Where to buy Fox 36 top cap socket?

[MrSimmo]

Does anyone know where I could buy a Fox 36 top cap socket for reasonable price?

I'm after the air-shaft top cap flat faced 3/8" 32mm socket, but the Fox part (398-00-705) is ludicrously expensive at £30!

Trying to Google, I'm just finding chamfered head versions

 

[steve_sordy]

I'm pretty sure that you mean a socket to remove the top cap.

If so, any 32 mm socket from a socket set will do the job. Of course you have to be concerned about the internal chamfer in the socket. That chamfer is designed to avoid the fillet on bolt heads. But the alloy top cap is very shallow and that chamfer reduces the area of contact and can lead to rounding off the top cap. The answer is simple get yourself a standard socket and grind the chamfer off. The side of any wheel grinder or preferably on a belt sander will do the job.

A standard socket will cost you about £2.50, and you can get them pretty much anywhere. (B&Q, Screwfix, Halfords....)
But they come with a 1/2" square drive. So you will need a 3/8" male to 1/2" female adapter. £1.77 from B&Q

Magnusson 3/8" to ½" Standard Socket adaptor | DIY at B&Q

This Magnusson 3/8" to 1/2" socket adaptor is constructed of high quality chrome vanadium steel (crv) with a micro chrome effect finish.

www.diy.com

All sorted for less than a fiver!

 

[Jackware]

How about a 32mm spanner?

 

[steve_sordy]

How about a 32mm spanner?

The big problem is how soft the alloy is and how small the faces of the Hex actually are. This can very easily round off the top cap. If the spanner is not a PERFECT fit, rounding is even more likely.

 

[Mteam]

I manage to use a halfords professional socket without grinding the chamfer off, and it works fine. You have to be a bit careful to ensure it doesnt slip by making sure you keep a downward pressure on it as you turn in , but its not difficult to use.

 

[Dunkz]

I just took a grinder to a socket. Works fine, never leaves a mark. I also chamferred the outside edge. I painted a set of forks for the missus and the socket would scratch the paint without the extra adjustment.

 

[Pyr0]

Park Tool 32mm socket?
or a Total Bleed or Epic Bleed Solutions Flat Socket Spanner?

 

[MrSimmo]

Thanks all - didn't think of grinding the chamfer off the socket; I'll grab a new socket today and will get grinding!

 

[TrailBoB]

Thanks all - didn't think of grinding the chamfer off the socket; I'll grab a new socket today and will get grinding!

A single hexagon one, like the one pictured may be better, as it drives more on the flats of the nut as apposed to a bi-hex, that drives on the corners. Also this one is shallow/short, so you don’t get a lot of leverage pulling the socket over to one side, whilst tightening/slackening.

 

[Jackware]

The big problem is how soft the alloy is and how small the faces of the Hex actually are. This can very easily round off the top cap. If the spanner is not a PERFECT fit, rounding is even more likely.

Look like large flats on the Fox tool, a quality spanner or ring spanner will work fine.

I purchased a 24mm spanner/ratchet combo when I was working on a Manitou fork and had no issues at all.

 

[steve_sordy]

A single hexagon one, like the one pictured may be better, as it drives more on the flats of the nut as apposed to a bi-hex, that drives on the corners. Also this one is shallow/short, so you don’t get a lot of leverage pulling the socket over to one side, whilst tightening/slackening.

View attachment 56469

Well, that will save all the hassle of buying two separate bits!
Will still have to do the grinding though.

 

[steve_sordy]

Look like large flats on the Fox tool, a quality spanner or ring spanner will work fine.

I purchased a 24mm spanner/ratchet combo when I was working on a Manitou fork and had no issues at all.

View attachment 56470

View attachment 56471

That looks a cool bit of kit.

A few years ago I used a bi-hex 24mm socket on a Rockshox Pike. I was fortunate that the internal chamfer was quite small. Like @Mteam advised, I had to be careful and exert a good downward pressure onto the top of the socket. I was aware it was a risk though and I was quite nervous. I was slowly increasing the pressure on the socket handle and was about to give up when it suddenly freed up. I heaved a sigh of relief.
When the time came to tighten it up, I failed to tighten it enough and I got a slow leak from the fork. Just a little extra pressure was all it took to seal it, but again it was with bated breath. It was with that memory and on a much bigger socket size, that I thought to take no chances and advised @MrSimmo to grind off the chamfers.

I was glad when Rockshox changed the design to use the same tool as used on cassettes and centre lock brakes.

 

[TrailBoB]

That looks a cool bit of kit.

A few years ago I used a bi-hex 24mm socket on a Rockshox Pike. I was fortunate that the internal chamfer was quite small. Like @Mteam advised, I had to be careful and exert a good downward pressure onto the top of the socket. I was aware it was a risk though and I was quite nervous. I was slowly increasing the pressure on the socket handle and was about to give up when it suddenly freed up. I heaved a sigh of relief.
When the time came to tighten it up, I failed to tighten it enough and I got a slow leak from the fork. Just a little extra pressure was all it took to seal it, but again it was with bated breath. It was with that memory and on a much bigger socket size, that I thought to take no chances and advised @MrSimmo to grind off the chamfers.

I was glad when Rockshox changed the design to use the same tool as used on cassettes and centre lock brakes.

Bling ?sells. That’s why firms like fox & park charge silly prices for blinged up tools & get away with it??. ??.

 

[Clubby]

I one of these.

Unior Flat Socket for Suspension Service | Bike Coop

Unior Flat Socket for Suspension Service is a perfect choice. Our friendly staff will be glad to help you. UK wide delivery.

www.edinburghbicycle.com

Not too expensive and much less hassle than grinding. Especially as I do t have a grinder ?

 

[RickBullotta]

I'm pretty sure that you mean a socket to remove the top cap.

If so, any 32 mm socket from a socket set will do the job. Of course you have to be concerned about the internal chamfer in the socket. That chamfer is designed to avoid the fillet on bolt heads. But the alloy top cap is very shallow and that chamfer reduces the area of contact and can lead to rounding off the top cap. The answer is simple get yourself a standard socket and grind the chamfer off. The side of any wheel grinder or preferably on a belt sander will do the job.

A standard socket will cost you about £2.50, and you can get them pretty much anywhere. (B&Q, Screwfix, Halfords....)
But they come with a 1/2" square drive. So you will need a 3/8" male to 1/2" female adapter. £1.77 from B&Q

Magnusson 3/8" to ½" Standard Socket adaptor | DIY at B&Q

This Magnusson 3/8" to 1/2" socket adaptor is constructed of high quality chrome vanadium steel (crv) with a micro chrome effect finish.

www.diy.com

All sorted for less than a fiver!

That worked for me. Bought cheap-ish Amazon socket and ground the end near the opening square. Works great.

 

[MrSimmo]

As recommended, I procured a 32mm socket from Amazon for £4 (Silverline); then dremelled it!

Works a treat, thanks all ?