Spark Plug Socket

[britman]

I am going to begin winter maintenance on Cally Touring after the Holidays.  I have already ordered the plugs and knew I would have to grind down a standard 14mm deep well for fitment.  Since I have enough "grinding" on me with the honey do's preparing for the feasting and celebrations during this festive time of the year, I began a search for the proper size tool for the job.  The prices at the standard MG website suppliers were ridiculous for one thin wall socket.  I found this one at Sears for $11.04 on sale, it arrived today and looks to be of decent quality for the price.  Probably been posted before, but just FYI in case anyone else is getting ready to spin the wrenches when the snow flies.  BYW Merry Christmas everyone......

George

https://www.sears.com/schwaben-14mm-12-point-magnetic-spark-plug/p-00930875000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
 

[sign216]

From Sears, eh?  Sad that they are slowly sliding into non-existence.  The were a good place for quality tools.  The sign of their death knell was when they sold the rights to Craftsman tools to Stanley-Black-n-Decker.  Tools w the Craftman name are now sold at Lowes, but what's the point? 

Once Sears lost ownership of the Craftsman name, they lost their identity. 

Joe

[britman]

From Sears, eh?  Sad that they are slowly sliding into non-existence.  The were a good place for quality tools.  The sign of their death knell was when they sold the rights to Craftsman tools to Stanley-Black-n-Decker.  Tools w the Craftman name are now sold at Lowes, but what's the point? 

Once Sears lost ownership of the Craftsman name, they lost their identity. 

Joe

I couldn't agree more, Craftsman used to be the tool to have.  Superb quality, lifetime guarantee, will last forever.   I still have Craftsman tools in my box that were passed down to me from my Father and I am pushing 70.  Just one of many brand companies going the way of the dinosaur........

[sign216]

I couldn't agree more, Craftsman used to be the tool to have.  Superb quality, lifetime guarantee, will last forever.   I still have Craftsman tools in my box that were passed down to me from my Father and I am pushing 70.  Just one of many brand companies going the way of the dinosaur........

I just saw a TV ad for Lowe's featuring Craftsman tools.  I bet they're all made in Asia now.   It's just not the same.

No different than any other store brand now.

[Lannis]

I just saw a TV ad for Lowe's featuring Craftsman tools.  I bet they're all made in Asia now.   It's just not the same.

No different than any other store brand now.

The thing about Craftsman was good quality at a reasonable price and a Lifetime Guarantee.   Does Lowes/Craftsman still offer the lifetime guarantee?    If not, you're right - it's not different from any other made-to-a-price-overseas chain brand.   If the guarantee still holds, that's different ....

Lannis

[Aaron D.]

Craftsman Tools were made in Asia for quite a while. When Stanley bought them, they announced that production will be coming back to the US.

[sign216]

Craftsman Tools were made in Asia for quite a while. When Stanley bought them, they announced that production will be coming back to the US.

Talk is cheap.  I'll believe when I see it.

[RinkRat II]

 Greetings Britman,
  I'm curious to know the outside diameter of that socket versus a standard 12 Pt.
 
  Thanks, Paul B

[Darren Williams]

I use the one that came with the bike in the tool kit. If I was home, I could measure it.

[guzzisteve]

I just use a 13/16" on the plugs, if it has twin plugs(as in CalVin) I use a 5/8" w/ground down outer that I did w/bikes came out.
I gave the OD size to a member here in the Dakota's and he made a bunch up for owners w/newer heads.

[britman]

Greetings Britman,
  I'm curious to know the outside diameter of that socket versus a standard 12 Pt.
 
  Thanks, Paul B

According to my Harbor Freight digital caliper, so consider the source, the measurements are

standard 14mm deep well..............1 9.90mm
Sears.............. ................... .........17.56mm

[RinkRat II]

     Thanks! Good info.

         Paul B

[Aaron D.]

Talk is cheap.  I'll believe when I see it.

Maybe so, but Sears never actually made the tools. Stanley was one of the US based companies that did make them for Sears.

[sign216]

Maybe so, but Sears never actually made the tools. Stanley was one of the US based companies that did make them for Sears.

I respect the Stanley name, but it no longer means American made.  Here is a quote from Stanley themselves, re their purchase of the Craftsman line: "Stanley Black & Decker will focus on U.S. manufacturing, using global materials."  (emphasis added)

Which means American assembled, using foreign (Asian) parts.  I'm not thrilled w that.  It's just a cover to fool buyers with the "made in the USA" label.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Old Craftsman wrenches were Snap On quality. Ihave some of Dorcia's dad's Craftsman wrenches, and they are delicate thin wall things that won't break. As time wore on, they became designed to "not fail" and became clumsy, heavy, with big radii on the ends of sockets, etc. Really no better than HF. There is a world of difference between old and new.
I don't understand Lowes taking on the Craftsman line. Their Cobalt tools are better. <shrug>

[sign216]

Old Craftsman wrenches were Snap On quality. Ihave some of Dorcia's dad's Craftsman wrenches, and they are delicate thin wall things that won't break. As time wore on, they became designed to "not fail" and became clumsy, heavy, with big radii on the ends of sockets, etc. Really no better than HF. There is a world of difference between old and new.
I don't understand Lowes taking on the Craftsman line. Their Cobalt tools are better. <shrug>

I agree about the old Craftsman tools; quality at a reasonable price.  But Kobalt better than the more recent Craftsman?  I recall Kobalt is primarily made in Taiwan.  They might be made well, but it's still Taiwan.  I dunno, when I see made "over there" it automatically takes it down a few pegs.
 
