buying 1 1/16 socket for water heater drain removal?

[Blackrock]

And a six inch extension.

[modem9]

I have it on my 4 way tire lug wrench. Does dual purpose that way.

[dodgemark]

You can get a craftsman socket set from Lowe’s, why just buy the 1 1/16 socket? You can use other sockets for other projects. Just my 2 cents

[B and B]

Originally Posted by modem9

I have it on my 4 way tire lug wrench. Does dual purpose that way.

That is great idea!!!

Winner of the Post of the Day!!

[Chuck.C]

Tractor Supply has individually packed large sockets at decent prices.

[ctg2]

got mine at a flea market

[RamblerGuy]

Here's a hint for reinstalling the anode/drain plug.

It's impossible to use just the 1 1/16-inch socket to start the anode in the water heater - the hex just slides into the socket so far the threads won't engage and the weight of the anode tilts the head so the threads won't align.

Put a nut in the socket to hold the anode's hex head as far to the end of the socket as possible. The nut does not have to be 1 1/16 - any nut will do.You just want to space the anode to the end of the socket. Use an extension on the socket to align the anode's threads with the water heater and hand turn it to get it started. That's easier for me than trying to hold the anode aligned with my thumb and turn it to get it started.

[MNtraveler]

Originally Posted by Grimble27

I need to get a 1 and 1/16 socket to drain my water heater (Suburban SW6D). I THOUGHT I ordered the right one from Amazon but it ended up being the Camco socket for residential water heaters at 1 1/2

Where did you get your 1 1/16 socket, and does it really matter as long as I get the right size? (6pt vs 12pt, deep vs regular)

If your plug is plastic like mine, get a 6-point for sure! If it's metal, it probably doesn't matter. You don't put much torque on those.

Be sure to get a drive size that fits your driver, in my case 3/8" drive.

PS: I don't recall where I got mine, some hardware store or Sears which is now closed. Amazon definitely has it.
OEMTOOLS 22369 1-1/16 Inch SAE Socket
by Amazon.com Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00AXTKG..._8HBEDbF7FC041

[Oaklevel]

Not all Sears stores are closed. But the closest one to us will be closing later this fall.

[TheWolfPaq82]

How many forum members does it take to tell someone where to buy a socket ??

[lswartz]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

How many forum members does it take to tell someone where to buy a socket ??

Me too.

[ijon]

Originally Posted by KyDan

My LP line runs right in front of the drain plug so I have to use a box end wrench.

They make it so handy to get to.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by ijon

They make it so handy to get to.

I was just starting to work on a way to get an extension and valve on our Jayco and then we sold it. That plug was a pain.

[jimmarako]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Jim, square nuts take 4-point or 8-point sockets. Hex nuts take 6-point or 12-point sockets. It's easier to get a 12-point socket or wrench onto the nut or bolt-head, but it's also easier to round off the nut/bolt since there's less contact area.

I have actually had occasion to use an 8-point socket on a really stubborn square-head set screw on an impeller fan.

Larry, thanks for pointing this out. I probably knew this at one time. I remember one of my first socket sets having "star" shaped sockets which I believe are the 4/8 points.

Of course this lead to 20 minutes of Googling "square vs hex nut". Seems that Rolls Royce was/is a big user of square nuts/bolts. I'm not too worried about this. Besides, why do Vise Grips exist?

Jim M.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by jimmarako

Besides, why do Vise Grips exist?

Jim M.

That goes back to when many automobiles had manual window cranks. When that handle stripped/broke, viola the vice grips became the permanent replacement for such. [emoji3]

The younger ones reading this may not have ever seen such with all the fancy electric windows and such.

[Theo]

Originally Posted by wmtire

{snip}...That goes back to when many automobiles had manual window cranks. When that handle stripped/broke, viola the vice grips became the permanent replacement for such...{snip}

Yes! I could easily wind-up the windows with my index finger in my double vice-gripped 62 Ford Falcon. Isn't that why they made the very small vice-grip model?

[kantonburg]

Originally Posted by Cdj1990

I got mine at Lowe's.

Mine also from Lowe's.

[david_reaves]

Originally Posted by RamblerGuy

Here's a hint for reinstalling the anode/drain plug.

It's impossible to use just the 1 1/16-inch socket to start the anode in the water heater - the hex just slides into the socket so far the threads won't engage and the weight of the anode tilts the head so the threads won't align.

I use a wad of blue painter's tape, balled up and stuffed into the socket. It holds the head of the anode at the end of the socket AND the stickiness that is exposed helps to keep the anode in the socket while making that first, crucial alignment and initial thread start. When I'm done, a flat tipped screw driver through the socket drive hole pops the tape right out. I use a standard depth 6-sided 1/2" drive socket since I have a 50-year old Craftsman set that was my dad's.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

How many forum members does it take to tell someone where to buy a socket ??

Looks like about 30.......... And no one can agree on where to buy one.

[bobneal69]

I'll admit I didn't read through all the answers here so this may be a repeat, but most Pawn shops and big flea markets have piles of loose sockets for half a dollar or less. It's probably not worth a trip there to get one but I like wandering through them so I'm often at one.