Triple square socket??
 

Good grief, where does one find this m10 socket used to undo the bolts on the crankshaft cradle as well as the conrods? Maybe I’m not using the right search words. All I can find is the internal bits , no external sockets. :confused:

I didn't know there was such a thing. Its not 12 point?

12 point or xzn.

Maybe. Is triple square not 12 point?

triple square = 12 point = xzn. different search terms for you to use.

Aha! How about “spline” socket!

All I seen them referred to then is 12 point
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-inch-drive-10mm-12-point-metric-standard-socket.1000787512.html

.............................

German term is Innenvielzahl

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/XZN

Thanks for the link. Guess I was overthinking this.:rolleyes:

UAP have a nice set. There are a few places and sizes where these are needed on these cars.

Mercedes uses these EVERYWHERE..... it's always nice to have a good set in the tool chest.

Harbor Tool has them.

To end all confusion, I was referring to an external socket, not a triple square or xzn bit like Markus showed. What I have found is either a 12 point socket or a spline socket. I bought a 12 point 10mm at Home Depot and it works fine. Here's 2 pix:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1549409468.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1549409494.jpg

:)

I have the tool but am considering during re-assembly, just replacing that bolt with something more conventional - HEX etc. Never understood why the P Engineers put it there in the fist place. Anybody know?

My guesses are that the 12 points provide more gripping surface and more likely, that it speeds assembly with the automated and power tools used on the assembly line. The socket will engage the bolt that much faster if the most it has to turn is 1/12 of a turn to line up the socket and the bolt head. Doesn't sound like much but multiplied by the number of those bolts in the assembly and the number of assemblies made in a given time period it adds up.

it's like the fasteners on my car hauler trailer - on first look they are an 8-point and i was trying to figure out wtf i would do about that, until i realised that a robertson would fit perfect - designed for quicker assembly.

porsche does seem a little screwy with their fasteners. how many different fasteners used to hold a transmission on? and if you try to get a clutch off, why the heck did they use allan head fasteners that strip out immediately when torque applied (note to bootleg - not sure what the torques are on those internal fasteners, but choose carefully if torques are large or there is any opportunity for them to seize in place - heat, differing metal types)?

Don't know if Proxxon is available in the US. In Germany this is a medium cost good quality brand.

I have two sets:
PROXXON 23102
PROXXON 23296

Serves the most DIY conditions.

Regards, Markus