Just sayin'

[yogidozer]

Chainsaw's usually come with a thin walled sparkplug tool. Maybe that would work?

[dxhall]

It’s really a matter of why you are doing the work.  If you’re doing it to save money, it makes no sense to buy stuff like snap on.  If you’re doing it because you enjoy doing the work (me), then using crappy tools detracts from the enjoyment in doing the work. 

[Moto]

I have an older set of Craftsman combination open/box end wrenches, probably from the 1970's, and last year I decided to add a new set in the same sizes, so I could deal better with pairs of nuts and bolts of the same size, when this comes up. (And the new set was incredibly cheap, about $7.)

This gave me the chance to compare them by weighing the two sets, both ranging from 7 through 14mm. The wrenches are the same length between the two sets, made on the same general model. But the new ones weigh 19 oz. versus the original's 16 oz. This 19% increase is due to the use of inferior materials, or at least inferior production processes. The old ones are marked "Forged in U.S.A." The new ones might as well be marked "No Comment," since they don't make any claims at all.

Drop forging can be done on both sides of the Pacific. Just having the Craftsman tools made again in the U.S. won't bring back the old quality --- that's a function of the decisions of management, not the capabilities of the manufacturers.

Moto

[Lannis]

Drop forging can be done on both sides of the Pacific. Just having the Craftsman tools made again in the U.S. won't bring back the old quality --- that's a function of the decisions of management, not the capabilities of the manufacturers.

Moto

This is the whole thing, right here.   

The things we perceive (often accurately) as "cheap Chinese junk" are cheap junk because that's exactly what the American importers and sellers have specified to the Chinese manufacturers .... or if not specified, at least accepted.

Lannis

[bigbikerrick]

I used to walk into my local sears store with a hand full of craftsman screwdrivers every few years to exchange the ones with worn tips for new ones.  There were no questions asked, just, "go ahead and pick new ones to match, and we will replace them"I did that once with a bunch of Kobalt ones, at the returns desk and the little gal there looked at me like I was crazy! 
Rick.

[earemike]

I agree about the old Craftsman tools; quality at a reasonable price.  But Kobalt better than the more recent Craftsman?  I recall Kobalt is primarily made in Taiwan.  They might be made well, but it's still Taiwan.  I dunno, when I see made "over there" it automatically takes it down a few pegs.
 
Just sayin'

From what I’ve seen tools from Taiwan are good - you get what you pay for. Definitely a step up from mainland China’s reputation.

[sign216]

From what I’ve seen tools from Taiwan are good - you get what you pay for. Definitely a step up from mainland China’s reputation.

Interesting.  I don't have experience with goods from mainland China.  Although I will say that it's sad that Taiwan is being slowly "let go" by the US and given back to China. 

[yogidozer]

I used to walk into my local sears store with a hand full of craftsman screwdrivers every few years to exchange the ones with worn tips for new ones.  There were no questions asked, just, "go ahead and pick new ones to match, and we will replace them"I did that once with a bunch of Kobalt ones, at the returns desk and the little gal there looked at me like I was crazy! 
Rick.

I did the same with sockets and ratchets.
Even though I beat the crap out of them, they never hesitated to replace them.
Their cordless tools are also very good. Going to be hard to find replacement batteries now I guess.

[sign216]

I did the same with sockets and ratchets.
Even though I beat the crap out of them, they never hesitated to replace them.
Their cordless tools are also very good. Going to be hard to find replacement batteries now I guess.

I agree; the Sears lifetime warranty was outstanding.  Especially given that the tools weren't that costly to begin with.

Ahh, those were the days. 

[yogidozer]

I agree; the Sears lifetime warranty was outstanding.  Especially given that the tools weren't that costly to begin with.

Ahh, those were the days.

Tim Mcgraw-Back When....
Back when a hoe was a hoe
Coke was a coke
And crack's what you were doing
When you were cracking jokes
Back when a screw was a screw



famous poems about fish

[Moto]

I agree; the Sears lifetime warranty was outstanding.  Especially given that the tools weren't that costly to begin with.

Ahh, those were the days.

Craftsman hand tools still have a lifetime warranty. It's just that they are no longer very good tools.

"Full Lifetime Warranty

"If the product fails to perform for any reason, we will replace it. Return damaged product to a stocking Retail Partner or call 1-888-331-4569 for details. No proof of purchase required."

-- just copied from: https://www.craftsman.com/customer-care/warranty-information

Moto

[larrys]

I buy old Craftsman tools whenever I see them at tag sales and estate sales. The old nickle plated ones are top shelf quality.
Oh, this thread was about spark plug sockets. Whoops! Thread drift!
Larry