Tool advice needed for cub work and maintenance

[Lance Leitzel]

My personal vote would be for 6 pt. sockets. I've hit way too many knuckles with 12pts. when they slip. As for square-head bolts, well 12pts. do work there, but I haven't met many square-heads (bolts) on my cub.

[Buzzard Wing]

That is the beauty of a Cub.... most everything can be done with the little carrier of Craftsman wrenches (3/4 is the largest). That one 'tool' has been the single most handy item for working on a Cub.

I agree with Rudi on that kit, I got a great deal on the bigger kit. But I will say Kroil saved me from ruining any bolts on the 50. I got em all out! I wish I had a big enough one to get the seat post bolts out of the rusty Lo Boy.

I run the bolts through a wire wheel on a grinder and a tap through all the holes.

[schmibm]

Should I get the 12pt sockets to handle the odd square-head bolt?

Thanks in advance for your advice?
--Paul

I have never thought about using a 12 point socket on a square head bolt. I usually use the crescent wrench on them. I don't think you will find that a 12 point has enough "grab" on a square head bolt.

I have been looking for a set of 4 point sockets with no avail. Not sure they are made. Would be handy sometimes. Also sometimes need a square drive allen type wrench. Not found any of those out there either. I have one size that is not 1/4" nor 3/8". Somewhere between. Made a special one using a short 3/8" extension ground down to fit.

schmibm

[NawlensGator]

5/8" bolts in the cast bell housing and implements such as the 54A blade need a 15/16" socket. A 14" long, 1/2" socket drive plus an open head are needed for the nut and bolt ends. I second a set of sockets 1/2" - 1 1/16" with a long drive and a set of open ends the same size.

[prd]

I second a set of sockets 1/2" - 1 1/16"....

Thanks for all the input, guys! I spent some time on, under and around the tractor today. The implement bolts are 1", but what do I need the 1 1/16" socket and wrench for? Looked around and didn't find anything bigger than 1".

Thanks.

[beaconlight]

Iguess the Craftsman torque don't hold up I got mine before Bev and I met and we are 52 years married.

[George Willer]

Iguess the Craftsman torque don't hold up I got mine before Bev and I met and we are 52 years married.

The 1/2" Craftsman set I use was used at the Brook Park (Cleveland) tank plant during WWII by my uncle. I've had to replace the ratchet.

[Don McCombs]

The 1/2" Craftsman set I use was used at the Brook Park (Cleveland) tank plant during WWII by my uncle. I've had to replace the ratchet.

George, I hope you mean that Sears had to replace it.

[JC-Cub]

Hi Guys,
I see I am getting older. I have two tool boxes (roll arounds from snap on) The one I keep all american tool in and the other one I keep the metrics. From around 1948 to the 70's I used the american. Then came the metrics, and you know the rest of the story.
The best of luck getting the tool you need. Jim (jccub)

[George Willer]

The 1/2" Craftsman set I use was used at the Brook Park (Cleveland) tank plant during WWII by my uncle. I've had to replace the ratchet.

George, I hope you mean that Sears had to replace it.

Nope! The replacement is an Indestro. I didn't bother Sears. I may have simply lost the original.

[boldpsi]

ditto with what folks have said about bolt sizes.... you'll definitely need the 1 - 1/8th socket/wrench for the hydraulic fluid fill bolt!

what i did was to join the Craftsman Club, then, haunt the local Sears tool department to get to know someone there. then, get the inside scoop on when the Craftsman Club specials are coming up, and when certain tool sets will go on sale. i got this set:

[boldpsi]

sorry.. hit Submit instead of Preview!

any way, this set is nice, and i got it for $179.00 American, which was expensive but has 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" sockets in SAE and metric, lots of wrenches in SAE and metric, and a bunch of extras including the box:



then i just got the 1 - 1/8th socket... which was like, $7.50!!!

dave

[Jim Becker]

sorry.. hit Submit instead of Preview!

Good. I didn't think the set in your first post was much of a deal.

One other size that I haven't seen mentioned is 1 1/4. Most tool bars mount to the front universal mounting frames with a countersunk nut that requires a 1 1/4 wrench. I like to use an open or box end wrench on them. A few of them take a 1 5/16, for which I use a 12" adjustable wrench (haven't run into enough of them to make me go buy another big wrench).

Back on the spark plug wrenches, I always use the box end of a combination 7/8 wrench. Don't even try to use a socket, especially with the hood on. Work from the left side and put the wrench on so the handle angles down rather than up.

[BigBill]

The 1/2" Craftsman set I use was used at the Brook Park (Cleveland) tank plant during WWII by my uncle. I've had to replace the ratchet.

George, I hope you mean that Sears had to replace it.

Nope! The replacement is an Indestro. I didn't bother Sears. I may have simply lost the original.

The 1/2"dr sockets i just purchased from colemans surplus were indestro made in the usa for only $6.50. The set was missing only two sockets a 5/8" and a 1" i think. The socket rack was full anyway. (military surplus new stuff)

[LiL' Red]

Sears has 8pt sockets, which are designed for square nuts&bolts. They also work well on taps and reamers.