Making a spring loaded detent ball

[GreensandsParticipant @greensands]

I want to make up an extension rod for a typical 1/4″ square socket spanner set but I am looking for ideas on how to make up the spring loaded ball detent as illustrated in the photograph.  I would be interested to see how others may have overcome the problem and/or perhaps to investigate alternative means of achieving the same result.  I know from past experience that using a rod without some means of retaining the business end in position is a frustrating experience. All hints and tips would be most welcomed.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

As you can see from the extension that you have, the spring and ball were inserted into the hole, before a hollow punch was used to peen over material around the entrance to the hole.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Spend £4.50 and buy a set of 3 different length ones, the longest 10″. No point in wasting time. Noel

[GreensandsParticipant @greensands]

Just a thought. Is it possible to buy the spring loaded detent as an entity and then let it into a prepared hole in the squared section?

[Howard Lewis]

On Howard Lewis Said:

As you can see from the extension that you have, the spring and ball were inserted into the hole, before a hollow punch was used to peen over material around the entrance to the hole.

Certainly, that’s how I make them; I this case, I think I used a press, rather than a hammer and punch.

This is a ½” – ¾” adaptor, which I’ve never seen for sale; I bought a ¾” ratchet second hand, without a drive piece.
Made out of some EN19 I had in stock; the surface finish is rather better than it appears, as the flash highlighted the markings.
Make sure you leave enough clearance in the hole around the ball, as grit can gain entry and jam it up.

Bill

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Search ball point set screw. Come in various sizes. These are M4

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Not sure how that will work Peter ? The OP wants a spring loaded ball. Noel.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

If it is a one-off, drill through from the opposite side at a diameter to suit the projection you want from the ball.

Enlarge that hole to the diameter of the ball, controlling the depth very carefully. Insert ball. Insert spring. Loctite in a blanking plug. File smooth.

If you want the ball to be removable, use a grub screw instead of a plug.

ISO1174 tells you the ball dimensions and projection for the various square drive sizes.

https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/53384/d588552bc440487cbe360ba1203df93f/ISO-1174-1-2011.pdf

[noel shelley]

On noel shelley Said:

Not sure how that will work Peter ? The OP wants a spring loaded ball. Noel.

Verbatim quote from the ebay listing:

The ball point set screw is composed of spring, ball plunger and shell. It is mainly used to fix on mechanical equipment that does not require protruding ends.
– The ball point set screw is slightly elastic, allowing slight adjustments without loosening the screws, reducing surface wear. Even if the load is unbalanced, the internal spring can receive the load evenly.

 

MichaelG.

[peak4]

On peak4 Said:

 

This is a ½” – ¾” adaptor, which I’ve never seen for sale;

Look up “Laser Tools 8844 Male To Male Square Drive Adaptor 1/2″ X 3/4″”

What you’ve made looks excellent, nonetheless, Bill.

[MacolmParticipant @macolm]

It is very easy to achieve this. Drill a blind hole for ball and spring. Make up a hard rod such as the stock end of a broken drill with about 135 degree included angle. Load the spring and ball, then press on the ball with the point of the rod which will push it in, then the rod is able to be self centred on the hole. Finally apply pressure with enough force to distort top of hole to retain ball. May need to experiment to get dimensions exactly right.

[Greensands]

On Greensands Said:

Just a thought. Is it possible to buy the spring loaded detent as an entity and then let it into a prepared hole in the squared section?

Yes

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175697018317?chn=ps&_ul=GB&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&var=475075348981&google_free_listing_action=view_item&gQT=1

And the smallest I found on my quick 5 min search

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276677156207?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D284134%2C284018%2C283843%26meid%3D51a51fdd02a34a71bfc3c9c7b5ac61e8%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D175697018317%26itm%3D276677156207%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V6WithVectorDbNsOptFull2Recall%26brand%3Duxcell&_trksid=p2332490.c101196.m2219&itmprp=cksum%3A27667715620751a51fdd02a34a71bfc3c9c7b5ac61e8%7Cenc%3AAQAKAAABEMUbvbb8kTgHr%252FFYUgeDxU9zexY8F4V9LYGIVeeDTpLVqMVmftfwVWHItuad96%252BPV4FgMuR0rI0pJFqPmePHNyDjqDOIx05QLMkxgaSZt3xNQ39a%252BHgLt3kh4J6YRbrpZKeuyPCkdSahsYtLr8VbhBc2sQ962PjrOtWsW6sgIqktPC%252BEKmJmkMhriY7eIoI5dJeKYONw4RtrITnqZWy01zBuB8iOihH%252BYbmzc51AKexgc3tV4WY%252BIre%252BZElZbNFkuwcgugLj%252Bl%252BFEy4WvwYrESUWrBOyXA5gOfGPmkjBiLQqkefiSf%252B%252BB8JluIN74%252Bt4zqnCJtfCmjIHrlZCV%252BpR%252B8doskJQW%252FQ4%252FOwMxDKB5Ujg%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JRJR1K4MQ6A45GCQRA2KCG46

 

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