pushbroom, I forgot to thank you for your detailed response. This was hugely helpful on my end, and I really appreciate you taking the time to post up the information, and picture!
I've always just used a swivel and I think a Matco 13mm or 1/2" 12 point socket.... I'd have to go look at it, since I haven't had to do one of those in a long time, and I work on a heavy equipment line now, working primarily on pavers. Can't recall encountering anything 18mm as of yet.
They're nice, and I'd certainly like to have them. It's just that, between being able to make due with what I have, having a pretty substantial tool bill already, and working on a heavy equipment line where I'm not dealing with trucks right now, it's just not a very high priority for me to get those right now.
That is totally understandable. When I was a tech I always tried to make due with what I had. Specialty tool design requires that I ignore that part of myself... I appreciate your feedback. Hopefully more will chime in. I also would have trouble justifying another expensive set of sockets, but if I was doing it often enough, I would probably bite the bullet and pick them up.
I think the hardest hitting tool bill was when I ran a service truck. You rack one up quick with those, because things which were low priority previously become high priority once you can't borrow anyone else's. I looked at mine... I have a Matco 13mm 12 point socket, and I use it in conjunction with a Cornwell impact wobble. I do have a 12 point 18mm, but I bought that to remove the augers from a Caterpillar asphalt paver. IIRC, 18mm should be close enough to 5/8" that you might be able to use it to remove starter bolts.
16mm is the closest to 5/8" match. I have a single 18mm 12 point, think I bought it for Rods and Mains on a Series60. I have the 1/2 to 3/8 extensions that work great in such spots cuz you can use a smaller socket where a half drive impact socket is quite bulky for clearance to the yokes. The wobble extensions work swell too.
I would have thought metric tools would be part of everyones tool set by now. Specialty tools are the reason some guys end up requiring a tool box big enough to qualify for its own zip code. On automobiles 18mm is very common. I still have yet to buy "wobble" extensions.
I always acquired 6 point impact sockets for reliability and avoiding purchasing multiple socket sets. My 12 point selection has been limited and I usually just buy singles for each specific task.
Then you start working on Japanese stuff and instead of 16mm and 18mm they use bolts with 17mm and 19mm heads. Always fun when you're halfway through taking off a part and someone previous stuck a bolt with an 18mm head on it in there. Then cuss and swear at them as you climb out and back to your toolbox lol.
