This article was co-authored by Michael Dey and by How.com.vn staff writer, Hunter Rising. Michael Dey is an Automotive Enthusiast specializing in sharing detailed automotive content and restorations on rare and exotic vehicles. Michael has been passionately working on and restoring cars for over 15 years. He has a follower base of over 30,000 YouTube subscribers and 28 million views. Michael is a Factory Trained Master Guild Audi Technician and ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician.
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Are you tired of refitting a standard wrench on a nut or bolt every time you finish turning it? If you want something quicker and easier to use, a socket wrench (ratchet) is the perfect addition to your toolbox. Socket wrenches have so many uses around the house for home and automotive repairs—if it has a nut or bolt, it’s time to use one. Since they only move in one direction, you don’t have to reposition your socket wrench after each turn and repairs go by so much faster. If it’s your first time with a ratchet, keep reading and we’ll walk you through exactly how it works!
Things You Should Know
- Choose a socket that’s the same size as the nut or bolt. Push the socket onto the square end of the wrench so it clicks into place.
- Set the wrench’s lever to set the ratchet direction. Put it to the left if you’re tightening the fastener or to the right if you’re loosening it.
- Fit the socket over the nut and turn the handle clockwise to tighten or counterclockwise to loosen the fastener.
- Keep the socket on the nut or bolt, and move the wrench handle back to the starting position. It will not move the fastener.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Avoid using a socket wrench to remove a stuck bolt since you could damage the ratcheting mechanism inside. Attach the socket to a [breaker bar] instead.[8]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about car maintenance and repair, check out our in-depth interview with Michael Dey.
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/HJEU0OKA3EM?t=43
- ↑ https://krankengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Wrenches.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/s9XkCs8N1Z8?t=41
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Xh0uZCneXso?t=9
- ↑ https://youtu.be/l5tb6rRRP3Q?t=117
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/lifestyle/gear/toolmanship-your-complete-guide-to-wrenches/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Xh0uZCneXso?t=26
- ↑ https://youtu.be/l5tb6rRRP3Q?t=556
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