What size sockets needed for general maintenance and upkeep

[sonnydaniels]

What size driver and sockets do you guys recommend to have on hand for general upkeep and maintenance for your tractors. I have a 4540 4x4 w/ FEL. I am sure one would need both metric and standard. What do you all recommend? Thanks

 

[wolftree]

A 3/8 drive ratchet with sockets from 4mm-25mm will be a good start. A set of metric combination wrenches will be needed as well.

 

[oldpilgrim]

^ this but add a set of SAE sockets/wrenches too. Some of the nuts/bolts are SAE and some are metric.

 

[Deere Dude]

1/2" drive sockets for sure.

 

[brown40]

Sears usually has a Mechanics set with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch sockets that goes on sale around the holiday season... That covers the bulk of DIY in a lifetime set that won't break the bank and comes in a good case usually. Not the finest, but good value, standard and metric.

 

[oldpilgrim]

yup and they're guaranteed forever.

Sears.com

 

[sonnydaniels]

Thanks gents....I really appreciate it!!!

 

[Wagtail]

Mahindra is probably metric as it's from India. My JD 4105 is all metric and it's from the US so metric is pretty much standard now... I've got a set of SAE sockets that have never been used (they sure are pretty though )

Make sure that you have a 17mm crescent and socket. That's one handy size that don't tend to be included in 'sets'. I learnt that the hard way and now have 3 different types that are always in my toolbox.

 

[Agvg]

Hmm, no 17mm? Thats a std metric size, 7,8,10,13,17,19,22,24,27,30 and 32mm is the usual dimensions on the heads of metric bolts thats follow the DIN standard.

 

[motownbrowne]

Hmm, no 17mm? Thats a std metric size, 7,8,10,13,17,19,22,24,27,30 and 32mm is the usual dimensions on the heads of metric bolts thats follow the DIN standard.

And the DIN standard doesn't include 12 or 15mm, which seem like 2 of the 3 most common on Japanese cars (add a 10 mm and you can just about have a Toyota truck down to the frame).

 

[Agvg]

Auto industry doesn't care and Japan has never followed std metric head sizes.
But those I listed has been the basic forever, M6 has 10mm, M8 has 13mm head, M10 has 17mm, M12 has 19mm.

 

[Wagtail]

Hmm, no 17mm? Thats a std metric size, 7,8,10,13,17,19,22,24,27,30 and 32mm is the usual dimensions on the heads of metric bolts thats follow the DIN standard.

G'day Agvg. I know and agree. However I've found that purchased sets, at least here in Aus, tend to skip over certain sizes. Most of these sets come from automotive or 'hardware' stores. There are 17mm easily available to add to your 'collection'.

I note that motownbrowne has found 12 & 15mm missing from these sets too.

All I'm saying is to ensure that you have that size available in your maintenance toolbox 'cause, by and large, you're going to need it sometime in the future.

 

[Agvg]

You must have them all if you wants too be safe but 6,9,23, 25,26 and 28mm are rarely in use.

 

[Wagtail]

Auto industry doesn't care and Japan has never followed std metric head sizes.
But those I listed has been the basic forever, M6 has 10mm, M8 has 13mm head, M10 has 17mm, M12 has 19mm.

All true... however the way that I discovered that I needed a 17mm (naturally, out in the field & km's from my shop) was bleeding the fuel lines (after accidentally filling the fuel tank with water... don't ask how, it's a long story). Fortunately one was available and we got my rig up and running.

I had a 17mm, but as a socket. This job required a crescent.

 

[Egon]

All true... however the way that I discovered that I needed a 17mm (naturally, out in the field & km's from my shop) was bleeding the fuel lines (after accidentally filling the fuel tank with water... don't ask how, it's a long story). Fortunately one was available and we got my rig up and running.

I had a 17mm, but as a socket. This job required a crescent.

There you go. One Crescent and you've got an entire set of wrenches.

 

[PILOON]

There you go. One Crescent and you've got an entire set of wrenches.

\\
LOL,
That and a nufie wrench (vice grips) and 2 pipe wrenches.

You can buy 1/2" drive SAE and Metric set and will still not have enough.
Tractors are odd beasts.
You think you are covered and then find an axle nut that nothing you have fits.
To be 100% covered you would need metric set and SAE in 1/2" and 1/4" drive plus a 3/4" in probably both metric and SAE.

We just added a 3rd hydraulic function (snow blower) and I had about 100 lbs of tools and still had to resort to vice grips and pipe wrench. At that we managed to mangle a fitting. (i think a gorilla installed that one fitting)
On the positive side we did finally add a 3rd function for under $80.00.

 

[oldpilgrim]

There you go. One Crescent and you've got an entire set of wrenches.

Ah yes, the good old knuckle buster.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Your tractor will not likely have bolt heads or nuts larger than ~ 1-1/4 equivalent size -- at least on the outside . Implements however may have much larger. You will definitely need metric and inch for small sizes - say 30 mm. Above that cheap inch sets and oversized auxiliaries are avail with 3/4 drive at HF -- and are almost always a close enuf fit. ... So you ultimately need 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 drives.

... And a strong 1/2 drive impact with adapter to 3/4.

 

[oosik]

I've found over the 35+ years of tractor ownership that there are alway a few sizes of sockets that are never included in normal sets. Just the other day it was a 1 3/8 socket for one darn nut on my rear blade. I think 1/2 inch drive & sockets will cover most operations. I do have 3/4 inch drive & sockets simply because I don't want to over stress the 1/2 system when working on really big stuff.

I also like impact sockets for the larger stuff - they seem to be a bit tougher even if I'm only doing the job by hand.

 

[JerryK]

Some of the ' odd sizes ' are included into the vehicle design kind of on purpose. I think that is why GM started using 18mm bolt heads, and of course, torx bits. It's their way of herding the owners to the dealer for repairs... Never can have enough hand tools, except when you have to dig thru all of them to find the one wrench you are looking for....