Socket set

[Jonners]

Hi All,
I have been a plus 2 owner for about 6 months and (very) slowly working through some of the "issues" the car has, in a very novice fashion! I have been making do with an old socket set I had from years ago, or what is left of it, but have been wondering what would be the best / most practical size and brand of socket set for a plus 2 (with Weber Carbs).
Does anyone have any suggestions / advice?
Thanks
J

[mikealdren]

J,
I bought a set of sockets and a new ratchet (from Machine Mart) and kept my old extensions etc. Modern sockets drive off the flats so tehy fit batter and are less likely to round of Hex heads and ratchets have finer ratchets than they used to.

Also, I've really moved to 3/8" drive. I still have a lot of other sockets (1/4" and 1/2") but it's the 3/8" I use most.

Ideally, and it depends on what you want to spend, you want a comprehensive set.

Don't go for the cheapest but there are some good deals around. Halfords do good deals in the sales and their own brand tools are good value at sale prices.

Mike

[Spyder fan]

In my experience with all sorts of classics I would reccomend 3/8'' drive sockets. As mentioned Halfords do a good quality range, their professional sets are often on offer. Their standard extension bars allow the socket to wobble/articulate if required and the thin wall of the 3/8 sockets on the smaller sizes means you can get at nuts more easily.

regards

[Jonners]

Thanks guys. Any views on 12 point vs 6 point sockets?

J

[types26/36]

I bought a set of Metrinch sockets years ago, wonderful things as they work on both metric and imperial nuts and bolts, they will even turn a nut/bolt that has had the corners rounded off.
They don't always fit in the smallest places but I would not be without them.
Something like this http://www.metrinch-tools.com/website/introductie.php

[terryp]

I would second with the 3/8 drive, 1/2 is too big, 1/4 too small. Deep sockets are very useful as well on the +2
Something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Socket-Set-45 ... 5d30a01f1d .....but with a 5/8" socket???????????

Good Luck

Terry

[pauljones]

Halfords box of sockets is now ?99.99 reduced from ?199.99. Ive had mine for 3years and its fantastic.

Paul.

[cliveyboy]

Halfords professional range has won a few awards over the years for best value socket sets.
I still have an old 1/2" Draper set in the orange case that I got for my 18th Birthday.
Used on ever car I ever owned.
But the Halfords 3/8" set I have is very useful and I tend to use them regularly on the Sprint.
But for Spanners I love Britool.
Clive

[Jonners]

Thanks for all the replies, brilliant and prompt as ever! Looks like Halfords seems favourite... I willsee what is out there!
Cheers
J

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

123

[twincamman]

MY MANTRA IS ---IF YOU NEED A TOOL MORE THAN TWICE BUY ONE ---buy the best tools you can afford ---3/8 METRIC CROSSES MOSTLY WITH SAE a set of wrenches 7 mm to 22mm . a good socket set and a torque wrench various pliers vice grips and channel locks---a micrometer and assorted precise measuring devices and screw drivers to start as these will pay for themselves many times over -a manual is invaluable -- over the years my small tool kit has grown to the largest tool box I could find and it over flows . [This will drive your family nuts at christmas because you will eventually own every tool in the store ]------lotus ownership comes with dirty finger nails and grease stained shirts ------ed

[jono]

The Halford's professional 150 piece set it superb and and absolute steal when on offer for ?100. It's a ruddy bargain at the full price ?150
I have had mine for 7 years and it does everything you need and more. Lifetime guarantee as well, not that anything has ever broken on mine.

Britool, Snap On etc is very nice but for a DIY mechanic the Halfords set will last you a lifetime. Why pay more? - spend it on the car instead

Jon

[alan.barker]

I also use a small 1/4" socket set to remove the webbers or dellorto carbs in 15 mins maximum. The 13mm socket with the short extension and a ratchet to undo the nuts of the carb bottom flanges is easy peasy
Alan B

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

123

[Elanintheforest]

I was mooching around my local garage a couple of weeks ago getting a car MOT'd, and saw the Snap-On man being shown the door. Over the past few years the quality of Snap-on tools, always previously regarded as the best, seems to have deteriorated rapidly, and the life time guarantee seems to have gone out of the window. They showed me 6 items which had broken over the past few months, and the response to replacement was the same in each case....the tool hadn't been used for the purpose for which it was designed.

The garage is a very old fashioned one, run by a couple of engineers who served their apprenticeships in the 60s. The cars being worked on at the time included my XK Jag (service and MOT), a Reliant 3 wheeler (brake overhaul), a Ferrari 348 that had snapped it's cam belt (after it was replaced by a Ferrari specialist 6 months earlier!) and a Nissan GT-R, having upgraded performance bits added! Oh, and a VW camper van having some MOT welding repairs...a good old eclectic mix!

As you may imagine, for them to be told by the Snap-on salesman that they don't know how to use their tools properly doesn't go down too well....so they had just bought a Halfords set for one of the new apprentices!

I've heard very similar stories over the past few years from very well respected garages and restorers. It beggars belief that a company like Snap-on with, such a good reputation built up over many years, should lose sight of its objective of providing the best tools available combined with a cast iron guarantee of quality. All in search of increased profit by outsourcing manufacture to the Far East I guess.

Mark