of sockets and thier reviews.

All the best,

Mark
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[stuartt]

facom , sealey , bahco , snap on , draper expert are all good

offten if you really shop about you can get a really good set for not to much money , tooled up .com is worth a look .

[stuartt]

this is a great wee set if you can afford it

https://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/130649795445?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y

you may find it cheaper if you keep looking , i payed £35 for it .

[stuartt]

also you can usually get good allen key sets in aldi & lidel

[Mark 37]

Well I've looked at Facom, Sealey, Halfords pro, Laser, Britool, Neilson, Silverline, Stanley, Draper expert and a few more.

All of the above have had great and shall we say not so good reviews, so I think it will come down to what effects the wallet the most without compromising too much on quality.

So far Sealey and Draper Expert have it.

I'm still wondering if deep sockets have a place in the tool box? The fact that no one has commented yet after me asking make me think there irrelevant. Although I did see three or four sets marketed as motorcycle socket set.

Cheers for now,

Mark
____________________
No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[Mark 37]

Startt,

Tooled-up.com man alive that site would send me straight to the divorce courts. lol

Mark
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Most of the spanners I have planned to buy have been Facom. Ones bought in a hurry when I need them tend to be Halfords Professional.

Deep sockets are useful. Default sockets I use are a set of 6 point deep 3/8" ones.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Raffles]

A lot of the tools that I own get very little use at all. It is though a satisfying feeling to have available virtually every size and type of socket imaginable, should the need arise.
Most of my tools are Draper Expert. They are superb quality and represent excellent value for money. Facom/Britool are also top quality.
Silverline and Stanley should be avoided at any cost.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[stuartt]

i got this socket set it's good
https://www.tooled-up.com/product/sealey-socket-set-45pc-3-8sq-drive-metric-imperial/26215/

[stuartt]

https://www.toolbox.co.uk/draper-48854-expert-10-piece-3757-87486

[Torque Wrench]

Facom do a 3/8 set on Ebay for £50
X1 Ratchet
X2 Extension
8-22mm Sockets
X1 Joint
X1 Case

Search Ebay [facom 3/8 set] as a few are selling them, I think the cheapest was £45 delivered.

Bahco also do a cheaper set for £30