I am writing a technical document (that has to do with this project – that's what makes this post motorcycle-related (don't worry, the referenced site is a good one and they won't spam you....)).

I need the proper name of these tools:











I was thinkin' something like “socket thumbwheels,” but, if I Google that term, I don't get these things.

What is the proper name of these tools?

TIA!

Digger wrote on 09/02/12 at 18:21:52:


They're called speed discs. Here is a socket set that has one in the description: http://www.buy.com/prod/michigan-industrial-tools-socket-set-no-plug-promo-40...

And someone needs a new socket, the chrome cracks off when the metal flexes.

SaVaGeEaRL wrote on 09/02/12 at 20:49:28:


Earl, I have 1/4" and a 3/8 ratchet spinners, very handy tool. The  post that the socket snaps onto is part of the tool. The attachments that Digger posted pics of are speed discs and they snap over the post on the ratchet. Maybe they have changed names as they evolved into the newer style tool? I notice some of the newer type with the post can accept a ratchet in the back of em like an extension. It seems that the speed discs are only available in less expensive ratchet sets. Have you seen any being sold seperately?

ToesNose wrote on 09/03/12 at 04:43:45:


Toesnose, I'm starting to get the feeling there is no one specific name for these.  

My current wife would call them grooved spinny-around thingies.

Thanks to lots of clues, I found out what Craftsman calls these tools:

Ratchet Speeder Discs

I realize they are made to pop on a ratchet so you can speed things up after the subject fastener is loose, but I was using my 1/4” drive ratchet speeder disc for another reason:

I put an aftermarket saddlebag rack on my 2007 KLR 650.  Because of the rack, I can no longer get my #3 JIS screwdriver on the port side cover's rear-most mounting screw to get said screw started square and true:





As you can see, said screw is positioned down a narrow recess.  To the right of the screw, you can see the luggage rack's port side rail (silver colored).  Said side rail precludes the use of a screwdriver that is wide at that point (e.g. if a screwdriver's handle was there, it would not fit).  Also, the black square tubing (seen in the foreground), part of the aftermarket saddlebag rack, will not let me get a straight shot at the screw using a long-shafted screwdriver.

While I have no trouble loosening said screw (using a long-shafted #3 JIS screwdriver – it doesn't need to be absolutely square and true to loosen said screw), I was finding it impossible to get said screw started using said screwdriver without threatening a cross-thread.

Clearly, I needed to find (or make) a screwdriver that had the needed dimensions.

Neither of these two screwdrivers worked:





The larger of the two stubby Phillips screwdrivers was too long (i.e. it hit the black tubing).  The shorter of the two had a handle that was too large to fit into the recess.....and the shaft was otherwise too short to get the screw to its hole.


I tried a finger grip socket adapter:





But, as I had no Phillips bits of the proper length, this, too, was a non-starter.

So, I cobbled this together:





This is a #3 Phillips bit in a standard 1/4” bit driver, which is on the end of a very short 1/4” drive extension, with a 1/4” drive ratchet speeder disc, topped off by a 1/4” drive socket cap.  It turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered:





Thanks, everyone, for your help!