5/8 drive sockets

[Dand K]

I have some of these 5/8 drive Blackhawk brand sockets. Anyone know where to get an adapter to run them with 1/2 or 3/4 drive tools?

 

[Keith Molden]

I also have a set of 5/8 Snap On sockets & have been looking for the past 4 years trying to find a ratchet & breaker bar for it (Snap On). No luck with even the company--quit making them in the 30s My only suggestion would be to check the auctions & flea markets, they're around, just hard to find. Keith

 

[paul]

Were these a railroad issue thing back in the day, so others wouldn'd steal the peieces to take home?

Thought I heard something like that.

--->Paul

 

[Anonymous-0]

My thought is to get a 3/4" adaptor and grind it to 5/8" on a surface grinder. Of course the spring loaded ball is a problem. Maybe push the ball back in out of the way with a sacrifical chip of wood and not take as much off that side.

 

[PJH]

I bought what I thought was a 1/4" breaker bar at a yard sale. Turned out it was larger than 1/4" but smaller that 3/8". Like another poster suggested, I ground three sides (saving the detent side) to make it into a 1/4". Gotta keep it cool, of course.

Paul

 

[Keith Molden]

I don't know. Mine are the first ones I had ever seen. I bought a shop out in Olmstead Ill. while I was working an outage at New Madrid Mo. Power house & these were in the tools I bought. The old fellow had ran a garage for local farmers in that area until his death about 9 years before that, so I didn't know him. Keith

 

[TimV]

McMaster--Carr has one--$21.05.
adapter

 

[36 Coupe]

You had a 5/16 drive.Mine are military issue,one is marked Plumb.Covered with cosmoline

 

[Fullthrottle]

I have some also, old man that gave them to me(with a homemade adapter) said they were made that way so they would not be stolen. Guess it didn't work! Don't recall if he said railroad or not though.

 

[paul]

Ah, little research, & it might be military, not RR.

http://books.google.com/books?id=1_IEAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA662&lpg=PA662&dq=five+eighths+inch+socket+set&source=bl&ots=RuUmjxvj7H&sig=4HgZPTRfMC1WhiShXLmP6hrFXSg&hl=en&ei=vExvTIW9NJSfnQent8nFCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=five%20eighths%20inch%20socket%20set&f=false

(Wow that's a link! - I searched google for 'five eighths inch socket set' and a reference to a 1917 infrantry field guide talked about working with 5/8 sockets....)

--->Paul

 

[rodm1]

Before 1/2 and 3/4 became standered there whose 5/8 drive. Tool company's decided that 1/2 and 3/4 where enough options. I would think sales probable where low on 5/8 drive and they dropped it.

 

[Brad Gyde]

Somewhere around here we have a 5/8 drive electric impact, but no sockets.

My grandad got it from a shop he worked at, it worked, but they were going to toss it because the lack of sockets and I guess they couldn't find any.. So he rescued it from the scrap bin.

I'd have to ask him if he'd be interested in letting loose of it, if he even knows where he put it.. if anyone would be interested.. (never used a electric impact, so I don't know.. it could be junk even if it does work)

Brad

 

[Mike (WA)]

In other news-

I'm familiar with the posts in a thread widening out (to where you have to scroll across) if someone posts an unsized large picture-

But no such animal in this thread, and it is still wide- howcum?

 

[Dand K]

Thanks , I ordered it today.

 

[TimV]

No problem--glad to help--this board is a great place with a lot of friendly people! $20 won't buy you many sockets nowadays, and the ones you can buy most likely won't be as good as those old Blackhawks.

 

[bc]

Hi Mike. I think the long url posted by Paul doesn't wrap. It's best to put those url's in the box underneath for optional link and give it a title.

 

[scnwpa]

I've got a set of 5/8 Snap-ons with a breaker bar and extension at home somewhere.

At least I hope I still have it, I couldn't find it when we cleaned up the barn this summer. My uncle had a new head for the breaker bar made when we went to vo-tech, said it was old when the old neighbor gave it to him.