MX5400 socket size advice needed

[AndyMA]

For all my newer tractors, MX5200 included all are metric. I have 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 metric and SAE deep and normal.

If I had to only get one type it would be metric 3/8 & 1/2 deep sockets

Andy

 

[Bullwinkle123]

How deep is a "standard length" socket supposed to be? Seems like a lot of nuts that are 1+ inches in width also require a similar amount of depth when you account for the bolt sticking up through the nut.

 

[sea2summit]

How deep is a "standard length" socket supposed to be? Seems like a lot of nuts that are 1+ inches in width also require a similar amount of depth when you account for the bolt sticking up through the nut.

There isn't a set standard I'm aware of but there are many differences and things to consider when shopping.

If you've never watched AvE his language is probably not SFW.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Interesting video, guy sounds half drunk, but informative and fun to watch. I'm guessing web sales sites aren't going to tell me the depth of the various brands of sockets w.r.t. the video discussion. Ah well, will try to use the information.

 

[KennyG]

10mm, 12, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24 millimeter pretty much gets you in the ballpark for most everything you will do. Top link nut gets a 12 inch or 18 inch adjustable wrench.

No matter what set you get, if it has a gap you will find that one bolt you can't work with. I just ordered an 18mm combination wrench because the two metric wrench sets I own both skip 18mm and both my John Deere and the Pontiac Fiero I'm restoring have 18mm bolts.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

No matter what set you get, if it has a gap you will find that one bolt you can't work with. I just ordered an 18mm combination wrench because the two metric wrench sets I own both skip 18mm and both my John Deere and the Pontiac Fiero I'm restoring have 18mm bolts.

So I have a 3/8 inch driver set (SAE + metric) with all the small sizes I never use. So far my pricing of larger diameter sets for the tractor has been challenging, but there a number that include all metric sizes in a range. This one on amazon looks great, except I'm worried that they may be too shallow and there isn't a "deep" version of this metric set. It has every mmsize from 10-36, and at a good sale price (? - seems like it).

https://www.amazon.com/Sunex-2645-2...002MW9UW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I also considered just buying, say, 25, 29 and 3x mmsize sockets individually and using them with a 50 year old ratchet I have hanging around, but they charge so much for singles it doesn't seem worth it.

 

[Agvg]

18 and 16mm is quite common to day so those is nice to have any how and usually not present in cheaper tools kits.

 

[Agvg]

So I have a 3/8 inch driver set (SAE + metric) with all the small sizes I never use. So far my pricing of larger diameter sets for the tractor has been challenging, but there a number that include all metric sizes in a range. This one on amazon looks great, except I'm worried that they may be too shallow and there isn't a "deep" version of this metric set. It has every mmsize from 10-36, and at a good sale price (? - seems like it).

https://www.amazon.com/Sunex-2645-2...002MW9UW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I also considered just buying, say, 25, 29 and 3x mmsize sockets individually and using them with a 50 year old ratchet I have hanging around, but they charge so much for singles it doesn't seem worth it.

25, 26,28,29 is very seldom used, I have them and probably used 29mm a few times

 

[Bullwinkle123]

25, 26,28,29 is very seldom used, I have them and probably used 29mm a few times

Pretty much the average bolt head width is ~1" on the tractor, so I expect the 25 or 26 mm will very much be needed. Similarly the bolts on some attachments are ~1&1/8", which would be the 29mm socket I guess.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I found the deep version of the socket set I posted above: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sunex-1...ERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-303158465-_-303158474-_-N , model 2646 (vs 2645).

So the question is whether to pay 2x to get the deep sockets or not. Again, this is where someone with an MX tractor may have some perspective. It is probably overkill, but I don't want to be caught short with some of those nuts whose bolts are coming through. Advise? MX5400 good with shallow sockets? Cost aside, is it a bad idea to have deeper sockets? Frankly, any time it's ever mattered with my usual projects (which don't involve tractor stuff), I'm as likely to just cut the bolt off it it's stuck as I am spend any elbow grease on it. Not so with my shiny new tractor.

Access/space around the fasteners doesn't seem to be an issue, they're all pretty much out in the open and reasonable distances apart, or so my superficial inspection says.