How to use an adaptor with a socket and ratchet?

12th March 2020

How to use an adaptor with a socket and ratchet


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		If the only appropriately-sized socket you have for a fastener does not have the correct drive size to be used with your ratchet, you will need to use an adaptor.

		Attaching the adaptor
		Step 1 – Select adaptor You should select an adaptor that has both a drive socket size that matches the drive square size of your ratchet drive, and a drive square that matches the drive socket size of the socket you wish to use.

		Step 2 – Connect adaptor to ratchet To connect the adaptor to the ratchet, line the drive socket of the adaptor up with the drive square of the ratchet and push the two together. You should hear a click as the ball bearing in the ratchet’s drive square locates into place on the internal notch of the adaptor’s drive socket.

		Step 3 – Connect socket Line the drive socket of your socket up with the drive square of the adaptor and push them together. You should hear a ‘click’ as the ball bearing in the adaptor’s drive square locates into place on the internal notch of the socket’s drive socket.


		Follow How to use a socket with a ratchet wrench from step 3.

		Removing the adaptor and socket
		As adaptors can be small and difficult to get hold of, you should remove the socket from the adaptor before you remove the adaptor from the ratchet.

		Hold the adaptor and ratchet head with one hand, and with the other hand, pull the socket. This should be enough to overcome the ball bearing holding the socket onto the adaptor and separate the two.

		Once you have removed the socket from the adaptor, you can remove the adaptor from the ratchet. If your ratchet has a push release button on the back of the head, simply press this to release the adaptor from the ratchet.

		If your ratchet does not have a push release button, hold the ratchet in one hand, and the adaptor in the other, and pull the two apart. This should overcome the ball bearing in the ratchet’s drive square that is holding the adaptor onto the ratchet.